5 Interesting Facts About Ridley Scott

TV & Film

Oct 22

Ridley Scott’s work has proven incredibly influential in the world of cinema. Alien (1979) revolutionized the genre of horror by incorporating elements of claustrophobia, convincing special effects, and gorgeous set-work that would become instantly identifiable in subsequent sequels. Blade Runner (1982), although not creating the cyberpunk genre, introduced the genre to a large mainstream audience. This world is called back to in several other intellectual properties including the recent Cyberpunk 2077 (2020) video game.

In recent years Scott has found himself enveloped in controversy online. Recent comments regarding the disappointment of his film, The Last Duel (2021) at the box office saw him being accused of being out of touch. A Variety article quotes him as saying “The millennian do not ever want to be taught anything unless you are told it on the cell phone.” This did not endear him to many online, however, many celebrity legacies have complications. Let us look back at the life and legacy of the mind behind the beloved Alien franchise. Here are 5 interesting facts about Ridley Scott!

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5. He Was Born In England

Ridley Scott was born in South Shields, England. According to The Newcastle Chronicle, the town took significant damage in World War I and World War II. The publication notes that “Zeppelin airships attacked the town in World War I, and Nazi air raids caused damage and death in World War II.” Ridley Scott was born on November 30, 1937, and surely grew up during a time of great volatility in his hometown.

4. He Was Influenced By Stanley Kubrick

In the book The Making of Alien by J.W. Rinzler, Ridley Scott recalls seeing Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968). When discussing the special effects employed in the film Scott stated, “Kubrick did fool me.” He accredits Kubrick with opening the door to science fiction as a genre to him. He continued with “He just crossed me into the zone. This feels so real and so logical and so clever…magical. I thought, ‘Oh, okay, science fiction is acceptable.’ It lifted the lid off for me.”

3. He Attended The University Of Southern California

Image Source: *University of Southern California*

The University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts has produced incredible talent. Some notables include George Lucas, Stephen Sommers, Ron Howard, Judd Apatow, and John Singleton. As a student at the University of Southern California, he made an important friend: John Carpenter. Carpenter, an alumnus of the program Scott was attending, would direct some of the most impact films in American cinema history. These include classics like Halloween (1978) and The Thing (1982). The duo’s collaborations on the film Dark Star (1974) proved pivotal in the development of Scott’s filmmaking journey.

2. He Was Knighted

Queen Elizabeth II knighted Ridley Scott for his contribution to the film industry in 2003. After receiving the honor at Buckingham Palace, IMDb quotes him as saying, “As a boy growing up in South Shields, I could never have imagined that I would receive such a special recognition.” He joined the ranks of filmmaking royalty that includes Richard Attenborough, Alfred Hitchcock, Sidney Poitier, and Sam Mendes to name a few.

1. He Won The BAFTA For Lifetime Achievement

In his acceptance speech, he gave credit to teachers and professors. The Business Standard quoted Scott as saying the teaching profession is “the most important of all.” He joins the likes of Alfred Hitchcock, Charlie Chaplin, Steven Spielberg, and Maggie Smith among others.

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Source(s): The Movie Database

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