20 Things You Didn’t Know About The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)

9. Kubrick Does Bond

The Spy Who Loved Me Jaws
MGM/UA

Ken Adam worked with perfectionist director, Stanley Kubrick on Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964) and Barry Lyndon (1975).

Kubrick questioned how Adam could keep returning to the linear storytelling of the Bond films, but agreed to assist the production designer when the failing eyesight of Claude Renoir - the cinematographer on the tenth Bond film - interfered with lighting Adam’s dazzling set for the interior of The Liparus.

The expatriate American director visited the-then brand new 007 Stage at Pinewood Studios on the strict condition that no one should know of his involvement. Following Kubrick’s visit, the interior of Stromberg’s supertanker was illuminated by using floodlights, exploiting the reflective surfaces on the soundstage. Nevertheless, this caused many members of the cast and crew to experience headaches after a mere ten minutes on the stage.

Kubrick's stepdaughter, Katharina was also a dental prosthetics designer on the film, creating the uncomfortable metal dentures that Richard Kiel wore for his role as Jaws.

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