Columbia Pictures: Difference between revisions
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==Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc.== | ==Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc.== | ||
<u>Background</u>: Following a reorganization, the Cohn brothers renamed the predecessor company as "Columbia Pictures Corporation" on January 10, 1924. Columbia's product line consisted mostly of moderately budgeted features and a short-subject program of comedies, serials, cartoons, and sports films. Columbia gradually moved into the production of higher-budget fare, building a reputation as one of Hollywood's more important studios. On December 23, 1968, it was reorganized as "Columbia Pictures Industries" (commonly known as "Columbia Pictures") after Columbia Pictures Corporation merged with its television division Screen Gems. On June 22, 1982, Columbia Pictures was sold to the Coca-Cola Company for $750 million, became part of Columbia Pictures Entertainment in December 1987 with Coke owning 49%, and since November 8, 1989, it's owned by Sony Corporation of Japan. Since 1998, it is part of the Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group (now Sony Pictures Entertainment Motion Picture Group since 2013), which is a division of Sony Pictures Entertainment, a subsidiary of the mentioned multinational conglomerate. | <u>Background</u>: Following a reorganization, the Cohn brothers renamed the predecessor company as "Columbia Pictures Corporation" on January 10, 1924. Columbia's product line consisted mostly of moderately budgeted features and a short-subject program of comedies, serials, cartoons, and sports films. Columbia gradually moved into the production of higher-budget fare, building a reputation as one of Hollywood's more important studios. On December 23, 1968, it was reorganized as "Columbia Pictures Industries" (commonly known as "Columbia Pictures") after Columbia Pictures Corporation merged with its television division [[Screen Gems Television|Screen Gems]]. On June 22, 1982, Columbia Pictures was sold to [[the Coca-Cola Company]] for $750 million, became part of Columbia Pictures Entertainment in December 1987 with Coke owning 49%, and since November 8, 1989, it's owned by [[Sony Corporation]] of Japan. Since 1998, it is part of the Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group (now Sony Pictures Entertainment Motion Picture Group since 2013), which is a division of Sony Pictures Entertainment, a subsidiary of the mentioned multinational conglomerate. | ||
=== 1st Logo (March 15, 1924-December 29, 1927) === | === 1st Logo (March 15, 1924-December 29, 1927) === | ||
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<u>Editor's Note</u>: TBA. | <u>Editor's Note</u>: TBA. | ||
=== 2nd Logo (January 1928-May 25, 1936) === | === 2nd Logo (January 1928-May 25, 1936) === | ||
<gallery mode="packed" heights="200px"> | <gallery mode="packed" heights="200px"> | ||
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File:kkrl29TGZRUndwrFRFl27g23933.jpg | File:kkrl29TGZRUndwrFRFl27g23933.jpg | ||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
<u>Nicknames</u>: "Early Torch Lady", "Sparkler Torch Lady", "'20s Torch Lady", "Torch Lady" | <u>Nicknames</u>: "Early Torch Lady", "Sparkler Torch Lady", "'20s Torch Lady", "Torch Lady" | ||
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* There is another closing variant that has the words "COLUMBIA PICTURES", with "The End" appearing below, which can be found at the end of The Secret Witness, Maker of Men, and Forbidden (1932). | * There is another closing variant that has the words "COLUMBIA PICTURES", with "The End" appearing below, which can be found at the end of The Secret Witness, Maker of Men, and Forbidden (1932). | ||
* In 2004, Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment released several colorized Three Stooges shorts; these had the Torch Lady in color as well, and the words are in yellow. | * In 2004, Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment released several colorized Three Stooges shorts; these had the Torch Lady in color as well, and the words are in yellow. | ||
<u>FX/SFX</u>: The torch rays shining. This was done using moiré effects and clever editing. | <u>FX/SFX</u>: The torch rays shining. This was done using moiré effects and clever editing. | ||
