Universal Pictures Home Entertainment: Difference between revisions

[[Universal Pictures|Universal Studios]]' home entertainment unit descended from MCA's "DiscoVision" system, which was created to develop the laserdisc system and entered the market in 1978 after development that started in the late 1960's, and the first demonstration of the system in 1972. DiscoVision was riddled with issues, and numerous films were released from Universal, with [[Walt Disney Pictures|Disney]], [[Warner Bros. Pictures|Warner Bros.]], and [[Paramount Pictures|Paramount]] also licensing titles to the label. With DiscoVision failing, MCA entered the home videocassette market in late 1980, creating "MCA Videocassette" to market releases to VHS and Betamax. DiscoVision was finally folded as a software label by MCA in 1981 reorganizing the division as "MCA Videodisc", and also expanded their videodisc operations to cover RCA's "SelectaVision" videodisc format. However, the "MCA Home Video" moniker was applied to both VHS and disc releases and became simply known as "MCA Home Video", alternating with the "MCA Videocassette" name until 1984. In 1990, MCA Home Video renamed itself as "MCA/Universal Home Video" to capitalize the Universal Studios name and to coincide with Universal's 75th Anniversary, alternating with the "MCA Home Video" name in 1992 or 1995. In December 1996, it renamed itself as "Universal Studios Home Video" when MCA was reincorporated as Universal Studios and in 2005 changed once again into "Universal Studios Home Entertainment". In 2016, the home entertainment division was restructured and was renamed as "Universal Pictures Home Entertainment". In January 2020, it was announced that Universal and [[Warner Bros. Home Entertainment]] would be partnering to form a brand new home media joint venture, which will see new and library titles from both companies being released on 4K UHD, Blu-ray and DVD under one entity; the venture launched in early 2021 under the name Studio Distribution Services.

[[File:GW279H210.jpg|400px|center]]

'''Nickname:''' "Glowing V-LaserDisc"

'''Logo:''' We start out with glowing {{Font color|blue|blue}} light in the center of a black background. The glowing light shrinks until it is the size of a small {{Font color|gold|yellow}} circle embedded in an {{Font color|orange|orange}} upside down triangle split vertically in the center. The words "MCA DISCO-VISION" appear on top of the triangle, and while the circle turns the same color as the triangle, the copyright symbol appears on the bottom right area.

'''FX/SFX:''' The shrinking of the light in the center of the screen.

'''Music/Sounds:''' An 8-note percussive string tune followed by a dramatic orchestral finish.

'''Availability:''' Ultra rare. This was only used in a 1977 test pressing that was used as a public display by MCA.

'''Editor's Note:''' Because this was only used on a test pressing, this logo was a surprise find.

<gallery mode="packed" heights="220">

File:GW252H189.jpg|Color (1978)

File:GW252H191.jpg|B&W  

</gallery>

'''Nickname:''' "Big V", "Majestic V"

'''Logo:''' On a black background, the words "DISCOVISION" crawl across the entire screen in a {{color|red|r}}{{color|orange|a}}{{color|yellow|i}}{{color|green|n}}{{color|blue|b}}{{color|purple|o}}{{color|pink|w}} of colors like a kaleidoscope, and rows of vertical {{Font color|orange|orange}} lines appear on the screen. The center lines open up in a {{color|red|r}}{{color|orange|a}}{{color|yellow|i}}{{color|green|n}}{{color|blue|b}}{{color|purple|o}}{{color|pink|w}} of colors to reveal a white "V", with "DISCO" and "ISION" appearing on the left and right sides of the "V", respectively, appearing on a blackish background with a large {{Font color|deepskyblue|Bondi blue}} streak in the middle. The DiscoVision logo sparkles for a second and then an abrupt cut to black.

'''Variants:'''

*On 1979-1981 releases, a copyright stamp appeared underneath the DiscoVision logo.

*The last few seconds are cut off on the CAV edition of ''The Jerk''.

'''FX/SFX:''' The crawling of the "DISCOVISION" letters, the appearance, splitting and sparkling of the logo, all in Scanimation.

'''Music/Sounds:''' A flute tune accompanied by a lavishly orchestrated theme. On some releases, such as ''Bustin' Loose'' and ''The Four Seasons'', it's silent.

'''Availability:''' Rare. Seen on every DiscoVision release from 1978 to 1981. To find them, look for packaging where the print logo is on a gray background with the space around the “V” pelling to both sides revealing the movie that is printed on the disc.

'''Editor's Note:''' A great logo. However, it is tough to find in good quality, as poor manufacturing practices have caused most DiscoVision discs to degrade over the years.