Universal Pictures celebrates 100 years

Universal Pictures celebrates 100 years

2012 may nearly be over, but for one movie studio, it's been a major milestone of a year, with a fair few months of celebration yet to come.

Universal Pictures has celebrated 100 years of movies this year - and chances are you'll know at least one or two of their films and their iconic memories which have been created.

The Universal 100th Celebration site offers up a tantalising glimpse into the history of the company, from its founder Carl Laemmie first setting up the Independent Moving Picture Company back in 1906 to the merger of IMPC into the entity that would become Universal on April 30th 1912, the site hints at the effect Universal has had on the movie world.

The site's also about getting you to remember iconic moments from classic films - with the re-release of a beautiful ET Blu Ray hitting the shelves this month likely to start some of those memories flowing. I personally remember being blown away by the BMX bikes rising into the air in one of the film's magically iconic moments and equally being terrified by the billowing white tents when the government comes for ET at the end.

The collectors' series this year has shown there is a lot of love being put into the extras - for example, the ET set includes a collectable 44 page booklet, with a Drew Barrymore introduction as well as an insight into how the film was created.

There are so many films to think back on - Phantom of the Opera, All Quiet on the Western Front, Arabian Nights, The Deer Hunter. In fact, it's just easier if you watch the video below to set your memories tingling...