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<u>Availability</u>: Uncommon. It was seen on It Happened One Night. Also can be seen on The Three Stooges releases on DVD. Can still be seen on reruns of 1934-1936 Three Stooges shorts on IFC, AMC, and Antenna TV. It can also be found on TCM and Sony Movie Channel. Don't expect this to appear on original prints of Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse and Silly Symphony cartoons from 1930-1932, as Columbia only distributed those shorts. | <u>Availability</u>: Uncommon. It was seen on It Happened One Night. Also can be seen on The Three Stooges releases on DVD. Can still be seen on reruns of 1934-1936 Three Stooges shorts on IFC, AMC, and Antenna TV. It can also be found on TCM and Sony Movie Channel. Don't expect this to appear on original prints of Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse and Silly Symphony cartoons from 1930-1932, as Columbia only distributed those shorts. | ||
=== 3rd Logo (May 28, 1936-December 21, 1976) === | === 3rd Logo (May 28, 1936-December 21, 1976) === | ||
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</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
<u>Nicknames</u>: "Classic Torch Lady", "'30s Torch Lady", ''Torch Lady II"'' | |||
Nicknames: "Classic Torch Lady", "'30s Torch Lady", ''Torch Lady II"'' | |||
<u>Logo</u>: We see the lady, this time standing on top of a pedestal with a backdrop of clouds over her, while she is holding her light torch. Much more refined, ethereal and goddess-like, her facial features became less pronounced and she looked away (up and to the right) instead of straight ahead. Her headdress was removed and her hair swept back instead of hanging by the sides of her face. The drape over her shoulder became less-obviously an American flag, the stars on the left shoulder having been toned down in a shadow, and the stripes visible only on the portion of the drape hanging down her right side. "A COLUMBIA PRODUCTION" was replaced with the tall chiseled letters of "COLUMBIA" (which fades in a second afterward) running straight across the top section of the screen, with the lady's torch glowing in front of the "U". A new form of animation was used on the logo as well, with a torch that radiates light instead of flickers. Until the mid-1960s, this logo would also appear at the end of films, sometimes with the words "The End" in a script font. | <u>Logo</u>: We see the lady, this time standing on top of a pedestal with a backdrop of clouds over her, while she is holding her light torch. Much more refined, ethereal and goddess-like, her facial features became less pronounced and she looked away (up and to the right) instead of straight ahead. Her headdress was removed and her hair swept back instead of hanging by the sides of her face. The drape over her shoulder became less-obviously an American flag, the stars on the left shoulder having been toned down in a shadow, and the stripes visible only on the portion of the drape hanging down her right side. "A COLUMBIA PRODUCTION" was replaced with the tall chiseled letters of "COLUMBIA" (which fades in a second afterward) running straight across the top section of the screen, with the lady's torch glowing in front of the "U". A new form of animation was used on the logo as well, with a torch that radiates light instead of flickers. Until the mid-1960s, this logo would also appear at the end of films, sometimes with the words "The End" in a script font. | ||
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* On 3D movies produced by the company, a 3D version of this logo was employed. Depth was as follows: the Torch Lady was closest to the screen, with "COLUMBIA" slightly behind her, and the cloud background farthest back. | * On 3D movies produced by the company, a 3D version of this logo was employed. Depth was as follows: the Torch Lady was closest to the screen, with "COLUMBIA" slightly behind her, and the cloud background farthest back. | ||
* An ending variant was used on serials in the '30s and '40s. Along the bottom, it would read "A Columbia Serial" along the bottom. These were used on the Batman serials among others. | * An ending variant was used on serials in the '30s and '40s. Along the bottom, it would read "A Columbia Serial" along the bottom. These were used on the Batman serials among others. | ||
