The Universal Story

Apr 21, 1996

2h 0m

★ 7.7

Overview

Richard Dreyfuss hosts a celebration of the 80 year history of Universal Studios. Founded as IMP by Carl Leammle to oppose Edison's Motion Picture Tust, it soon grew under the leadership of 21 year old production head Irving Thalberg with classic silents from artists like John Ford, Erich Von Stroheim, and Lon Chaney and prospered further in the Sound Era under the leadership of Carl Leammle Jr. with such classics as "All Quiet on The Western Front," "Showboat," and the studio's signature monster franchises, "Frankenstein" and "Dracula."

Genres

Documentary

Production Companies

Top Hat Productions

Universal Television

The Universal Story Trailers

No Trailers found.

Cast

Self

Richard Dreyfuss

Self (archive footage)

Kirk Douglas

Self (archive footage)

Michael J. Fox

Self (archive footage)

Tom Hanks

Self (archive footage)

Alfred Hitchcock

Self (archive footage)

Boris Karloff

Self (archive footage)

Spike Lee

Self (archive footage)

Steven Spielberg

To Hell and Back: The Kane Hodder Story is the harrowing story of a stuntman overcoming a dehumanizing childhood filled with torment and bullying in Sparks, Nevada. After surviving a near-death burn accident, he worked his way up through Hollywood, leading to his ultimate rise as Jason Voorhees in the Friday the 13th series and making countless moviegoers forever terrified of hockey masks and summer camp. Featuring interviews with cinema legends, including Bruce Campbell (Ash vs. Evil Dead), Robert Englund (Freddy Krueger), and Cassandra Peterson (Elvira: Mistress of the Dark), To Hell and Back peels off the mask of Kane Hodder, cinema's most prolific killer, in a gut-wrenching, but inspiring, documentary. After decades of watching Kane Hodder on screen, get ready to meet the man behind the mask in To Hell and Back - an uniquely human story about one of cinema's most vicious monsters.

7.3

Horror Movie: A Low Budget Nightmare

Oct 13, 2017

A filmmaker's lifelong dream quickly becomes his worst nightmare when he attempts to make a low budget horror film about an aborted fetus that seeks revenge on its family.

0.0

One Day of Mosfilm

Jan 30, 1985

The film tells about the main stages of the history of the country's largest studio "Mosfilm", about the work of the creative team, introduces the viewer to the outstanding masters of Soviet cinematography, with such unique groups such as the Theater-Studio of Film Actors, with the workshops of the studio.

6.6

King Cohen: The Wild World of Filmmaker Larry Cohen

Jul 7, 2018

A feature-length documentary focusing on the acclaimed work and eclectic career of maverick filmmaker Larry Cohen, writer-director of "Black Caesar," "It's Alive," "God Told Me To," "Q," "The Stuff," and many more.

5.0

Dog Days: The Making of 'Cujo'

Sep 1, 2007

Documentary about the making of the 1983 thriller "Cujo"

6.0

Making I'm Dangerous Tonight

Jul 26, 2022

Behind the scenes footage of I'm Dangerous Tonight. Footage shot by Stan Giesea and Eric H. Lasher

No Image Available

5.8

Into the Pit: The Shocking Story of Deadpit.com

Aug 9, 2009

Prestonburg, KY is a small blue-collar town with hunting, fishing, coal mining, and two of the biggest names in online horror talk radio: Wes Vance and Aaron Frye (aka "The Creepy Kentuckian" and "Uncle Bill") The two self-proclaimed "redneck geeks" bonded at a young age while their weekends devouring horror films. They now use their extensive horror knowledge to record a weekly podcast on DEADPIT.com and have found a worldwide audience through their candid conversation, quick wit, and lots of swearing. What started as an outlet to express their love for horror films has evolved into an online industry with millions of followers and the ability to talk to their childhood heroes. But what happens when your childhood pursuits start to collide with your adult aspirations? Can Deadpit survive it's own success?

7.8

Never Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy

May 4, 2010

For decades, Freddy Krueger has slashed his way through the dreams of countless youngsters, scaring up over half a billion dollars at the box office across eight terrifying, spectacular films.

6.0

Hollywood: The Dream Factory

Jan 10, 1972

A documentary about the glorious history of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios and its decline leading to the sale of its back lot and props. By extension this provides a general history of Hollywood's Golden Age and the legendary studio system.

6.5

Smoke and Mirrors: The Story of Tom Savini

Oct 16, 2015

Tom Savini is one of the greatest special effects legends in the history of cinema, but little is known about his personal life until now. For the first time ever a feature length film has covered not only Tom's amazing career spanning over four decades, but his personal life as well.

6.8

Going to Pieces: The Rise and Fall of the Slasher Film

Oct 13, 2006

This historical and critical look at slasher films, which includes dozens of clips, begins with Halloween, Friday the 13th, and Prom Night. The films' directors, writers, producers, and special effects creators comment on the films' making and success. During the Reagan years, the films get gorier, budgets get smaller, and their appeal wanes. Then, Nightmare on Elm Street revives the genre. Jump to the late 90s, when Scream brings humor and TV stars into the mix.

6.5

Full Tilt Boogie

Jul 31, 1998

A documentary about the production of From Dusk Till Dawn (1996) and the people who made it.

6.6

Nightmares in Red, White and Blue

Aug 6, 2009

An exploration of the appeal of horror films, with interviews of many legendary directors in the genre.

No Image Available

0.0

Personalities

Jan 1, 1942

In this "Romance of Celluloid", MGM showcases performers whose careers are just starting. Excerpts from their recently released films are included. The narrator says that moviegoers will have to decide whether these fledgling actors and actresses have that certain quality that made superstars out of MGM players Clark Gable, Spencer Tracy, and Lana Turner.

0.0

What's in the Basket?

Sep 27, 2011

A documentary on the making of Frank Henenlotter's Basket Case trilogy.

7.0

Art Attack! The Dissection of Terrifier 3

Mar 14, 2025

ART ATTACK. Dives into the making of Terrifier 3, exploring its shocking practical effects, Art the Clown's rise, and its bold impact on modern horror.

0.0

The Life, Legend and Legacy of Donald P. Borchers

Jul 28, 2016

A documentary looking at the life and times of Donald P. Borchers, one of Hollywood's most underrated and under-acknowledged independent film producers. Particularly associated with New World Pictures in the 1980s, Borchers made a considerable mark in Hollywood, including through launching such franchises as "Angel" and "Children of the Corn."

6.5

The Buried Secret of M. Night Shyamalan

Jun 18, 2004

Everyone has a skeleton or two in his or her closet, but what about the director behind some of the most successful thrillers ever to hit the silver screen? Could M. Night Shyamalan be hiding a deep, dark secret that drives his macabre cinematic vision? Now viewers will be able to find out firsthand what fuels The Sixth Sense director's seemingly supernatural creativity as filmmakers interview Shyamalan as well as the cast and crew members who have worked most closely with him over the years. Discover the early events that shaped the mind of a future master of suspense in a documentary that is as fascinating as it is revealing.

6.0

Scream and Scream Again: A History of the Slasher Film

Oct 28, 2000

Documentary tracing the rise of the 'slasher' movie.