Cannon Films: Difference between revisions

}}

'''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]].

</gallery>

{{YouTube|id=5AqH-Lw4YhY|id2=awtvw7JugxE}}

'''Logo:''' Against a black background, a white multi-lined hexagon consisting of a "C" and an arrow pointing to the right is wiped in. Then, the "C" turns {{color|blue}} and the arrow turns {{color|darkviolet|purple}}, and the hexagon becomes solid as well. It zooms out to the left, and the arrow splits off to the opposite side and leaves the text "THE CANNON GROUP, INCORPORATED" behind. Then, the "C" quickly meets up with the arrow and wipes the text away.

</gallery>

{{YouTube|id=FJjV5_5liZM|id2=h-SgCHpCh-s}}

'''Logo:''' An in-credit title card; we see the "C" and arrow from before, along with the text "THE CANNON GROUP (INC.) PRESENTS". The font, color, background and positioning of the logo depended on the film.

'''Availability:''' Rare, though this is much easier to find than the previous logo above. Other than ''The Barbarians'', this also appears on ''Treasure of the Four Crowns'', ''Schizoid'', ''The Seven Magnificent Gladiators'', ''The Godsend'', ''The Happy Hooker Goes Hollywood'', some prints of Runaway Train, and the international cut of ''Lifeforce'' (which is the most seen version).

===3rd Logo (March 2, 1984-May 17, 1985)===

</gallery>

{{YouTube|id=n2NR_QfuvaA}}

'''Logo:''' Against a black background, the C and arrow from before in {{color|blue}} come together in the center of the screen from both sides. As this happens, "THE CANNON GROUP, INC." in white appears below. The hexagon shines brightly, and after a while, a bright flash occurs, turning the hexagon a glowing white and quickly zooms out. A large ping appears in the middle, and it fades out.

'''Availability:''' Common. Seen on ''Exterminator 2'', ''Missing in Action'', its prequel ''Missing in Action 2: The Beginning'', and other films from the time frame, usually preceded with an MGM logo. It first appeared on ''Over the Brooklyn Bridge'' and ''Sahara'', and its last appearance was on ''Grace Quigley''.

===4th Logo (June 1, 1985-February 17, 1994)===

</gallery>

{{YouTube|id=LxKpoW2XKX8|id2=krM5-oYx1Gw|id3=UbLsQCfqtUM}}

'''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.

Cannon21.png

</gallery>

'''Variant:''' Another version has a smaller hexagon, a trademark symbol "TM" is seen on the right side of "'''''CANNON'''''", and the bottom now reads "P I C T U R E S  I N C."

'''Availability:''' Very rare. Was seen on the final films produced and/or released by the studio.

{{Navbox-Amazon}}{{Movie-Navbox}}