Cannon Films: Difference between revisions
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===Background=== | ===Background=== | ||
'''Cannon Films''' (also known as '''The Cannon Group, Inc.''' and '''Cannon Pictures''') was a film studio that has produced low-to medium-budget films from 1967 to 1993. The studio was formed by Dennis Friedland and Christopher C. Dewey on October 23, 1967. In 1979, Cannon was sold to Israeli cousins Menahem Golan and Yoram Globus, who had produced a few Israeli films such as ''Operation Thunderbolt'' (''Mivtsa Yonatan'', English translation: "''Operation Jonathan''") and the teen comedy ''Lemon Popsicle'' (''Eis am Steil'') before coming to the United States in 1979. During that year, they bought controlling interest in Cannon Films and forged a business model of buying "bottom-barrel" scripts and putting them into production. In 1989, Cannon was acquired by Giancarlo Parretti and was renamed as Pathé Communications (this company was not connected with [[Pathé (France)|Pathé]], although Parretti gave the company its name because he was going to purchase the latter studio, but was blocked by the French government). Parretti later acquired [[MGM/UA Communications Co.]] in 1990 and the two companies were merged to form "MGM-Pathé Communications Co.". Menahem Golan left the company to form a new studio, [[21st Century Film Corporation]]. In 1993, Cannon was folded into [[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer]]. | '''Cannon Films''' (also known as '''The Cannon Group, Inc.''' and '''Cannon Pictures''') was a film studio that has produced low-to medium-budget films from 1967 to 1993. The studio was formed by Dennis Friedland and Christopher C. Dewey on October 23, 1967. In 1979, Cannon was sold to Israeli cousins Menahem Golan and Yoram Globus, who had produced a few Israeli films such as ''Operation Thunderbolt'' (''Mivtsa Yonatan'', English translation: "''Operation Jonathan''") and the teen comedy ''Lemon Popsicle'' (''Eis am Steil'') before coming to the United States in 1979. During that year, they bought controlling interest in Cannon Films and forged a business model of buying "bottom-barrel" scripts and putting them into production. In 1989, Cannon was acquired by Giancarlo Parretti and was renamed as Pathé Communications (this company was not connected with the French studio [[Pathé (France)|Pathé]], although Parretti gave the company its name because he was going to purchase the latter studio, but was blocked by the French government). Parretti later acquired [[MGM/UA Communications Co.]] in 1990 and the two companies were merged to form "MGM-Pathé Communications Co.". Menahem Golan left the company to form a new studio, [[21st Century Film Corporation]]. In 1993, Cannon was folded into [[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer]]. | ||
Most of the library of the American arm of Cannon Films is owned by MGM, who also owns home media, and international television rights. [[Warner Bros. Pictures|Warner Bros]]. owns the North American theatrical and home media rights to their co-productions with Cannon, such as ''Cobra'', ''Over the Top'', ''The Hanoi Hilton'', ''Bloodsport'', ''Masters of the Universe'', and ''Superman IV: The Quest for Peace'' (for which Warner Bros. also owns international home media rights). As of 2016, North American television rights to most of the Cannon library is owned by [[Paramount Pictures]], having acquired the rights after being purchased by [[Paramount Global|Viacom]] (now Paramount Global), who in turn, previously remained in charge of TV syndication for the Cannon library. | Most of the library of the American arm of Cannon Films is owned by MGM, who also owns home media, and international television rights. [[Warner Bros. Pictures|Warner Bros]]. owns the North American theatrical and home media rights to their co-productions with Cannon, such as ''Cobra'', ''Over the Top'', ''The Hanoi Hilton'', ''Bloodsport'', ''Masters of the Universe'', and ''Superman IV: The Quest for Peace'' (for which Warner Bros. also owns international home media rights). As of 2016, North American television rights to most of the Cannon library is owned by [[Paramount Pictures]], having acquired the rights after being purchased by [[Paramount Global|Viacom]] (now Paramount Global), who in turn, previously remained in charge of TV syndication for the Cannon library. | ||
