Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios: Difference between revisions

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{{PageCredits
{{PageCredits
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'''Metro''' Pictures Corporation was founded on June 23, 1915 by Richard A. Rowland (1880-1947) and Louis B. '''Mayer''' (1885-1957). The company started out distributing films made by Solax Studios but Mayer left soon after operations began to form his own company, Louis B. Mayer Pictures, in 1918. Richard Rowland would continue to produce a number of films in New York City; Fort Lee, New Jersey; and in Hollywood, where he established a backlot at North Cahuenga Boulevard (which remains open and is today known as Red Studios Hollywood). Marcus Loew, a theater magnate who had been seeking product for his ever-expanding collective of nickelodeons, vaudeville houses and movie palaces, acquired Metro Pictures in 1920.
'''Metro''' Pictures Corporation was founded on June 23, 1915 by Richard A. Rowland (1880-1947) and Louis B. '''Mayer''' (1885-1957). The company started out distributing films made by Solax Studios but Mayer left soon after operations began to form his own company, Louis B. Mayer Pictures, in 1918. Richard Rowland would continue to produce a number of films in New York City; Fort Lee, New Jersey; and in Hollywood, where he established a backlot at North Cahuenga Boulevard (which remains open and is today known as Red Studios Hollywood). Marcus Loew, a theater magnate who had been seeking product for his ever-expanding collective of nickelodeons, vaudeville houses and movie palaces, acquired Metro Pictures in 1920.


Dissatisfied with Metro's output following his purchase of the studio, Loew later purchased [[Goldwyn Pictures|'''Goldwyn''' Pictures]] in 1924 and combined the two studios in the hope of creating higher quality content for his theaters. The same year, Louis B. Mayer sold his company, Louis B. Mayer Productions, to Loew for $75,000 (Around $1.17 million adjusted for inflation). The merger between the three studios was completed on April 17, 1924, with the three studios becoming '''Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Inc.''', or simply '''MGM'''. With Mayer serving as head of the studio Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer became one of the major players in the Golden Age of Hollywood and was part of the "Big Five" studios alongside [[Paramount Pictures]], [[RKO Radio Pictures]], [[20th Century Studios|20th Century Fox]] and [[Warner Bros. Pictures]]. At its peak in the 1930s, the studio was releasing 50 films a year. In 1952, Loews Inc. was forced to relinquish control of MGM due to the outcome of ''[[w:United States v. Paramount Pictures, Inc.|United States v. Paramount Pictures, Inc.]]'' forcing studios and theaters to separate. The split between Loews and MGM was finalized in 1959; by then, MGM was in decline due to a combination of that split, the decline of the old studio system and the rise of television. In 1957, the same year Louis B. Mayer died, the company filed a loss for the first time ever.     
Dissatisfied with Metro's output following his purchase of the studio, Loew later purchased [[Goldwyn Pictures|'''Goldwyn''' Pictures]] in 1924 and combined the two studios in the hope of creating higher quality content for his theaters. The same year, Louis B. Mayer sold his company, Louis B. Mayer Productions, to Loew for $75,000 (Around $1.17 million adjusted for inflation). The merger between the three studios was completed on April 17, 1924, with the three studios becoming '''Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Inc.''', or simply '''MGM'''. With Mayer serving as head of the studio Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer became one of the major players in the Golden Age of Hollywood and was part of the "Big Five" studios alongside [[Paramount Pictures]], [[RKO Radio Pictures]], [[20th Century Studios|20th Century Fox]] and [[Warner Bros. Pictures|Warner Bros.]]. At its peak in the 1930s, the studio was releasing 50 films a year. In 1952, Loews Inc. was forced to relinquish control of MGM due to the outcome of ''[[w:United States v. Paramount Pictures, Inc.|United States v. Paramount Pictures, Inc.]]'' forcing studios and theaters to separate. The split between Loews and MGM was finalized in 1959; by then, MGM was in decline due to a combination of that split, the decline of the old studio system and the rise of television. In 1957, the same year Louis B. Mayer died, the company filed a loss for the first time ever.     