* Two ending variants existed for short subjects during the early '40s: (1) Near the top of the screen, "THE" is in a 3-D-like Futura font, with a white face and dark/light shadows, to the left of the Torch Lady, and "END," in the same font and effects, is to the right; the shadows from "THE END" go behind the Torch Lady to an unknown vanishing point behind the rays of her torch (much like the early-to-mid-60's Four Star Television logo's effect). Near the top of the Torch Lady's pedestal "COLUMBIA" is in a small but wider version of the company name's "chiseled" font, and "SHORT" "SUBJECT" "PRESENTATION" is chiseled onto each step of the pedestal, going from top to bottom, respectively (when seen on colorized prints of The Three Stooges, "THE" "END" and "COLUMBIA" are in a yellowish-gold color and the clouds and shadows are shades of dark and light blue, respectively); and (2) the standard "The End" additional text below would read "A Columbia Short Subject Presentation". These variants are usually seen on The Three Stooges shorts and often accompanies the aforementioned title card variant. | * Two ending variants existed for short subjects during the early '40s: (1) Near the top of the screen, "THE" is in a 3-D-like Futura font, with a white face and dark/light shadows, to the left of the Torch Lady, and "END," in the same font and effects, is to the right; the shadows from "THE END" go behind the Torch Lady to an unknown vanishing point behind the rays of her torch (much like the early-to-mid-60's [[Four Star Television]] logo's effect). Near the top of the Torch Lady's pedestal "COLUMBIA" is in a small but wider version of the company name's "chiseled" font, and "SHORT" "SUBJECT" "PRESENTATION" is chiseled onto each step of the pedestal, going from top to bottom, respectively (when seen on colorized prints of The Three Stooges, "THE" "END" and "COLUMBIA" are in a yellowish-gold color and the clouds and shadows are shades of dark and light blue, respectively); and (2) the standard "The End" additional text below would read "A Columbia Short Subject Presentation". These variants are usually seen on The Three Stooges shorts and often accompanies the aforementioned title card variant. | ||
<u>FX/SFX</u>: The torch rays shine more realistically in this version. | <u>FX/SFX</u>: The torch rays shine more realistically in this version. | ||
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* The 1973 variation was also seen on some later struck 16mm prints of some Three Stooges shorts, sometimes plastering the Screen Gems logo with the latter logo's music sometimes preserved, with Tricky Dicks and Three Pests in a Mess being common examples. | * The 1973 variation was also seen on some later struck 16mm prints of some Three Stooges shorts, sometimes plastering the Screen Gems logo with the latter logo's music sometimes preserved, with Tricky Dicks and Three Pests in a Mess being common examples. | ||
* Tommy originally featured the 1968-75 variation of the logo, but was plastered with the next logo below on all later prints and home video releases of the film. Monty Python's And Now for Something Completely Different suffered the same fate as Tommy on the video releases, but has been restored on the DVD releases. | * Tommy originally featured the 1968-75 variation of the logo, but was plastered with the next logo below on all later prints and home video releases of the film. Monty Python's And Now for Something Completely Different suffered the same fate as Tommy on the video releases, but has been restored on the DVD releases. | ||
* This was seen on early releases of the 1975 version of The Stepford Wives, but when Viacom bought the rights to the film, along with the rest of the Palomar Pictures catalog in the mid-'80s, the logo was deleted. However, following the release of the 2004 remake, Paramount Pictures gained rights to the original film through Viacom (owner of the former company), and added their 2002 logo at the beginning of all current prints. | * This was seen on early releases of the 1975 version of The Stepford Wives, but when [[ViacomCBS|Viacom]] bought the rights to the film, along with the rest of the Palomar Pictures catalog in the mid-'80s, the logo was deleted. However, following the release of the 2004 remake, [[Paramount Pictures]] gained rights to the original film through Viacom (owner of the former company), and added their 2002 logo at the beginning of all current prints. | ||
* This also appears on current prints of films that originally had the 2nd logo, including Dirigible, Behind the Mask, Shopworn, The Circus Queen Murder, Man's Castle, Twentieth Century, The Whole Town's Talking, The Black Room (1935), and She Married Her Boss. | * This also appears on current prints of films that originally had the 2nd logo, including Dirigible, Behind the Mask, Shopworn, The Circus Queen Murder, Man's Castle, Twentieth Century, The Whole Town's Talking, The Black Room (1935), and She Married Her Boss. | ||
* The "A Columbia Serial" variant can be seen on the old Batman serials when aired on TCM. | * The "A Columbia Serial" variant can be seen on the old Batman serials when aired on TCM. | ||
* The 3D version appears on the company's Golden Age 3D features, including Man in the Dark, Miss Sadie Thompson, and The Mad Magician. | * The 3D version appears on the company's Golden Age 3D features, including Man in the Dark, Miss Sadie Thompson, and The Mad Magician. | ||
