20th Century Home Entertainment/Warning Screens

Credits

Descriptions by
codyfinke6, Logophile and wisp2007

Captures by
Logophile, gshowguy, wisp2007 and wolfie14

Editions by
wisp2007, Logophile, Jonathan Hendricks, McDonald's1, and DaBigLogoCollector

USA/Canadian Warning Screens

1st Warning (June 1978-1984, 1987, 1992)

Warning: On a bright red background, we see the words "FBI WARNING" (with "FBI" in large, tall letters and in Folio) with the FBI logo next to it. Under it is the FBI Warning text ("The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigates allegations of criminal copyright infringement" version) in News Gothic.

Trivia: This warning is shown in the Video Pirates segment of the 1987 Universal anthology comedy Amazon Women on the Moon. In the segment, a group of pirates who like to illegally bootleg VHS tapes (the leader is played by William Marshall) find a treasure trove of VHS tapes and laserdiscs. One of them puts one into a VCR, and it displays this warning (strangely, it's the "video discs" variant of the warning; the image is also not in color, though that may have been from the in-scene monitor). He then sarcastically says "Ooooh, I'm so scared!", and he and his crew break into laughter.

Variants:

• A black and white version is seen on classic films and shorts in black & white.
• On Hanna-Barbera Home Video releases, the red background is much brighter.
• On 1990s Worldvision Home Video releases the drop shadow for the text is omitted, the font is different, and the background is somewhat brownish looking.
• There was also a variant with a black background spotted on the 1984 Embassy release of The Howling and the 1983 Embassy release of Blade Runner.
• Early Magnetic/20th Century-Fox/CBS-Fox Videodiscs between 1981 and 1984 use a variant of this logo that removes "video tapes" and replaces it with "video discs" in a crude, mismatched fashion, using a font similar to the 1984-99 version of the warning.
• On Magnetic/20th Century-Fox Video releases of Avco Embassy tapes, the warning screen would be preceded by a digital copyright notice with white chyroned text over a light background, which would then cut to this screen.
• The 1982 20th Century Fox Video Betamax/1995 US VHS releases of Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope have this play after the credits fade out with the film's closing theme fading out.

FX/SFX: None.

Music/Sounds: None.

Availability: Seen on Magnetic Video, 20th Century-Fox Video, and CBS/Fox Video releases from the era, in most cases after the program material. The 1979 release of The Making of Star Wars and many other pre-1981 tapes, as well as a few United Artists tapes from 1981 (including The Jazz Singer, The Barefoot Contessa, and Let It Be) have the warning precede the Magnetic Video logo. Some early Magnetic videos, such as Beneath the Planet of the Apes and M*A*S*H (1978 print), have no warning; this premiered on reprints of bestsellers from summer 1978, including Hello, Dolly!. This was also seen on some 1982-1983 Embassy Home Entertainment releases, including Escape from New York, Warlords of the Twenty First Century, and Deadly Blessing. The videodisc variant can be seen on various 1981-83 Magnetic Video/20th Century-Fox Video/CBS-Fox Video releases. This makes a surprise appearance on the 1992 Rhino Home Video release of Shindig! Presents: British Invasion Vol. 1.

Editor's Note: None.

2nd Warning (Canada, 1980-2003)

Warning: On the same red background as before, the INTERPOL warning text scrolls up twice, once in English, and once in French.

FX/SFX: The warning text scrolling up.

Music/Sounds: None.

Availability: Seen on Magnetic Video, 20th Century-Fox Video, CBS/Fox Video, FoxVideo and 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment releases from the era in Canada, where it appears after the program material in most cases. It also appeared on VHS and DVD releases from Telegenic Entertainment and Kaboom! Entertainment between 1997 and 2003. In 1999, the 4th warning replaced this on Fox tapes.

Editor's Note: None.

3rd Warning (1984-1999)

Warning: Same as the first warning, but the background is normal red and the text is the "$250,000 fine" version instead of the "Title 17" version.

Variants:

• A black and white version is seen on classic films and shorts in black & white.
• On the original release of Blackadder's Christmas Carol, the red background is brighter.
• On late 1988-mid 1990 prints, from just before CBS/Fox Video started printing their tapes at Rank Video Services America, during this screen, a still version of the 1984 CBS/Fox Video logo appears a couple of times, staying on the screen for about five seconds before cutting back to the warning. Usually, it goes warning, logo still, warning, logo still, warning, logo still; however, the full version, as seen on pressings of Broadcast News and Carousel, goes logo still, warning, logo still, warning, logo still, warning, logo still, warning, logo still.
• Some copies of the 1988 VHS release of Wee Willie Winkle feature this on a blue background instead of the black and white version.
• On certain Video Treasures releases, the background is composed of the gray Video Treasures logo wallpaper shown in the second Video Treasures logo. More can be found on that company's respective warning screen page.
• On the 1995 VHS of The Pagemaster, the warning appears onscreen for six seconds before cutting to black.

FX/SFX: None, unless you want to count the CBS/FOX logo being cut to a couple of times.

Music/Sounds: None.

Availability: Seen at the end of all CBS/Fox Video, Fox Video, BBC Video and 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment releases from the era in the United States. The black and white version is seen on the 1989 CBS/FOX Video release of House on Haunted Hill. This makes a surprise appearance at the end of the Ace Video release of Subway, sourced from the 1986 Key Video release. The version that cuts to the CBS/Fox logo appears at the start rather than the end, and can be seen on late 1988-mid 1990 prints of CBS/Fox Video releases, such as License to Kill, Iron Eagle, Die Hard, Magic Memories on Ice, The Sound of Music, A Fish Called Wanda and In Like Flint; the full sequence appears on some prints of Broadcast News and makes a surprise appearance on the VHS of Carousel, one of the first new CBS/Fox releases following the move to RVSA.

