Universal Pictures is an American film studio that is one of Hollywood's “Big Six” and is owned by Comcast through its wholly owned subsidiary NBCUniversal. The Motion Picture Association of America is a member of Universal Studios (MPAA). Carl Laemmle (pronounced “LEM-lee”), Mark Dintenfass, Charles O. Baumann, Adam Kessel, Pat Powers, William Swanson, David Horsley, Robert H. Cochrane, and Jules Brulatour formed Universal in 1912. After the famous French studios Gaumont Film Company and Pathé, and the Danish Nordisk Film Company, it is the world's fourth oldest major film studio. 1)
“A Boy's Life” was the working title for E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial. 2)
Steven Spielberg, then 22 years old, was assigned to direct the Universal Television series pilot “Night Gallery” in 1969. After this he has become one of the most renowned directors.3)
The 1951 Universal feature film Bedtime for Bonzo starred President Ronald Reagan. 4)
The DeLorean time machine from Back to the Future is a licensed and registered vehicle in the state of California. Although the movie's vanity license plate says “OUTATIME,” the DeLorean's real license plate says 3CZV657.5)
Tippi Hedren was cut in the face by a bird during the filming of one scene in Alfred Hitchcock's classic The Birds.6)
The production of the film American Pie purchased the infamous apple pie from Costco. 7)
Buck Privates grossed $4 million at the box office in the United States (at a time when theater admission ranged between 10 and 25 cents). 8)
According to sources, a live round was inserted into the gun during some of the Russian roulette scenes in the movie The Deer Hunter, at Robert De Niro's suggestion, to heighten the actors' suspense. Before pulling the trigger, it was tested to make sure the bullet was not in the chamber. 9)
Only the bottom two decks of the coliseum are actually filled with real people in Gladiator's coliseum scenes. The other tens of thousands of spectators are computer-generated characters. 10)
Jack Foley, a Universal sound technician, invented a system for making and capturing all of the film's actual, daily sound effects. Today, this approach bears his name. 11)
Melody of Love was Universal's first talking picture. 12)
The sound of the knife-stabbing actress Janet Leigh in the notorious shower scene in Psycho was created by plunging a knife into a melon. 13)
Waterworld made headlines around the world in 1995 when it was announced that it was the most expensive film ever made. Despite failing to meet box office expectations, the film ultimately made a profit thanks to strong home video sales and spawned one of the most successful theme park attractions of all time. 14)
Jaws was filmed from sea level for around a quarter of the movie so that viewers could relate to treading water. 15)