‘The Hell With You, I’m Not Putting My Camera There’

Ken Adam on working with Stanley Kubrick:

When Letizia, Sir Ken’s Italian-born wife, came out to Ireland she was shocked at his state of mind. She persuaded him to return to England and see a doctor for the sake of his health.

“So now I was in hospital in England with a breakdown. Stanley rang the hospital every day to see how I was doing and if I was still alive. The day I left he phoned me at home.

“He said: ‘Ken you were right: we’re going to change the way we’re making the film and you’ll love it. I’m sending a second unit to Potsdam in Germany to pick up extra material and I want you to direct it.”

Sir Ken laughs. “Well I found that idea such a huge shock I had to go straight back to the clinic and check in again.”

★ Wednesday, 4 September 2013