* The Three Stooges shorts that include the "Short Subject" <u><u>Variants</u></u> will likely be retained, being followed by the Sony Pictures Television logo. | * The Three Stooges shorts that include the "Short Subject" <u><u>Variants</u></u> will likely be retained, being followed by the [[Sony Pictures Television]] logo. | ||
<u>Editor's Note</u>: It's held up remarkably over the 40 years it's been used. | <u>Editor's Note</u>: It's held up remarkably over the 40 years it's been used. | ||
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</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
Nicknames: "'70s Torch Lady", "The Abstract Torch", "The Sunburst", ''Torch Lady III"'' | <u>Nicknames</u>: "'70s Torch Lady", "The Abstract Torch", "The Sunburst", ''Torch Lady III"'' | ||
<u>Logo</u>: It begins with the familiar Columbia Torch Lady (a less-detailed yellow-toned 1942 Torch Lady), standing on the pedestal holding her light torch against the backdrop of clouds. Then, the picture moves upward and towards the torch as the rays pull in, which shines even more as the picture blurs around it. It then emits a flash that fills the screen. When the flash dissolves, the light torch itself appears, as if in sunburst, against a black screen and as it shrinks, it changes into a more "abstract" torch: a blue half circle, or a semicircle, with thirteen white light rays in the center and the words "Columbia Pictures" in Souvenir medium font under it. The entire logo then slowly backs away as it fades out. | <u>Logo</u>: It begins with the familiar Columbia Torch Lady (a less-detailed yellow-toned 1942 Torch Lady), standing on the pedestal holding her light torch against the backdrop of clouds. Then, the picture moves upward and towards the torch as the rays pull in, which shines even more as the picture blurs around it. It then emits a flash that fills the screen. When the flash dissolves, the light torch itself appears, as if in sunburst, against a black screen and as it shrinks, it changes into a more "abstract" torch: a blue half circle, or a semicircle, with thirteen white light rays in the center and the words "Columbia Pictures" in Souvenir medium font under it. The entire logo then slowly backs away as it fades out. | ||
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* The animation for the Sunburst logo was provided by Robert Abel and Associates, who specialized in elaborate, motion-controlled animation and lighting effects, and also did work on commercials (early 1970s 7-Up ads among many others) and Star Trek: The Motion Picture. | * The animation for the Sunburst logo was provided by Robert Abel and Associates, who specialized in elaborate, motion-controlled animation and lighting effects, and also did work on commercials (early 1970s 7-Up ads among many others) and Star Trek: The Motion Picture. | ||
* The main instruments appearing on the soundtrack were a small horn section, Suzanne Ciani's Buchla modular (for the "popping" effects) and an ARP string synth (the same model Gary Wright used for his song "Dream Weaver" around the same time). | * The main instruments appearing on the soundtrack were a small horn section, Suzanne Ciani's Buchla modular (for the "popping" effects) and an ARP string synth (the same model Gary Wright used for his song "Dream Weaver" around the same time). | ||
<u>Variant</u>: When viewed in 4:3 full-frame, there are varying versions where we see her pedestal. There are close and medium views. There is a far view version in 1.85:1 on the U.S. Blu-ray release of Tommy. | <u>Variant</u>: When viewed in 4:3 full-frame, there are varying versions where we see her pedestal. There are close and medium views. There is a far view version in 1.85:1 on the U.S. Blu-ray release of Tommy. | ||
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<u>Availability</u>: Common. Sony is much better at keeping older theatrical logos on current releases of their films than their TV output (which is another story). In the early days of Columbia Pictures' video division, however, this logo would be plastered by their home video logo. Otherwise, all later video releases, DVDs/Blu-rays, and TV broadcasts retain this logo. | <u>Availability</u>: Common. Sony is much better at keeping older theatrical logos on current releases of their films than their TV output (which is another story). In the early days of Columbia Pictures' video division, however, this logo would be plastered by their home video logo. Otherwise, all later video releases, DVDs/Blu-rays, and TV broadcasts retain this logo. | ||
