Ken Adam

Ken Adam

Birth : 1921-02-05, Berlin, Germany

Death : 2016-03-10

History

Sir Kenneth Hugo Adam, OBE was a British movie production designer, best known for his set designs for the James Bond films of the 1960s and 1970s, as well as for Dr. Strangelove. He won two Academy Awards for Best Art Direction.

Profile

Ken Adam

Movies

This Is the War Room!
The legendary production designer Ken Adam, aged 93, cigar in hand, brandishes his Flo-Master one last time to conjure up the year 1962 and the iconic War Room he created alongside Stanley Kubrick in Dr Strangelove.
Istintobrass
Self
One of the most controversial, original and loved figures of Italian cinema. The most censored director of all time. An anarchist of the film, a gifted experimenter, an inventor of dreams. A truly great artist.
Everything or Nothing
Self
The story of three men with a shared dream: James Bond franchise producers Albert R. Broccoli and Harry Saltzman, and Bond creator and author Ian Fleming. It’s the thrilling and inspiring narrative behind the longest running film franchise in cinema history, which began in 1962.
Designing 007: Fifty Years of Bond Style
Self
A look at a museum exhibition that celebrates the Bond franchise from a design perspective: costumes, sets, concept art, props, etc. We get a multi-sensory experience, immersing audiences in the creation and development of Bond style over its auspicious 50 year history.
Best Ever Bond
Self
Roger Moore presents the ten best sequences ever to have appeared in the James Bond series, and cast members recall their favourite moments.
Taking Sides
Production Design
One of the most spectacular and renowned conductors of the 1930s, Wilhelm Furtwangler's reputation rivaled that of Toscanini's. After the war, he was investigated as part of the Allies' de-Nazification programme. In the bombed-out Berlin of the immediate post-war period, the Allies slowly bring law and order to bear on an occupied Germany. An American major is given the Furtwangler file, and is told to find everything he can and to prosecute the man ruthlessly. Tough and hard-nosed, Major Steve Arnold sets out to investigate a world of which he knows nothing.
Silhouettes: The James Bond Titles
Documentary exploring the famous title sequences used in the Bond movies. Narrated by Patrick Macnee. Included on the 'You Only Live Twice' Bluray disc
Terence Young: Bond Vivant
Documentary on the career of director Terence Young.
Inside 'Dr. No'
Self
A behind the scenes look at the James Bond film Dr. No.
Inside: 'Dr. Strangelove or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb'
Self - Production Designer
A documentary on the making of Stanley Kubrick's classic 1964 film.
The Art of Stanley Kubrick: From Short Films to Strangelove
Self
A documentary about the making of Stanley Kubricks 1964 film Dr Strangelove Or: How I Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb and his career leading up to this film.
Designing Bond: Peter Lamont
A documentary about the work of Peter Lamont.
Inside 'Moonraker'
Documentary looking at the production of the James Bond movie 'Moonraker'. Narated by Patrick Macnee.
Ken Adam: Designing Bond
A look at the Oscar-winning production designer.
Inside 'The Spy Who Loved Me'
A behind the scenes look at the James Bond film "The Spy Who Loved Me"
Inside 'Diamonds Are Forever'
A behind the scenes look at the James Bond film "Diamonds are Forever"
Inside 'You Only Live Twice'
A behind the scenes look at the James Bond film "You Only Live Twice"
Harry Saltzman: Showman
The story of Harry Saltzman, producer of the first James Bond movies.
Inside 'From Russia with Love'
Himself
A behind the scenes look at the James Bond film "From Russia with Love".
Stanley and Us
Self
Three hapless directors arrive in England from Italy to make a documentary on their idol. The funny thing is, they have no interviews lined up! Not to worry, these guys have a miracle or two that they call in.
The Out-of-Towners
Production Design
The adventures of married couple Henry and Nancy Clark, vexed by misfortune while in New York City for Henry's job interview.
The Secrets of 007
Behind-the-scenes look at more than three decades of the James Bond feature film series.
In & Out
Production Design
A midwestern teacher questions his sexuality after a former student makes a comment about him at the Academy Awards.
Bogus
Production Design
Recently orphaned, a young boy is taken in by his godmother who is shocked to realize that she can see the boy's imaginary friend: a flamboyant, French magician named Bogus.
Stanley Kubrick: The Invisible Man
Himself
Exploring the reputation of Stanley Kubrick by means of extracts from his work and contributions of people with whom he worked.
Behind the Scenes with 'Thunderball'
Self
