The 2.7 million
gallon lake / tank features regularly in movies where close control
over a large body of water
is required.
The
effects team for Godzilla (1998)
recreated the Hudson River here for the sequence which featured in
the trailer.
Falls
Lake was recently used for a massive tomb set for National Treasure: Book of Secrets with Nicolas
Cage. It's also recently been used for Evan Almighty (Ark
sequence) and Pirates of the Caribbean: World's End.
Old Falls Lake
made an appearance as the swamp in Psycho (1960)
Essentially
a large outdoor water tank, this facility was formerly located closer to the current Psycho House location than it is now. It was constructed in 1926 for
the early Universal classic "Uncle Tom's Cabin" and was named after a
massive waterfall flowing down fake "cliffs".
The cliffs were made from a plaster-like material called "Hydrocal",
and could be adjusted in height.
The area the
waterfall occupied is currently taken up with the set for Site 'B'
from Jurassic Park 2, adjacent to the War of the Worlds set. The waterfall
used to be pumped over the steep hill to the rear of the crashed jet plane
set.
The
main features
of "new" Falls Lake are the log cabin (built for 1988's The
Great Outdoors with
John Candy and Dan Ackroyd and used in ABC's Coach)
and the massive (200 feet wide, 50 feet high) blue sky backing which
provides a backing
to the water tank.
The sky backing was built in 1986 for Jaws: The Revenge.
Falls Lake and backdrop. Photo © Universal Studios
Newly constructed Falls Lake tank preparing Bruce the shark for his role in Jaws the Revenge.
Morgan Freeman and Jim Carrey in Bruce Almighty (2003). In the background is a model of what looks like a lighthouse, designed to give the illusion of a vast expanse of water.
