“The Guinness Book of World Records” is setting a record of its own in 2005: It’s turning 50 years old. And the special-anniversary edition of the book features records set in every category imaginable, including the arts and media.
Although some of the records there are familiar – yes, “The Matrix Reloaded” set the mark for highest box-office gross on an opening day ($42.5 million) – tucked into the list are numerous lesser-known feats and facts:
Most prolific producer: D. Rama Naidu, who has produced 110 films during his career in Indian cinema.
Most Hollywood film performances in the same role: William Boyd, who played cowboy Hopalong Cassidy in 66 full-length Paramount features from 1938 to 1948.
Longest film documentary: “Grandmother Martha,” a 1996 Dutch film about the life of ex-actress and entertainer Martha Stelloo, runs 24 hours, 12 minutes.
Most people thanked by an Oscar winner: On March 13, 1947, Olivia de Havilland thanked 27 people by name in her speech when she won best actress for “To Each His Own.”
Most retakes for one scene with dialogue: It has been claimed that Stanley Kubrick asked Shelly Duvall for 127 retakes in his 1980 horror film “The Shining.”
Most characters voiced by one artist in a cartoon series: Kara Tritton voiced 198 cartoon characters for 75 episodes over six years of Nick Jr.’s “Blue’s Clues” series, playing people, food, animals, ghosts and planets.
Highest fee per minute for an actor in a TV advertisement: Oscar winner Nicole Kidman reportedly earned $3.71 million – $928,800 per minute – for starring in a four-minute commercial for Chanel No. 5 in December.
Most expensive TV program: In terms of cost per episode, it’s “ER.” In January 1998, the series’ producers, Warner Bros., agreed to a three-year deal with NBC for 22 one-hour episodes to be made for $13.1 million each.
Oldest No. 1 box-office star: Marie Dressler was 64 when she became the No.1 box-office star in 1933.
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