53 replies to this topic

[SPECTRE ASSASSIN]

Set designer Ken Adam, one of the most celebrated contributers from the early Bond films, has set a standard for movie set design. I admire all his work for the 007 series; he had a vibrant, exciting style that would be a hallmark for the James Bond movies he did for almost three decades! Out of all his set design work, what was his best and most slam-dunk work? Perhaps the fantastic volcano lair for You Only Live Twice, the incredible interior for the Liparus supertanker from The Spy Who Loved Me? Or perhaps something simple, but breaktaking interiors for the very first Bond film, Dr. No? Your opinions please?

[Turn]

I think his ultimate achievement was the volcano set due to its setting such a precedent at the time. But I think between it and the Liparus, sometimes some of his other sets get forgotten, such as the Fort Knox set in GF or the MI6 meeting room in TB or the reactor room or that room Prof. Dent makes contact with Dr. No.

Adam was yet another somewhat underrated contributor to the series during its early years. To think he never even got an Oscar nomination for the volcano set.

[SPECTRE ASSASSIN]

That's sad. The Oscars have always ignored the Bond series, though with some exceptions.

[Qwerty]

Ken Adam and James Bond films are two that co-exist. He has done an amazing amount of credible work to the many films, and deserved even more credit for it.

His sets? It's hard to choose a favorite, they're all very good. The interrogation set in Dr. No, the dark, gloomy SPECTRE meeting room in Thunderball, the ever daunting volcano set in You Only Live Twice, or the Whyte home in Diamonds Are Forever, all good. Then of course his work in Moonraker, and the space set that came to an end at the wrong end of several shotguns. It was good looking.

Two that stand out in my opinion as some of his best work, no, three actually:

Dr. No: Dr. No's dining room

The Spy Who Loved Me: Liparus

Moonraker: Inner temple with small pool with the snake with a 'crush' on Bond

[Xenobia]

I have given this matter some thought, and it's really tricky.

For me it is a toss up between the house that Whyte was held in in DAF, and Dr. No's space in the movie.

Ahahahahahaha! Decisions! Decisions!

If you twist my arm, I'll go with Dr. No.

Would you like me to open a poll for this? PM me if you do.

-- Xen

[SPECTRE ASSASSIN]

The snake looked just as bad as the Anaconda from the movie Anaconda. But Adam did a great job for the space station. Puts Star Wars to shame.

[SPECTRE ASSASSIN]

Thank you again, Xenobia!

[Qwerty]

Moonraker receives my vote. Excellent stuff.

[SPECTRE ASSASSIN]

My vote is for YOLT. His set design is One of the best parts in the film.

[DLibrasnow]

The volcano in YOLT....for its time it was simply amazing - and still is today!

[Bon-san]

[Just a note: Why is Thunderball not an option in the poll?]

There are sssooo many glorious works done by Adam, it's difficult to pick a best. I'm going with two. One from the

1960's: Interior of Fort Knox (Goldfinger). A truly inspired work of art. And a shimmering background for one of cinema's all-time great confrontations between 007 and Oddjob. I'll never forget watching this film with the parents on ABC television in the early-mid 70's. I was awestruck by the time Bond fried Oddjob. Superb.

and

1970's: Interior passageway in Stromberg's Atlantis (The Spy Who Loved Me). The spot where Bond shoots a bullet off Jaws teeth. This set filled me with a sense of danger, adventure, excitement. And it was just plain cool. Seems to have inspired endless copycat sets in "Space Movies" ever since. When I first saw TSWLM in the theater as a kid, I was truly worried for Bond's and Anya's safety when they were desperately trying to get into Stromberg's escape pod and the passageway was being deluged with seawater. Great cinema there! Bravo.

[Triton]

I hope the AMPAA gives Ken Adam an Academy Honorary Award for his career as a brilliant production designer.

As for choosing a particular set as his best, I'm having a hard time choosing just one.

[SPECTRE ASSASSIN]

To answer Bon-san's question in why the Thunderball sets aren't there because it was accidently overlooked by me and Xenobia.

[Onyx2626]

Bravo Bon-san. Good points.

I saw TSWLM in '77 and remember reading about the set in F/X, Sci-Fi mags that seemed so popular back then. You're kind of old, aren't you?

The best set is obviously Scaramanga's Fun House...just kidding.
I like the original: Dr. No. The empty room, the reactor room, it looked so weird part Jetsons - part Forbidden Planet.

[Bon-san]

I saw TSWLM in '77 and remember reading about the set in F/X, Sci-Fi mags that seemed so popular back then. You're kind of old, aren't you?

Lol! 37 going on 13.

[Jim]

Always fond of the Dr No empty interview room, but I tend to favour (as in all things) the Thunderball designs - SPECTRE HQ is fun, and think of all the clever stuff with the underwater sleds, the cocoon on the Disco Volante. YOLT and the others have larger scale, but perhaps not as much variety.