A behind the scenes look at the James Bond film "Thunderball".
Behind the Scenes with 'Goldfinger'
A behind the scenes look at the James Bond film "Goldfinger".
The Madness of King George
Production Design
Aging King George III of England is exhibiting signs of madness, a problem little understood in 1788. As the monarch alternates between bouts of confusion and near-violent outbursts of temper, his hapless doctors attempt the ineffectual cures of the day. Meanwhile, Queen Charlotte and Prime Minister William Pitt the Younger attempt to prevent the king's political enemies, led by the Prince of Wales, from usurping the throne.
Addams Family Values
Production Design
Siblings Wednesday and Pugsley Addams will stop at nothing to get rid of Pubert, the new baby boy adored by parents Gomez and Morticia. Things go from bad to worse when the new "black widow" nanny, Debbie Jellinsky, launches her plan to add Fester to her collection of dead husbands.
30 Years of James Bond
Himself
An examination of why the James Bond films have proved so popular including a discussion between the four actors who have played Bond, an interview with Cubby Broccoli and contributions from the directors, production designers, special effects and stuntmen.
Company Business
Production Design
An aging agent is called back by "the Company" to run a hostage trade of a Soviet spy for an American agent.
The Freshman
Production Design
After a film student gets his belongings stolen, he meets a mobster bearing a startling resemblance to a certain cinematic godfather. Soon, he finds himself caught up in a caper involving endangered species and fine dining.
Dead Bang
Production Design
Los Angeles homicide detective Jerry Beck searches for the murderer who killed a police officer on Christmas Eve. The investigation takes Beck inside the violent world of hate groups and white supremacists, who are hatching a deadly plot to attack even more innocent people. Beck must also confront his own personal demons, including his growing problem with alcohol, if he wants to track down and stop the violent neo-Nazis before it is too late.
The Deceivers
Production Design
India, 1825: the country lives in mortal fear of cult members known as the “Deceivers." They commit robbery and ritualistic murder. Appalled by their activities, an English military man, Captain William Savage, conceives a hazardous plot to stop them. In disguise, he plans to himself become a “Deceiver” and infiltrate their numbers. Ever present in Savage’s adventures is a sense of dread; he is in constant fear of betrayal and vengeance and also undergoes a disturbing psychological transformation as he experiences the cult’s blood lust firsthand.
Crimes of the Heart
Production Design
Three sisters try to come to grips with the meaning of their mother's suicide.
Agnes of God
Production Design
When a dead newborn is found, wrapped in bloody sheets, in the bedroom wastebasket of a young novice, psychiatrist Martha Livingston is called in to determine if the seemingly innocent novice, who knows nothing of sex or birth, is competent enough to stand trial for the murder of the baby.
King David
Production Design
This is a movie about the life of Israel's king David.
Pennies from Heaven
Production Design
During the Great Depression, a sheet music salesman seeks to escape his dreary life through popular music and a love affair with an innocent school teacher.
Pennies from Heaven
Associate Producer
During the Great Depression, a sheet music salesman seeks to escape his dreary life through popular music and a love affair with an innocent school teacher.
Moonraker
Production Design
After Drax Industries' Moonraker space shuttle is hijacked, secret agent James Bond is assigned to investigate, traveling to California to meet the company's owner, the mysterious Hugo Drax. With the help of scientist Dr. Holly Goodhead, Bond soon uncovers Drax's nefarious plans for humanity, all the while fending off an old nemesis, Jaws, and venturing to Venice, Rio, the Amazon...and even outer space.
The Making of 'The Spy Who Loved Me'
Ken Adam
Behind the scenes of 'The Spy Who Loved Me', produced by The Open University.
The Spy Who Loved Me
Production Design
Russian and British submarines with nuclear missiles on board both vanish from sight without a trace. England and Russia both blame each other as James Bond tries to solve the riddle of the disappearing ships. But the KGB also has an agent on the case.
The Seven-Per-Cent Solution
Production Design
Concerned about his friend's cocaine use, Dr. Watson tricks Sherlock Holmes into travelling to Vienna, where Holmes enters the care of Sigmund Freud. Freud attemts to solve the mysteries of Holmes' subconscious, while Holmes devotes himself to solving a mystery involving the kidnapping of Lola Deveraux.
