United Artists: Difference between revisions

'''Logo:''' We see a rounded UA monogram with the company name in the middle on a rock wall.

'''FX/SFX:''' Absolutely none.

'''Music/Sounds:''' Possibly silent.

'''Availability:''' Possibly extinct. It may have appeared on their earlier films.

'''Editor's Note:''' A United Artists logo that connected the two initials side to side was an idea that wouldn’t be used again until the 1980s.

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'''Nicknames:''' "The Hexagon", "The UA Hexagon"

'''Logo:''' We see the words "UNITED ARTISTS" appearing inside a 3-layerhexagon shape.

'''Variants:'''

'''FX/SFX:''' None.

'''Music/Sounds:''' Most of the time it is silent, though some films have their intro music playing.

'''Availability:''' Extremely rare.

'''Editor’s Note:''' A semi-iconic logo representing the early days of UA.

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'''Nickname:''' "The United Artists Eagle"

'''Logo:''' We see the words "UNITED ARTISTS" appearing in front of a design of a bald eagle. Above this "A" is seen, and below it "Release" is seen. The latter two phrases are in cursive.

'''Variants:'''

'''FX/SFX:''' None.

'''Music/Sounds:''' The opening theme to the film.

'''Availability:''' Ultra rare. Only two films are known to contain this logo, which are ''I Married a Witch'' and ''The Crystal Ball''. This logo is preserved on the 2013 The Criterion Collection Blu-ray release and TCM airings of the former. It should be noted that both films were produced by Paramount Pictures and were sold to United Artists for distribution. The logo may appear on other films that Paramount produced and sold to United Artists. The variant can be seen on ''Victory Through Air Power''.

'''Editor’s Note:''' One of UA's first attempts to use a consistent logo in the United States.

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'''Nicknames:''' "The UA-Transamerica Circle", "The UA Ovoid"

'''Logo:''' We see the words "UNITED ARTISTS" appearing inside a circular field. The words "A Transamerica CORPORATION" (or "A Transamerica COMPANY") are seen in small letters underneath. The "U" and the "A" are somewhat taller than the rest of the company name, and they overlap each other. The word "FROM" appears above the UA circle, in teeny, tiny letters. The logo is contained inside a {{Font color|gold|yellow}} circle, focused off-center from the screen, but centered around the logo, which is inside a {{Font color|blue|blue}} rectangle with rounded corners, encased inside an off-center {{Font color|purple|purple}} box, surrounded by offset {{Font color|darkred|dark red}} bars.

'''Variants:''' There were a few color scheme variations used for this logo besides the normal version:

'''FX/SFX:''' None.

'''Music/Sounds:''' Usually silent, or has the opening theme or audio to the film playing over it.

'''Music/Sounds Variants:''' On the American prints of the Italian James Bond spoof ''Operation Kid Brother'' (Original Italian title: ''O.K. Connery''), this logo plastered the original Titanus logo that started the picture, but maintained Titanus' fanfare: A ten-note fanfare with the first seven notes sounding like a solo cornet, and the final three played by a brass trio. UA likely extended the animation of their logo at the time to match the length of the Titanus fanfare.

'''Availability:''' Extremely rare.

'''Editor’s Note:''' Even though it was short-lived, this is a very interesting (and colorful) logo nonetheless.

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'''Nickname:''' "The Transamerica T"

'''Logo:''' It starts with two sets of {{Font color|blue|blue}} lines going into place, one by one on a black background. One line turns to the left, another turns to the right, and so on. There are six lines altogether, revealing the logo of Transamerica Corporation, United Artists' former owner. The stylized {{Font color|blue|blue}} "{{Font color|blue|T}}" design zooms out to the right side to make room for the company name "United Artists", which appears in an Impact font. A small byline pops in afterward, reading "Entertainment from Transamerica Corporation", which appears under the UA name.

'''Trivia:'''

'''Variants:'''

'''FX/SFX:''' The stacking of the lines and the zooming out.

'''Music/Sounds:''' An ascending musical scale of 6 groovy bass guitar notes accompanying each of the 6 {{Font color|blue|blue}} lines, followed by a sharp drum roll, and concluded by a fanfare of horns and drums composed by Doug Goodwin, who also composed "From Head to Toes", the theme used at the intro and closing of ''The Pink Panther Show''.

'''Music/Sounds Variants:'''

'''Availability:''' Uncommon, bordering on rare.

'''Editor’s Note:''' This logo is a favorite among many due to its unique animation and funky fanfare. It's also one of the earliest examples of brand unification, as Transamerica used the same font and logo throughout all of its divisions.