[Loomis]

First of all, allow me to state:

A Bond film without Ken Adam's contribution isn't really a proper Bond film.

Now then, having got that off my chest:

I guess I'd have to go with YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE for best work overall (thanks to Adam, and to cinematographer Freddie Young, YOLT remains, among many other things, a truly wonderful film just to look at), although I'll join Jim in bigging up "the Dr No empty interview room", which is absolutely fantastic.

I love the Bambi and Thumper house in DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER, but since Adam didn't design the bugger he'll get no thanks from me for it. I do think he could have tried harder with things like the oil rig - hardly vintage Adam, eh what?

[SnakeEyes]

I'm not voting, because I don't like any one the best.

All amazing sets for different reasons.

[Xenobia]

I have added Thunderball to the list; my apologies for neglecting it before.

-- Xenobia

[Methos]

This was truly a very difficult choice!!! Yet, in the end, I had to go with YOLT, for the very same reasons that DLibrasnow mentioned. Can you imagine how first time audiences of the '60s must've responded to that?? It's an interior set on an epic scale that I can't recall having been created since 'Ben Hur' and 'Cleopatra'. Adams entire body of work is amazing. Other favorite Adams sets of mine are GFs Fort Knox and TSWLM Liparus and Atlantis.

I should not forget to mention a favorite set that I suspect is taken for granted...M's Office. For those you who have'nt visited the following site, I highly recommend it!!!:
The Art Of Ken Adam

[Qwerty]

I should not forget to mention a favorite set that I suspect is taken for granted...M's Office. For those you who have'nt visited the following site, I highly recommend it!!!:
The Art Of Ken Adam

Excellent art site, isn't it Methos?

That's the name of the Moonraker set I was talking about, The Great Chamber, a fine mix between technology and creativity. Adam really did some fantastic stuff with the simplest of ideas. (Professor Dent warning Dr. no) Excellent suff.

And the office for M, always the relatively same decoration, which makes it all the better.

[00-FAN008]

I was going to say "Goldfinger" but Blofeld's volcano was really impressive.

[Loomis]

Like John Barry, Ken Adam made an enduring contribution much greater than the sum of its parts to the Bond series. While Barry defined how a Bond film should sound, Adam defined how a Bond film should look.

Adam arguably made a huge impact on popular culture, giving birth to the notion of supervillains sitting around in elaborate, ultramodern lairs (often in odd locations such as volcanoes or beneath the sea) boasting the most improbably gorgeous interior design. Just look at an AUSTIN POWERS film to spot Adam's lasting influence.

[Triton]

I guess most of us can single out the Volcano interior from You Only Live Twice or the submarine pen inside the Liparus from The Spy Who Loved Me as Adam's best set or greatest achievement.

But Ken Adam's genius also shines in his simple and spartan, and sometimes small, sets as well. The previously mentioned interrogation room, which Red Grant dubbed the "Spider Room" on his "Art of James Bond" web site", with its steel grating in the ceiling and the single chair in Dr. No certainly increases the sinister qualities of the Dr. No character and makes Professor Dent seem more isolated and vulnerable.

Also consider the jail cell set from Goldfinger which was much more effective with its slanting walls. When was the last time you saw a jail cell set that was memorable?

Or how about General Gogol's crypt like office in The Spy Who Loved Me?

[Qwerty]

What happened to my vote for Moonraker?

[Triton]

Like John Barry, Ken Adam made an enduring contribution much greater than the sum of its parts to the Bond series. While Barry defined how a Bond film should sound, Adam defined how a Bond film should look.

Adam arguably made a huge impact on popular culture, giving birth to the notion of supervillains sitting around in elaborate, ultramodern lairs (often in odd locations such as volcanoes or beneath the sea) boasting the most improbably gorgeous interior design. Just look at an AUSTIN POWERS film to spot Adam's lasting influence.

Then consider that Adam only contributed to seven of the 20 James Bond films. Quite amazing.

I presume that we aren't as passionate about the designs of Peter Murton, Syd Cain, or Peter Lamont. Could we have debates about which was the best set by these designers? They just don't seem to have the same dramatic impact as a set designed by Ken Adam.

[Loomis]

I presume that we aren't as passionate about the designs of Peter Murton, Syd Cain, or Peter Lamont.

Personally, no. Although they all are (were?) exceptionally talented people who made huge contributions both to Bond and to the film industry. But Adam's the master, the don of all dons.

[Qwerty]

Adam naturally stands out because he made his sets look the boldest and the richest. Compare the production design for Moonraker and For Your Eyes Only, two back to back Bond films, they wanted to FYEO to not be too focused on the production design, therefore it makes it logical and easier to see why some of Adam's work stands out.

[Icephoenix]

Fort Knox.

[Xenobia]

Qwerty....I have no idea where your vote went, but it should let you vote again, no?

-- Xen