* The first film to use this logo was Murder by Death, while the last to use it was Happy Birthday to Me. However, in international territories, it was used until at least 1982 as this appeared on Death Wish II (released domestically by Filmways Pictures). | * The first film to use this logo was Murder by Death, while the last to use it was Happy Birthday to Me. However, in international territories, it was used until at least 1982 as this appeared on Death Wish II (released domestically by [[Filmways Pictures]]). | ||
* On some airings of The Mirror Crack'd (the 1980 Angela Lansbury version), the logo is not shown at all, but is intact on most home media releases and uncut TV airings. | * On some airings of The Mirror Crack'd (the 1980 Angela Lansbury version), the logo is not shown at all, but is intact on most home media releases and uncut TV airings. | ||
* The 1980 Magnetic Video release of the ITC Entertainment film The Eagle Has Landed, which Columbia distributed in the United States, also has this logo. | * The 1980 [[Magnetic Video Corporation|Magnetic Video]] release of the [[ITC Entertainment Group|ITC Entertainment]] film The Eagle Has Landed, which Columbia distributed in the United States, also has this logo. | ||
* It also plasters the previous logo on Tommy, and 1980s and early 1990s U.S. VHS prints of Monty Python's And Now for Something Completely Different. | * It also plasters the previous logo on Tommy, and 1980s and early 1990s U.S. VHS prints of Monty Python's And Now for Something Completely Different. | ||
* It was also seen on some pre-release versions of Stripes, before switching to the next logo for general release, as well as on home video releases. | * It was also seen on some pre-release versions of Stripes, before switching to the next logo for general release, as well as on home video releases. | ||
* The 1988 Goodtimes Home Video release of Close Encounters of the Third Kind (as well as most other Columbia films distributed by Goodtimes on VHS during this period, such as the original 1977Fun With Dick and Jane)edits this out and goes straight to the opening credits. Although other prints, such as the 2001 DVD and 30th Anniversary Blu-ray/DVD, retain it (as do later reissues of said other Columbia films from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment). | * The 1988 [[Goodtimes Home Video]] release of Close Encounters of the Third Kind (as well as most other Columbia films distributed by Goodtimes on VHS during this period, such as the original 1977Fun With Dick and Jane)edits this out and goes straight to the opening credits. Although other prints, such as the 2001 DVD and 30th Anniversary Blu-ray/DVD, retain it (as do later reissues of said other Columbia films from [[Sony Pictures Home Entertainment]]). | ||
* Don't expect to see this or the 1963 Universal logo on the Steven Spielberg movie, 1941 (which Columbia co-released with Universal). | * Don't expect to see this or the 1963 [[Universal Pictures|Universal]] logo on the Steven Spielberg movie, 1941 (which Columbia co-released with Universal). | ||
<u>Editor's Note</u>: This is a favorite of many. | <u>Editor's Note</u>: This is a favorite of many. | ||
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<u>Editor's Note</u>: A notable variant of the 1930s logo. It makes good use of the Souvenir font, making this logo work. | <u>Editor's Note</u>: A notable variant of the 1930s logo. It makes good use of the Souvenir font, making this logo work. | ||
=== 6th Logo (June 13, 1993- ) === | |||
6th Logo | |||
(June 13, 1993- ) | |||
Columbia Pictures (1993)Columbia Pictures (1996)Columbia Pictures (2000)Columbia Pictures 1993 (open-mattiest)Columbia Pictures (1996)Columbia Pictures (1996)Columbia (2005)Columbia Pictures - CLG WikiColumbia Pictures (2006-Present)Columbia Pictures (2006- )Columbia 2013 Byline | Columbia Pictures (1993)Columbia Pictures (1996)Columbia Pictures (2000)Columbia Pictures 1993 (open-mattiest)Columbia Pictures (1996)Columbia Pictures (1996)Columbia (2005)Columbia Pictures - CLG WikiColumbia Pictures (2006-Present)Columbia Pictures (2006- )Columbia 2013 Byline | ||
Columbia Pictures (Closing, 1993)Columbia Pictures Closing (1993, Released by)Columbia PicturesA Columbia Pictures Release (1997)Columbia Pictures (2002; Closing version)Columbia Pictures (2016)Columbia Pictures (2011)Columbia Pictures (2017, closing 2)Columbia Pictures (2017, closing 1) | Columbia Pictures (Closing, 1993)Columbia Pictures Closing (1993, Released by)Columbia PicturesA Columbia Pictures Release (1997)Columbia Pictures (2002; Closing version)Columbia Pictures (2016)Columbia Pictures (2011)Columbia Pictures (2017, closing 2)Columbia Pictures (2017, closing 1) | ||