Kubrick's "Idiot" Editor Recalls 2001 Ordeal

John Grover, a notable British film editor whose career spanned decades and included work on six James Bond films, has died at the age of 87. He was also known for his significant, though reportedly arduous, contribution to Stanley Kubrick's "2001: A Space Odyssey."

Grover, who received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the British Film Editors organization in April, described his six months working on "2001" with Kubrick as a challenging experience. He controversially called the film "rubbish" and "boring," despite its critical acclaim, and criticized Kubrick's perfectionism.

His extensive filmography also features "The Spy Who Loved Me," "Moonraker," "Octopussy," and Jim Henson's classic "Labyrinth." Grover's early career included uncredited assistant roles on films like "Doctor Zhivago" and "The Haunting."

During his work on "2001," Grover claimed he performed the heavy breathing sounds attributed to astronauts, enduring Kubrick's demanding directorial style. The British Film Editors guild later clarified that both Kubrick and Grover were recorded, with Grover's recording possibly being the one used. He also recounted a near-disaster during the postproduction of "The Living Daylights" when a work print was leaked.