Brain Snacks: Tasty Tidbits of Knowledge
2001 included 205 special effects shots, which was a lot for 1968. But Star Wars, in 1977 had 350—and Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005) included 2200. Now that's what we call progress. (Source)
Clarke wasn't sure if there were extraterrestrials or not. "Sometimes I think we're alone in the universe," he said,"and sometimes I think we're not. In either case the idea is quite staggering."(Source)
Kubrick initially hired composer Alex North to create the soundtrack for 2001. Then he changed his mind and used Strauss' classical music instead. North didn't know about the change until he saw the film in the theater. Because Kubrick was, apparently, kind of a jerk. (Source)
Arthur C. Clarke was a radar instructor and technician during World War II. If he saw any giant monoliths or space babies on his radar, he never told anyone. (Source)