Remember, the early '60s in London was something - which must have been like Berlin in the '30s when the arts flourished. You didn't have the differences in class, and so on.

One thing that I think works in 'Casablanca' and which I've lectured a lot about - in terms of what I've been trying to achieve as a designer - is the film's creation of its own form of reality.

With Kubrick and most film directors, they are in complete control, but one can influence them.

I'm an incurable romantic, and 'Casablanca''s one of the most romantic pictures I've ever seen - the combination of Bogart and Bergman is just magical.

I always wanted to design for films.

It takes courage to stay young, to make your enthusiasms work for you. Don't let anyone drag you down.

The cinema is there to heighten the imagination; I have always tried to make sure it does so.