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'''Nicknames:''' "Blue Light", "The Secret Transamerica T", "UA Glow"

'''Logo:''' The text "UNITED ARTISTS" starts appearing on a black screen in five segments, outlined by a {{Font color|blue}} blue light. After "UNITED ARTISTS" is completely revealed, the Transamerica "T" and the byline "A Transamerica Company" (which is sometimes tinted {{Font color|gold|gold}}) fade in below as "UNITED ARTISTS" turns {{Font color|orange|orange}}. Then, various spots on the word "UNITED ARTISTS" sparkle for a few seconds.

'''Variants:'''

'''FX/SFX:''' The logo appearing in segments, the outline, the fade in of the "Transamerica T" and the byline (when it applies), and the sparkling on various on the "UNITED ARTISTS" text.

'''Music/Sounds:''' Silent or the film's opening theme. On the 2001 Special Edition DVD release of ''Rocky'', however, it uses the 1995 music, due to a reverse plastering error (the previous 1998 DVD had the 1995 logo).

'''Availability:''' Very rare, due to this logo being short-lived.

'''Editor’s Note:''' An interesting concept, though it's not as fun as the previous logo.

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'''Nicknames:''' "Transamerica T '75", "The Transamerica T II"

'''Logo:''' We see the text "United Artists" in a similar Impact font on a black background. A few seconds later, the {{Font color|blue|blue}} "T" design fades in on the left side of the company name. Like the previous logo variant, the "T" is made up of 6 {{Font color|blue|blue}} lines, with three stacked on top of each other on both sides. At the same time, a {{Font color|blue|blue}} text that says "{{Font color|blue|A Transamerica Company}}" appears underneath the United Artists name.

'''Variants:'''

'''FX/SFX:''' The "United Artists" text appearing, the {{Font color|blue|blue}} stacked "T" and Transamerica byline fading into view.

'''Music/Sounds:''' Silent, or the film's opening cue/theme.

'''Music/Sounds Variant:''' On a recent TCM print of ''Return of the Pink Panther'' and a Russian print of ''Audrey Rose'', it uses the 1995 music due to sloppy reverse plastering.

'''Availability:''' Rare.

'''Editor’s Note:''' While not as memorable as the 5th logo, it still has its fans.

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'''Nicknames:''' "Blank United Artists", "T-less United Artists"

'''Logo:''' It's just the on-screen text of the 7th logo without the Transamerica "T" logo and byline.

'''Trivia:''' This was later used during the time of MGM/UA Entertainment Co.'s formation after MGM merged with United Artists.

'''Variants:'''

'''FX/SFX:''' None.

'''Music/Sounds:''' Usually silent.

'''Availability:''' Very rare, due to it being a placeholder logo. Was seen on the original American prints of ''Last Tango in Paris'' (although the original Magnetic Video Corporation VHS and Betamax uses the contemporary "Transamerica T"), ''Rancho Deluxe'', ''92 in the Shade'', ''Undercovers Hero'', ''Trackdown'', ''Drum'', and other sleaze films Transamerica wanted nothing to do with. Was seen on later Magnetic Video Corporation and most 20th Century-Fox Video VHS, Betamax and Laserdisc prints of ''Rocky'', ''Dr. No'', ''Goldfinger'', ''A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum'', ''For Your Eyes Only'', ''White Lightning'', ''The Return of a Man Called Horse'', and ''Rollerball''. Currently appears on the 2002 MGM DVD and the Criterion DVD & BD releases of ''The French Lieutenant's Woman'' (the last film with any Transamerica references), though streaming prints and overseas Blu-rays have the last logo in its place. Can also be currently found on ''Vigilante Force'', ''Safari 3000'', ''Born to Win'', ''Rancho Deluxe'', ''Drum'', and ''The House Where Evil Dwells''. Appears on some public domain DVDs of ''The Magic Sword''. It first appeared on ''True Confessions'' and made its last appearance on ''The House Where Evil Dwells''.

'''Editor’s Note:''' A boring variant of the previous logo.

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'''Nicknames:''' "Turning UA", "UA Paperclip", "The Sad/Happy Music"

'''Logo:''' On a black screen, a whitish line slowly fades in. The line then rotates clockwise at an extremely slow pace and reveals itself to be a {{Font color|lightskyblue|silvery blue}} stylized "UA". The logo is in the shape of a "U" with a bigger left side, and a diagonal line protruding from the shorter right side to form the "A." When the symbol finishes turning around, the words "United Artists" appear under it in the same font that was used during the "Transamerica" era.

'''Trivia:''' The logo was created and designed by Sandy Dvore (who also created the Lorimar 1971 "LP" logo). The "UA" was a wood model sprayed with chrome-like paint and suspended with a black rod covered in a velvet cloth to avoid reflection. The background was simply a black piece of paper. The model was then rotated on a small stage.