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'''Nicknames:''' "The Cannon Hexagon IV", "CGI Hexagon" | '''Nicknames:''' "The Cannon Hexagon IV", "CGI Hexagon" | ||
'''Logo:''' Just like the 1st and 3rd logos, the "C" and arrow, which now look more metallic, appear and meet in the center of the screen. "CANNON" in a {{color|brown|bronzish}} color fades in below, and the hexagon shines. Then, the text fades out and the segments of the hexagon fly toward the screen one by one. | '''Logo:''' Just like the 1st and 3rd logos, the "C" and arrow, which now look more metallic, appear and meet in the center of the screen. "{{color|brown|CANNON}}" in a {{color|brown|bronzish}} color fades in below, and the hexagon shines. Then, the text fades out and the segments of the hexagon fly toward the screen one by one. | ||
'''Variants:''' | '''Variants:''' | ||
* There exists a short version where the logo fades out instead of the hexagon pieces zooming in. This version was mainly seen on trailers, though it was seen at the front of some films, such as ''Robotech: The Movie'' and ''Kickboxer''. | * There exists a short version where the logo fades out instead of the hexagon pieces zooming in. This version was mainly seen on trailers, though it was seen at the front of some films, such as ''Robotech: The Movie'' and ''Kickboxer''. | ||
* One version had the "flying segment" animation playing in reverse, and when the logo is almost formed, it fades to black to make room for the text "{{color|deepskyblue|THE CANNON GROUP presents}}" (or "presenteert" in original Dutch). This appeared at the beginning of the Dutch film ''The Assault''. | * One version had the "flying segment" animation playing in reverse, and when the logo is almost formed, it fades to black to make room for the text "{{color|deepskyblue|THE CANNON GROUP presents}}" (or "presenteert" in original Dutch), with the opening theme playing over. This appeared at the beginning of the Dutch film ''The Assault''. | ||
* There is a version with a {{color|silver}} hexagon that was seen on ''Invaders from Mars'' (1986 version). | * There is a version with a {{color|silver}} hexagon that was seen on ''Invaders from Mars'' (1986 version). | ||
* On films released in France, after the usual animation, the words "CANNON France présente", with "France" in script, zoom in upside down, then flip over. "CANNON" is in {{color|blue}}, "France" is in {{color|red}}, and "présente" is in white. The music cuts in a couple of seconds later in this variant. | * On films released in France, after the usual animation, the words "CANNON France présente", with "France" in script, zoom in upside down, then flip over. "CANNON" is in {{color|blue}}, "France" is in {{color|red}}, and "présente" is in white. The music cuts in a couple of seconds later in this variant. | ||
* On the original home video trailer for ''The Barbarians'', there is a byline under the logo that says "Distributed by Media Home Entertainment Inc., a Heron Communications Inc. Company". | * On the original home video trailer for ''The Barbarians'', there is a byline under the logo that says "Distributed by [[Media Home Entertainment|Media Home Entertainment Inc.]], a Heron Communications Inc. Company". | ||
'''FX/SFX:''' The CGI used in the logo that involves the hexagon segments flying away. | '''FX/SFX:''' The CGI used in the logo that involves the hexagon segments flying away. | ||
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* On a Paramount Channel France broadcast of ''King Solomon's Mines'' and the French Blu-Ray release of ''Runaway Train'', there is a low tone version. | * On a Paramount Channel France broadcast of ''King Solomon's Mines'' and the French Blu-Ray release of ''Runaway Train'', there is a low tone version. | ||
* On a Bulgarian release of ''Rescue Me'' (1992), the [[Cannon Video]] music is used. | * On a Bulgarian release of ''Rescue Me'' (1992), the [[Cannon Video]] music is used. | ||
* The Cannon France variant has a pinging sound playing after the music. | |||
'''Availability:''' Very common. Can be seen on several Cannon films from the time. | '''Availability:''' Very common. Can be seen on several Cannon films from the time. | ||