The book by Michael Benson on the making of 2001 is excellent. I got the impression that Kubrick brought in North even though he wasn’t sure of the direction he was going with the soundtrack. When North was done he didn’t think it was appropriate but he wouldn’t relay that to North. I think he told his wife it was terrible but I can’t remember all the details. Kubrick spent years on the movie fleshing out the story with Clark through letters and occasional in person meetings. Pulling the story, filming and special effects together to create 2001 shows the genius of Kubrick. After reading the book I realized Kubrick’s vision of AI would have be nothing like Spielberg’s.
We must never forget that the film 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY owes a debt to at least two previous productions that have nothing to do with Clarke's "The Sentinel". The concept of aliens "modifying" the intellects of prehistoric apemen (Nigel Kneale, BBC, QUATERMASS AND THE PIT, 1958), and the radio dish repair (Paramount, THE CONQUEST OF SPACE, 1955).
I think we’re making connections that Kubrick was unaware of. Now all you have to do pull something up on YouTube. I doubt Kubrick sat in a theater and watched Conquest of Space. He did have conversations with scientists about space flight.
