The fantastic production designs of Ken Adam
Sir Ken Adam, the two-time Academy Award-winning film production designer who gave "Dr. Strangelove" its cavernous War Room and James Bond super-villains their futuristic lairs, died on Thursday, March 10, 2016. He was 95.
Born Klaus Hugo Adam in Berlin in 1921, Adam's Jewish family fled Nazi Germany in 1934, and settled in London. Ken studied architecture, and was enraptured by German Expressionist films like "The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari." After volunteering during World War II (he was one of only a handful of German-born pilots to fly for the Royal Air Force), he was hired to assist designer William Cameron Menzies on the Oscar-winning 1956 film, "Around the World in 80 Days."
"Dr. No"
Adam caught the eye of producer Albert "Cubby" Broccoli who, after hiring him for "The Trials of Oscar Wilde," enlisted Adam for the first Bond film, "Dr. No" (1962). Sets created by Adam created a template for the franchise that would follow.
"Dr. No"
A Ken Adam creation for "Dr. No."
"Dr. Strangelove"
Among the greatest achievements in film production design was Ken Adam's work for Stanley Kubrick's "Dr. Strangelove: or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb" (1964).
The most striking set was the War Room - an expressionistic bunker where the president and his military leaders convened during a nuclear emergency.
"Dr. Strangelove"
The War Room from Stanley Kubrick's "Dr. Strangelove."
"Dr. Strangelove"
The War Room from Stanley Kubrick's "Dr. Strangelove."
"Dr. Strangelove"
The set's circular, lamp-lit table was designed to suggest a poker table.
"Dr. Strangelove"
It was here where Peter Sellers famously chastised a tussling Air Force general and Russian ambassador: "Gentlemen, you can't fight in here. This is the War Room!"
"Goldfinger"
For the James Bond film "Goldfinger" (1964), Ken Adam designed a fantastical Fort Knox, which was built at Pinewood Studios in England.
"Goldfinger"
Ken Adam's sketch for Auric Goldfinger's laser room, where James Bond is nearly split into two, in "Goldfinger" (1964).
"Goldfinger"
Ken Adams obtained two Aston Martins, which he fitted with a variety of gadgets, for "Goldfinger."
"Thunderball"
A Ken Adam design for the James Bond film, "Thunderball" (1965).
"You Only Live Twice"
Blofeld's lair - hidden inside an extinct volcano - from "You Only Live Twice" (1967).
"You Only Live Twice"
The volcano set of "You Only Live Twice," complete with helicopter landing pad and monorail, cost $1 million. The distant exterior of the volcano's rim was built in perspective.
"Chitty Chitty Bang Bang"
Ken Adam designed the vintage car for the film of Ian Fleming's "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" (1968).
The car was purchased at auction in 2011 by "Lord of the Rings" director Peter Jackson.
"Chitty Chitty Bang Bang"
The Child Catcher (Robert Helpmann) loads up his wagon with fresh supplies in "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang."
"Goodbye, Mr. Chips"
The long-in-planning musical version of "Goodbye, Mr. Chips" (1969), starring Peter O'Toole and Petula Clark. Designed by Ken Adam.
"Barry Lyndon"
Ken Adam re-teamed with Stanley Kubrick for the 1975 period drama "Barry Lyndon."
"Barry Lyndon"
Ken Adam won his first Academy Award for "Barry Lyndon" (1975).
"Star Trek: Planet of the Titans"
In 1976 producer Gene Roddenberry and director Philip Kaufman planned a feature film inspired by the "Star Trek" TV series (then a hit in syndication). Ken Adam was hired to create new designs for the Starship Enterprise (top) and an alien world for "Star Trek: Planet of the Titans."
The project was shelved, replaced by a proposed TV series, which itself was shelved once "Star Wars" was released in 1977, prompting Paramount to greenlight a (different) "Star Trek" feature script.
"The Seven Percent Solution"
Ken Adam designed the 1976 Sherlock Holmes mystery "The Seven-Per-Cent Solution," starring Nicol Williamson and Vanessa Redgrave.
"The Spy Who Loved Me"
For the 1977 James Bond film "The Spy Who Loved Me," Ken Adam constructed at Pinewood Studios what was one of the largest film stages in the world (dubbed the 007 Stage), to house the interior set of the Liparus supertanker, in which captured submarines are contained.
"The Spy Who Loved Me"
Ken Adam's designs for James Bond's amphibious car in "The Spy Who Loved Me" (1977).
"The Spy Who Loved Me"
The underwater hideout of supervillain Stromberg rises from the sea in "The Spy Who Loved Me" (1977).
"Moonraker"
A Ken Adam design for the James Bond film "Moonraker" (1979).
"King David"
Richard Gere and Alice Krige in "King David" (1985). Production design by Ken Adam.
"The Madness of King George"
A Ken Adam sketch of royal quarters for "The Madness of King George" (1994).
"The Madness of King George"
Nigel Hawthorne in "The Madness of King George" (1994).
Academy Awards
Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins stand with Ken Adam (2nd from left) and Carolyn Scott (2nd from right), winners of the Oscar for Best Production Design for their work in "The Madness of King George," at the 67th annual Academy Awards in Los Angeles, March 27, 1995.
Berlin International Film Festival
Sir Ken Adam is photographed at the 65th Berlin International Film Festival at Kollhoff Tower on February 9, 2015 in Berlin, Germany.
Sir Ken Adam
Production designer Ken Adam attends the Sixth Annual Excellence In Production Design Awards, presented by the Art Directors Guild, where he was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award, February 23, 2002 in Beverly Hills, Calif.
Adam's other film credits included "The Ipcress File," "Sleuth," "Agnes of God," "Crimes of the Hart," "Addams Family Values," "In & Out," and "The Out-of-Towners."
By CBSNews.com senior producer David Morgan. The Associated Press contributed to this report.