On This Day: Marty McFly went back in time

A teenager, a madcap scientist and a DeLorean that could travel through time. Forty-one years ago today, according to one of Hollywood’s best-loved movies, Marty McFly took the ride of his life.

Remember the clock tower? The skateboard chase? Or Doc Brown shouting about needing 1.21 gigawatts of electricity?

For anyone who fell in love with Back to the Future in the 1980s, those scenes are almost impossible to forget.

On October 26, 1985, at 1.20am, Marty McFly, played by Michael J. Fox, accidentally travelled back 30 years to November 5, 1955, in a time machine built from a DeLorean sports car.

At least, that’s how it happened in the movie!

Released in July 1985, Back to the Future became one of the decade’s biggest cinema hits, bringing together Fox and Christopher Lloyd as the wonderfully eccentric inventor Emmett “Doc” Brown.

Great Scott! What a movie

Directed by Robert Zemeckis and produced with Steven Spielberg as executive producer, the film sent Marty into a world of diners, school dances and teenagers who would eventually become his parents.

There was Lea Thompson as Lorraine, Crispin Glover as George and Thomas F. Wilson as the unforgettable bully Biff Tannen.

And who could forget Huey Lewis and the News belting out The Power of Love?

The film inspired two sequels, and its mix of humour, adventure and nostalgia continues to delight audiences more than four decades later.

The day Arnold said he’d be back

October 26 also marks a genuine Hollywood release anniversary.

On this day in 1984, The Terminator opened in American cinemas, introducing Arnold Schwarzenegger as a seemingly unstoppable cyborg sent from the future.

Directed by James Cameron, the science-fiction thriller also starred Linda Hamilton as Sarah Connor.

Its famous line, “I’ll be back,” became one of cinema’s most quoted catchphrases.

Muhammad Ali’s big return

On October 26, 1970, boxing legend Muhammad Ali returned to the ring after more than three years away from professional boxing.

His opponent was Jerry Quarry, whom Ali defeated when the fight was stopped after three rounds in Atlanta.

The comeback followed Ali’s suspension from boxing after refusing induction into the US military during the Vietnam War.

Born on this day

Hillary Clinton, former US Secretary of State and presidential candidate, turns 79 today.

Jaclyn Smith, beloved as Kelly Garrett in the original Charlie’s Angels, celebrates her 81st birthday.

And Seth MacFarlane, creator of Family Guy, turns 53.

Do you remember?

Did you see Back to the Future at the cinema in 1985? And if you could climb into Doc Brown’s DeLorean today, which year would you travel back to?