Salon Kitty
Production Design
Kitty runs a brothel in Nazi Germany where the soldiers come to "relax". Recording devices have been installed in each room by a power hungry army official who plans to use the information to blackmail Hitler and gain power himself. A girl named Margherita discovers the little ploy and with Kitty's help plans to take on the dangerous task of exposing the conspiracy.
Barry Lyndon
Production Design
An Irish rogue uses his cunning and wit to work his way up the social classes of 18th century England, transforming himself from the humble Redmond Barry into the noble Barry Lyndon.
The Last of Sheila
Production Design
A year after Sheila is killed in a hit-and-run, her multimillionaire husband invites a group of friends to spend a week on his yacht playing a scavenger hunt-style mystery game — but the game turns out to be all too real and all too deadly.
Sleuth
Production Design
A mystery novelist devises an insurance scam with his wife's lover – but things aren't exactly as they seem.
Diamonds Are Forever
Production Design
Diamonds are stolen only to be sold again in the international market. James Bond infiltrates a smuggling mission to find out who's guilty. The mission takes him to Las Vegas where Bond meets his archenemy Blofeld.
The Owl and the Pussycat
Middle-Aged Man (uncredited)
Meek, owlish Felix and strident, catty Doris live in the same apartment building. His incessant typing bothers her; her gentlemen callers bother him. Felix informs the landlord of her activities, so Doris moves in on Felix. When they both get thrown out, they move in with Barney... until they drive him out! That's when Felix and Doris finally decide to put theory into practice. But do opposites attract?
The Owl and the Pussycat
Production Design
Meek, owlish Felix and strident, catty Doris live in the same apartment building. His incessant typing bothers her; her gentlemen callers bother him. Felix informs the landlord of her activities, so Doris moves in on Felix. When they both get thrown out, they move in with Barney... until they drive him out! That's when Felix and Doris finally decide to put theory into practice. But do opposites attract?
Goodbye, Mr. Chips
Production Design
Academy Award-honoree Peter O'Toole stars in this musical classic about a prim English schoolmaster who learns to show his compassion through the help of an outgoing showgirl. O'Toole, who received his fourth Oscar-nomination for this performance, is joined by '60s pop star Petula Clark and fellow Oscar-nominee Michael Redgrave.
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Production Design
A hapless inventor finally finds success with a flying car, which a dictator from a foreign government sets out to take for himself.
You Only Live Twice
Production Design
A mysterious spacecraft captures Russian and American space capsules and brings the two superpowers to the brink of war. James Bond investigates the case in Japan and comes face to face with his archenemy Blofeld.
Funeral in Berlin
Production Design
Colonel Stok, a Soviet intelligence officer responsible for security at the Berlin Wall, appears to want to defect but the evidence is contradictory. Stok wants the British to handle his defection and asks for one of their agents, Harry Palmer, to smuggle him out of East Germany.
Thunderball
Production Design
A criminal organization has obtained two nuclear bombs and are asking for a 100 million pound ransom in the form of diamonds in seven days or they will use the weapons. The secret service sends James Bond to the Bahamas to once again save the world.
The Ipcress File
Production Design
Sly and dry intelligence agent Harry Palmer is tasked with investigating British Intelligence security, and is soon enmeshed in a world of double-dealing, kidnap and murder when he finds a traitor operating at the heart of the secret service.
Goldfinger
Production Design
Special agent 007 comes face to face with one of the most notorious villains of all time, and now he must outwit and outgun the powerful tycoon to prevent him from cashing in on a devious scheme to raid Fort Knox -- and obliterate the world's economy.
Woman of Straw
Production Design
Anthony Richmond schemes to get the fortune of his tyrannical, wheelchair-using tycoon uncle Charles Richmond by persuading Maria, a nurse he employs, to marry him.
Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb
Production Design
After the insane General Jack D. Ripper initiates a nuclear strike on the Soviet Union, a war room full of politicians, generals and a Russian diplomat all frantically try to stop the nuclear strike.
In the Cool of the Day
Production Designer