'''Variants:'''

'''FX/SFX:''' The "turning UA".

'''Music/Sounds:''' A low sonic tone plays in the background as the line fades in, then a soft "ping" is heard and a slow, somewhat somber five-note piano tune plays when the line begins rotating; a long "whoosh" is also heard throughout this section. When the "UA" is revealed and the words "United Artists" appear, they are accompanied by a short, swelling progression of violins immediately leading to an uplifting, dramatic 5-note orchestral conclusion. This theme was composed by Joe Harnell.

'''Music/Sounds Variants:'''

'''Availability:''' Rare.

'''Editor's Note:''' This is a very popular logo, thanks to the effective model work, its uplifting fanfare, and its prevalence on VHS releases in the golden age of the format.

'''Logo:''' On a black background, we see a {{Font color|blue|blue}} "UA," similar-looking to the previous logo but more uniformed in structure and with three cross-indentations on the "A." Once it reaches a comfortable distance, the "UA" stops zooming, and "United Artists" in a white thin sans-serif font fades in below it.

'''FX/SFX:''' The zoom-in and fading.

'''Music/Sounds:''' None. On current prints of ''The Living Daylights'', the next logo's fanfare is used, possibly due to botched reverse plastering.

'''Availability:''' It was seen on the initial theatrical prints of the James Bond movie ''The Living Daylights'', particularly the ones seen in Britain. When the movie was released in America and most international countries, it was replaced with the next logo. It is, however, restored on the DVD releases and remains intact on current prints of the film.

'''Editor's Note:''' Clearly, this was intended as a placeholder logo, judging by the simple animation and its rarity.

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'''Nickname:''' "UA Swoosh"

'''Trivia:''' This logo was animated by Rhythm & Hues in 1987. Appeared on their 1988 showreel.

'''Variants:'''

'''FX/SFX:''' The merging and zooming out of the logo and the slashing of the "A". CGI effects.

'''Music/Sounds:''' A low bass sound, followed by a jet engine-like "swoosh" and a single note timed with the logo shining. Other times, it's silent or even the opening soundtrack to the film.

'''Music/Sounds Variants:'''

'''Availability:''' Common. Although subject to plastering with the 1994 and 2001 logos, it is still fairly common on UA-released films of the period such as ''Baby Boom'', ''Rain Man'', and ''Rocky V'' to name a few. First appeared on ''The Living Daylights'' and it made a final appearance on ''Son of The Pink Panther''. It can also be found on the 1997 DVD of ''The Black Stallion'', the MGM MOD DVD-R of ''Tomorrow Is Forever'', the 2001 DVD of ''All Dogs Go to Heaven'', ''License to Kill'', and ''Child's Play'', TCM airings of ''Malta Story'' and ''Valdez Is Coming'', ThisTV airings of ''The World of Henry Orient'', ''Call Me Bwana'', ''The Barefoot Contessa'', ''Bound for Glory'' (with the 6th logo following it), ''Ten Seconds of Hell'', ''Support Your Local Sheriff!'', ''Trail of the Pink Panther'', ''True Love'', and ''The Aviator'', and Comet airings of ''The Man from Planet X'' and ''Minotaur, the Wild Beast of Crete''. Interestingly, this logo also appears on 2005 DVD of ''Fatal Beauty'' (1987 MGM film). This logo was often paired off with the popular MGM/UA Communications logo (which is sometimes cut off like on current prints of ''The Living Daylights'' and a 1993 MGM/UA Home Video print of ''Rocky''), and both logos are thus regarded as favorites. However, the short variant seems slightly easier to find than the normal variant. The Scope variant is extinct and only appears on older letterboxed video releases of ''The Living Daylights'' and used to plaster older logos on certain older DVD releases.

'''Editor’s Note:''' A very popular logo that introduced UA’s current design.

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'''Nicknames:''' "The Gathering Lights", "The UA Gathering Lights", "UA Shining Light", "The Shining Lights", "UA Marble Stone"

'''Logo:''' It starts with a couple dozen bright stars showering over. The backdrop is a dark-colored marble wall, which appears a few seconds later. The glittering stars glide over the screen causing the words, "UNITED ARTISTS" with "U" and "A" bigger than the rest of the letters, wiping in from the left. After this progression, two stars criss-cross each other's paths and fade away left and right underneath to reveal, in smaller text, the words, "PICTURES INC.", in spaced-out letters. As the logo completes, one big star goes against the "U" and flashes. Then it shines, a la the Columbia Torch Lady's torch shining.

'''Variants:'''

'''FX/SFX:''' The glittering stars and the bright shining star.

