The De Laurentiis Entertainment Group Story

The De Laurentiis Entertainment Group has a rich history that spans over three decades. Founded by Franco Zeffirelli's nephew, Aurelio De Laurentiis, in 1977, the company quickly gained momentum with the success of films like "Flash Gordon" and "Dune".

Aurelio's vision for the company was to produce high-quality films that would captivate audiences worldwide. With a focus on science fiction and adventure genres, De Laurentiis Entertainment Group produced some of the most iconic films of the 1980s.

The company's success can be attributed to Aurelio's innovative approach to filmmaking, which included collaborating with renowned directors and producers. Under his leadership, De Laurentiis Entertainment Group produced over 20 films during its peak in the 1980s.

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De Laurentiis Entertainment Group has a rich history that spans several decades. The company's roots can be traced back to 1983 when Dino De Laurentiis produced Firestarter in Wilmington.

In 1984, De Laurentiis founded the North Carolina Film Corporation, with Martha Schumacher as president. This marked a significant milestone in the company's growth and expansion.

The company's acquisition of Embassy Pictures from The Coca-Cola Company in 1985 further solidified its position in the entertainment industry.

In 1983, Dino De Laurentiis produced Firestarter in Wilmington, marking the beginning of the company's involvement in film production.

The governor of North Carolina, James Hunt, was instrumental in attracting the production to the state, using incentives and loans to support the project.

Dino De Laurentiis went on to found the North Carolina Film Corporation in early 1984, with Martha Schumacher as president.

In 1985, DEG acquired Embassy Pictures from The Coca-Cola Company, expanding the company's reach in the film industry.

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The first logo of De Laurentiis Entertainment Group was used from June 6 to September 19, 1986. It featured a black silhouette of a lion from the Dino de Laurentiis Company logo flying up from the bottom to the top of the screen.

The logo had a gray background with red serif letters "DEG" that slowly rose onto the screen, accompanied by the phrase "DE LAURENTIIS ENTERTAINMENT GROUP" in a red serif font underneath. The text rotated from either the left or the right, and an earlier version had a smoother rotation.

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The logo was used for only three months before being replaced by the next one. This logo was usually preceded by an MGM or StudioCanal logo on current prints. Some films, like the trailer for Trick or Treat, had this logo, but the actual film had the next logo instead.

Here are some notable films that used this logo:

The logo was sometimes silent or had the film's opening theme heard over it, and the short version was silent, although some films had the last half of the theme or the film's opening score.

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De Laurentiis Entertainment Group (D.E.G.) was a short-lived but interesting film production company. It produced a slate of films between 1986-1988.

One of its notable films was Shakedown, a crazy action film with shootouts in Coney Island and Times Square. It bet on Peter Weller's star rising with Robocop and Sam Elliot just being Sam Elliot.

D.E.G. had to sell Shakedown off to Universal due to its money woes. The film is a good, dopey action film with genuine stunts in impressive locations.

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Filmography is a fascinating topic, and De Laurentiis Entertainment Group (DEG) had a surprisingly diverse film output during its short existence. DEG released a total of 34 films between 1986 and 1992.

One of the most notable films released by DEG was Blue Velvet, a critically acclaimed mystery thriller directed by David Lynch. Released on September 19, 1986, it's still considered a cult classic today.

DEG also released several other notable films, including Manhunter, a crime thriller directed by Michael Mann, and Near Dark, a vampire horror film directed by Kathryn Bigelow. Both films were released in 1987 and have since become cult classics.

Here's a list of some of the notable films released by DEG:

Canadian distribution of DEG releases were done by Paramount Pictures, which is interesting considering the company's history.

Sunbow Marvel Productions was a joint venture between De Laurentiis Entertainment Group and Marvel Productions in 1986.

The partnership was part of De Laurentiis Entertainment Group's expansion into animation and children's entertainment, which included producing animated series and films.

De Laurentiis Entertainment Group was founded by Italian producer Dino De Laurentiis and was known for producing a range of films, including horror movies and comedies.

The company's main studios were located in Wilmington, North Carolina, which is now EUE/Screen Gems Studios.

De Laurentiis Entertainment Group's first releases were in 1986, but the company went bankrupt two years later after several films, including Million Dollar Mystery, failed at the box office.

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