After he mends a marital rift between a vacationing young couple, the bored, fragile wife falls hopelessly in love with the husband's ex-colleague who is married to a long-suffering and emotionally and physically scarred woman. The couple soon runs off to Greece together to pursue the romance.
Dr. No
Production Design
In the film that launched the James Bond saga, Agent 007 battles mysterious Dr. No, a scientific genius bent on destroying the U.S. space program. As the countdown to disaster begins, Bond must go to Jamaica, where he encounters beautiful Honey Ryder, to confront a megalomaniacal villain in his massive island headquarters.
Sodom and Gomorrah
Production Design
Sex, torture and betrayal in Biblical Sodom and Gomorrah. Lot, leader of the Hebrews, believes his people can co-exist with the Sodomites, a disastrous decision.
Ben-Hur
Assistant Art Director
In 25 AD,Judah Ben-Hur, a Jew in ancient Judea, opposes the occupying Roman empire. Falsely accused by a Roman childhood friend-turned-overlord of trying to kill the Roman governor, he is put into slavery and his mother and sister are taken away as prisoners. Three years later and freed by a grateful Roman galley commander whom he has rescued from drowning, he becomes an expert charioteer for Rome, all the while plotting to return to Judea, find and rescue his family, and avenge himself on his former friend. All the while, the form and work of Jesus move in the background of his life...
The Rough and the Smooth
Art Direction
Young blonde woman seems to destroy everyone she comes in contact with.
The Rough and the Smooth
Production Design
Young blonde woman seems to destroy everyone she comes in contact with.
The Angry Hills
Production Design
Nazis chase a U.S. newsman (Robert Mitchum) paid to smuggle names of Greek resistance leaders to London.
Ten Seconds to Hell
Art Direction
Two rivals from a German bomb squad are left to deactivate duds in postwar Berlin.
Beyond This Place
Art Direction
A World War II evacuee (Van Johnson) returns years later to England and finds his father in prison framed for murder.
Gideon's Day
Art Direction
Scotland Yard Inspector George Gideon starts his day off on the wrong foot when he gets a traffic-violation ticket from a young police officer. From there, his 'typical day" consists in learning that one of his most-trusted detectives has accepted bribes; hunts an escaped maniac who has murdered a girl; tracks a young girl suspected of involvement in a payroll robbery and then helps break up a bank robbery.
Night of the Demon
Production Design
American professor John Holden arrives in London for a conference on parapsychology only to discover that the colleague he was supposed to meet was killed in a freak accident the day before. It turns out that the deceased had been investigating a cult lead by Dr. Julian Karswell. Though a skeptic, Holden is suspicious of the devil-worshiping Karswell. Following a trail of mysterious manuscripts, Holden enters a world that makes him question his faith in science.
Around the World in Eighty Days
Production Design
Based on the famous book by Jules Verne the movie follows Phileas Fogg on his journey around the world. Which has to be completed within 80 days, a very short period for those days.
Child in the House
Art Direction
A lonely child must stay with her uncaring aunt and uncle after her mother is hospitalized. Her estranged father is a fugitive. For love and companionship, the eleven-year old girl becomes friends with the housemaid. When at long last, she meets her dad, she must vow to never reveal his location to the police.
Star of India
Assistant Art Director
Squire Pierre St. Laurent returns from wars in India to 17th-century provincial France to find his estate confiscated by governor Narbonne, for back taxes, and resold to Katrina, a Dutch Countess. Katrina offers to return Pierre's property if he will help her get possession of the 'Star of India,' a fabulous sapphire, held at the moment by Narbonne.
The Crimson Pirate
Assistant Art Director
Burt Lancaster plays a pirate with a taste for intrigue and acrobatics who involves himself in the goings on of a revolution in the Caribbean in the late 1700s. A light hearted adventure involving prison breaks, an oddball Scientist, sailing ships, naval fights, and tons of swordplay.
Your Witness
Assistant Art Director
Adam Hayward is a successful New York City defense lawyer. One day he receives a cable that the British war buddy who saved his life at Anzio Beach is now in trouble with the law in England. Taking the advice of his secretary to go to England rather than wire money, Adam arrives in his friend's village to find him about to stand trial for the murder of the hired stable-hand, Lawrence.
Obsession
Assistant Art Director
A British psychiatrist devises a devilish revenge plot against his wife's lover.