Stanley Kubrick 'risked stuntman's life' filming 2001: A Space Odyssey

A new book claims the director refused to stop filming when a stuntman lost consciousness

'2001: A Space Odyssey'. Credit: Warner Bros. ('2001: A Space Odyssey'. Credit: Warner Bros.)

A new book claims that Stanley Kubrick endangered stuntman Bill Weston's life on the set of 2001: A Space Odyssey.

According to The Guardian, the director - who is known for pushing cinematic boundaries - allegedly wouldn't stop filming even when he was told Weston was in "grave danger."

Weston allegedly was losing consciousness from oxygen and carbon dioxide deprivation - he only had 10 minutes' worth of compressed air in his backpack for scenes that were shot for much longer.

When he realised he was in danger, Weston managed to create a crucifix pose with his arms - a sign it was an emergency.

After this incident, Weston says "he will never forget someone urging Kubrick that 'we've got to get him back.'"

As he was losing consciousness, Weston remembers hearing Kubrick ignoring the person trying to intervene saying, "Damn it, we just started. Leave him up there! Leave him up there!"

Weston portrayed an astronaut who simulated the movie's spacewalk scenes, however the book claims that Kubrick wouldn't permit a second safety cable even though their were serious dangers to a stunt happening 30 feet above a concrete floor.

The book also claims that many of the most challenging scenes were filmed without a safety net.

Kubrick allegedly wouldn't let Weston have air holes punctured into the back of his helmet in case light could be seen through the visor.

These new details about the filming of the movie will appear in the new book Space Odyssey: Stanley Kubrick, Arthur C Clarke, and the Making of a Masterpiece by Michael Benson.

For research, Benson spoke to Weston and visual effects supervisor Doug Trumbull who photographed the film's stunts.

The book is due April 19, coinciding with the film's 50th anniversary.