'''Music/Sounds:''' Some tingling sounds followed by an orchestral tune with a dramatic, trip hop-esque backbeat, ending with a rhythmic twinkling sound. On some films such as ''The Birdcage'' and ''Man in the Iron Mask'' (1998), it has the opening theme.

'''Music/Sounds Variant:''' On the Starz and ThisTV prints of ''Leaving Las Vegas'', it uses the 2001 music.

'''Availability:''' Fairly common. Not as common as it once was when it was the chief means of plastering during most of the 1990s and some of the 2000s. United Artists first unveiled this logo in 1994 on a trailer for ''Tank Girl'', with the full version premiering on the feature itself. This also plastered the MGM/UA Communications variant of the 10th logo on the original MGM DVD releases (as well as on select mid-1990s VHS reissues) of ''Child's Play'' and ''Rain Man''. Also seen on the 007 films ''GoldenEye'' and ''Tomorrow Never Dies''. It is also preserved on older MGM tapes and DVDs (an example being ''12 Angry Men''). On Blu-ray, this appears on the Scream Factory release of ''The Rage: Carrie 2'', MGM's releases of ''The Birdcage'', ''Rob Roy'', the 2014 remastered release of ''Rocky'', and ''Ronin'' (as well as on the 2017 Arrow Video remastered Blu-ray). Strangely, this logo appears on late '90s VHS releases of MGM produced titles such as ''Death Warrant'', ''Thelma and Louise'', ''Delirious'', ''Shattered'' (1991), and other early '90s MGM-Pathè films. Made a surprise appearance on ThisTV broadcasts of ''Separate Tables'' and ''Buffalo Bill and the Indians'' (the latter of which plasters over a Transamerica logo). This is also seen on the Region 4 DVD release of ''The Secret Of NIMH''.

'''Editor's Note:''' Some people who prefer UA's older logos don't like this logo, but it still has amazing CGI and an excellent musical score.

'''Nicknames:''' "UA 2000", "The New UA Paperclip", "UA Paperclip II"

'''Logo:''' On a black screen, white streaks appear, streaking to form a new UA logo that looks similar to the 1982 and 1987 logos, except the logo is a little narrower and there are no streaks. The words "UNITED ARTISTS" come from both sides of the lower part of the screen and converge. The words "AN MGM COMPANY" soon fade in afterwards, where we later see a shining wipe effect on the UA logo.

'''Trivia:'''

'''Variant:''' There is a variant where the logo is zooming out from 1.78:1 to 2.35:1 scope. This was because the film was in scope but the MGM lion preceding was in "flat" aspect.

'''FX/SFX:''' The streaks, the appearance of the logo, and the convergence of the words "UNITED ARTISTS".

'''Music/Sounds:''' A short instrumental bed consisting of a drum beat, a synth harmony, and sounds of wind, with a short 4-note piano stinger at the end. On some films, it is silent or has the film's opening music playing over it.

'''Availability:''' Rare, due to this logo being a placeholder. It was seen on United Artists' limited output of this time before it became an in-name only subsidiary of MGM. Can be seen on DVD releases of ''The Black Stallion Returns'', ''Juggernaut'', and ''The Dogs of War'', and ThisTV airings of ''The Mechanic'' and ''The Last Waltz''.

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'''Nicknames:''' "UA Swoosh 2001", "UA 2001", "The Silver Slices", "Silver Spikes", "The UA Swoosh Returns", "UA Swoosh II", "Metallic UA Swoosh"

'''Logo:''' Essentially the same as the previous logo, except this one includes a metallic version of the "UA Swoosh" logo from 1987. Instead of the cross-indentations of the "A" being swooshed in this time around, they are "sliced" in by a light effect from left to right, one by one. There is also a URL for "www.unitedartists.com" underneath the company byline.

'''Trivia:''' This logo also appears preceded by the current MGM lion on new prints of older United Artists releases.

'''Variants:'''

'''FX/SFX:''' The streaks, the slicing effects, and the convergence of the words "UNITED ARTISTS".

'''Music/Sounds:''' Same as above. On some films such as ''Valkyrie'' and ''Hot Tub Time Machine'', it's silent or has the movie's opening theme playing over it.

'''Music/Sounds Variants:'''

'''Availability:''' Common. It's seen on some new and recent films released by UA, including ''Jeepers Creepers'', ''Ghost World'', and ''Hot Tub Time Machine''. This logo has now become the standard for plastering the Transamerica and later logos on notable films such as the ''James Bond'' and ''Rocky'' franchises. It also appears on PBS's print of ''The Last Waltz''. This logo hasn't been used since the release of 2012's ''Red Dawn'' (and even then, only as a sort of legacy credit), as United Artists now operates in-name-only.

'''Editor's Note:''' A refinement of the previous logo, thanks in large part to the use of the 1987 design.