In 1969, Kirk Kerkorian purchased the company. In 1981, MGM purchased the failing [[United Artists]] and in 1982, was renamed MGM/UA Entertainment Co. On March 25, 1986, MGM/UA was purchased by Ted Turner (temporarily renaming the company MGM Entertainment Co.), but after a large amount of debt, sold it back on August 26, keeping the pre-1986 MGM library. MGM was then renamed to MGM/UA Communications Co. Then in 1990, it became MGM-Pathé Communications Co. after Giancarlo Parretti purchased the company and merged it with Pathé Communications (not to be confused with [[Pathé (France)|the well-known French Pathé studio]]). Due to lawsuits, it was sold back to Kerkorian yet again and the company became Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in 1992. On April 8, 2005, a consortium led by [[Sony Entertainment|Sony]] bought the company.  
In 1969, Kirk Kerkorian purchased the company. However in 1973, MGM closed its distribution offices and signed a distribution agreement with [[United Artists]] for distribution in the US, the company also made a similar agreement with [[Cinema Internarional Coporation|CIC]] for international distribution. In 1981, MGM purchased the failing United Artists and in 1982, was renamed MGM/UA Entertainment Co with UA's distribution branch being renamed to MGM/United Artists Distribution and Marketing and later to MGM/UA Distribution Co. MGM was also a founding partner in CIC's successor [[United International Pictures]]. On March 25, 1986, MGM/UA was purchased by Ted Turner (temporarily renaming the company MGM Entertainment Co.), but after a large amount of debt, sold it back on August 26, keeping the pre-1986 MGM library. MGM was then renamed to MGM/UA Communications Co. Then in 1990, it became MGM-Pathé Communications Co. after Giancarlo Parretti purchased the company and merged it with Pathé Communications (not to be confused with [[Pathé (France)|the well-known French Pathé studio]]). Due to lawsuits, it was sold back to Kerkorian yet again and the company became Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in 1992. In 2000, MGM broke off their international distribution agreement with UIP and instead signed with [[20th Century Studios|20th Century Fox]] to take over international distribution rights from UIP. On April 8, 2005, a consortium led by [[Sony Entertainment|Sony]]'s US branch bought the company.  


During 2009-2010, MGM had financial difficulties and filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on November 3, 2010. After escaping from bankruptcy on December 20, 2010, Spyglass executives Gary Barber and Roger Birnbaum became co-CEOs and co-Chairs. Birnbaum left on October 3, 2012, and Barber was fired in March 2018.  
During 2009-2010, MGM had financial difficulties and filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on November 3, 2010. After escaping from bankruptcy on December 20, 2010, Spyglass executives Gary Barber and Roger Birnbaum became co-CEOs and co-Chairs. Birnbaum left on October 3, 2012, and Barber was fired in March 2018.  


Today, much of the studio's newer output is produced with and/or distributed by [[Columbia Pictures|Columbia]], [[Paramount Pictures|Paramount]], and [[Warner Bros. Pictures]]. As of 2019, some newer releases are distributed by [[United Artists Releasing]], the rebranding of Mirror, a joint venture between MGM and [[Annapurna Pictures]].  
Today, much of the studio's newer output is produced with and/or distributed by [[Columbia Pictures|Columbia]], [[Paramount Pictures|Paramount]], and [[Warner Bros. Pictures]] in all territories outside of the Nordics, Israel, Central Europe and the Middle East. In 2017, MGM signed an agreement with [[Anapurna Pictures]] to distribute titles from both parties in the US with third-party titles being released under the Mirror banner. MGM also signed an agreement with [[Universal Pictures]] that same year to handle international distribution of MGM titles. In 2019, the partnership became known as [[United Artists Releasing]] and [[Orion Pictures]]' distribution staff were added into the venture.


On May 26, 2021, online shopping company Amazon announced their intention to acquire MGM for $8.45 billion. The deal was finalized on March 17, 2022.  
On May 26, 2021, online shopping company Amazon announced their intention to acquire MGM for $8.45 billion. The deal was finalized on March 17, 2022.  
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*There is also a longer variant that is basically a 3-lion roar restoration, which was not seen on films at all.
*There is also a longer variant that is basically a 3-lion roar restoration, which was not seen on films at all.
*2010-: A closing variant appears at the end of ''Hot Tub Time Machine'' and some catalog titles, in which the words "{{Font|Times New Roman|DISTRIBUTED BY MGM DISTRIBUTION CO.}}" appear in place of the URL. On a recent WGN airing of ''Mr. Mom'', a slightly different font is used.
*2010-: A closing variant appears at the end of ''Hot Tub Time Machine'' and some catalog titles, in which the words "{{Font|Times New Roman|DISTRIBUTED BY MGM DISTRIBUTION CO.}}" appear in place of the URL. On a recent WGN airing of ''Mr. Mom'', a slightly different font is used.
*Starting in 2011, the logo began appearing without the URL, this was because after their emergence from bankruptcy, MGM stopped independently releasing their films. It first appeared on ''The Cutting Edge: Fire and Ice'' in 2010. Then it made an appearance on a behind-the-scenes video of ''Zookeeper'' found on the MGM website, as well as the trailers for ''The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo'', ''21 Jump Street'' and ''G.I. Joe: Retaliation''. Oddly, the roar track is not used on the former two trailers, though it is heard on the latter. The logo made its first appearance on a theatrical release of ''The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo''.
*Starting in 2011, the logo began appearing without the URL, this was because after their emergence from bankruptcy, MGM stopped independently releasing their films (outside some regions). It first appeared on ''The Cutting Edge: Fire and Ice'' in 2010. Then it made an appearance on a behind-the-scenes video of ''Zookeeper'' found on the MGM website, as well as the trailers for ''The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo'', ''21 Jump Street'' and ''G.I. Joe: Retaliation''. Oddly, the roar track is not used on the former two trailers, though it is heard on the latter. The logo made its first appearance on a theatrical release of ''The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo''.


'''FX/SFX:''' Leo roaring. This version was created by Pacific Title.
'''FX/SFX:''' Leo roaring. This version was created by Pacific Title.

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