Editor's Note: None.

4th Warning (1999-2010)

Warning: Same as before, but with additional text ("any use... is prohibited"), a somewhat more modern-looking and centered font, and a FOX name pattern on the background. After the standard FBI Warning screen, it cuts to this: on the same wallpaper BG, we see the white word "ATTENTION". The INTERPOL warning text appears below it.

Variants:

• On Canadian VHS releases and DVDs, the "ATTENTION" warning text changes to French.
• On Spanish-language VHS releases, the FBI warning screen appears in English as usual, only to cut to a Spanish translation ("AVISO DEL FBI") several seconds later.
• D-VHS cassettes feature this warning in the same aspect ratio as the feature presentation, and "FBI" is the same size as "WARNING". Additionally, "FBI WARNING" is centered, and the FBI seal is removed.
• On Key DVD releases, the background is orange with the Key Video print logo wallpapered. The FBI seal is removed, and the text is aligned to the center. Also, on the "ATTENTION" warning screen, the above text instead reads "INTERPOL WARNING".

FX/SFX: None, except for the changing of the text on Canadian and Spanish-language releases.

Music/Sounds: None.

Availability: Debuted on the VHS of Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace. Although the FBI Warning screen was retired in 2004, the Attention screen appeared at the beginning of 2004-2010 Fox DVD releases (followed by the next warning screen below).The Spanish FBI Warning can be found hidden on TCF Studio Classics: The Day The Earth Stood Still US DVD. The D-Theater variant appears on Alien and True Lies. The Key DVD variation is rare.

Editor's Note: None.

5th Warning (2004-)

Fox Warning

Warning: On a blue/white gradient textured background, we see a colored FBI logo with "FBI ANTI-PIRACY WARNING" in a white box in front of it. The Warning text in white appears below. This is basically a generic warning screen that was used since 2004.

FX/SFX: None.

Music/Sounds: None.

Availability: Currently used on all 20th Century Fox releases save for HiT Entertainment releases that were distributed by the company, which used the HiT warning and didn't use the 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment logo.

Editor's Note: None.

6th Warning (2009-)

Fox Warning 2009Fox 2009 Warning (MGM)

Warning: On a black background, the word "WARNING" appears in red, with white text below it.

Variant: MGM DVD releases have a different organization of the text and "Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, Inc." in place of "Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment, LLC.".

FX/SFX: None.

Music/Sounds: None.

Availability: Seen at the end of the programs from 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment DVDs and Blu-ray discs (mostly European releases). The variation appears on MGM DVD releases.

Editor's Note: None.

International Warnings

United Kingdom

1st Warning (1978-Early 1980s)

Warning: On a red background, we see white warning text.

FX/SFX: None.

Music/Sounds: None.

Availability: Rare. Only found on Magnetic Video pre-cert releases, like 100 Rifles, Voyage To The Bottom of the Sea, and Bus Stop.

Editor's Note: None.

2nd Warning (Early 1980's-1984)

Warning: On a black background, a variable movie or television show/episode title (depending on which program was used) types in. Afterwards the warning text types in. Everything is blue with a white outline.

FX/SFX: The Warning text typing in.

Music/Sounds: None.

Availability: Seen on old pre-cert VHS releases, like Judas Priest Live.

Editor's Note: None.

3rd Warning (1984-2005)

20th Century Fox Home Entertainment Warning Screen - CLG Wiki20th Century Fox Home Entertainment Warning Screen - CLG Wiki20th Century Fox Home Entertainment Warning Screen - CLG Wiki20th Century Fox Home Entertainment Warning Screen - CLG Wiki20th Century Fox Home Entertainment Warning Screen - CLG Wiki20th Century Fox Home Entertainment Warning Screen - CLG Wiki20th Century Fox Home Entertainment Warning Screen - CLG Wiki20th Century Fox Home Entertainment Warning Screen - CLG Wiki20th Century Fox Home Entertainment Warning Screen - CLG Wiki20th Century Fox Home Entertainment Warning Screen - CLG Wiki20th Century Fox Home Entertainment Warning Screen - CLG Wiki20th Century Fox Home Entertainment Warning Screen - CLG Wiki2005 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment warning - Star Wars Episode III2005 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment warning

Warning: We see the Warning text scrolling up. On a black background, a variable movie or television show/episode title (depending on which program was used) appears in yellow. Below it is teal warning text. Everything's in italics and capitals.

Variants:

• This notice at the bottom of the text was changed various times.
  • 1984-1991: "THIS PROGRAM IS MANUFACTURED, DISTRIBUTED AND MARKETED SOLELY BY CBS/FOX VIDEO LIMITED."
  • 1991-1995: "THIS PROGRAM IS MANUFACTURED, DISTRIBUTED AND MARKETED SOLELY BY FOX VIDEO LIMITED."
  • 1994-1997: "THIS PROGRAM IS MANUFACTURED, DISTRIBUTED AND MARKETED SOLELY BY FOX GUILD HOME ENTERTAINMENT LIMITED."
  • 1995-2005: "THIS PROGRAM IS MANUFACTURED, DISTRIBUTED AND MARKETED SOLELY BY 20TH CENTURY FOX HOME ENTERTAINMENT LIMITED."
  • 1997-2003: "THIS PROGRAM IS MANUFACTURED, DISTRIBUTED AND MARKETED SOLELY BY FOX PATHÉ HOME ENTERTAINMENT LIMITED."
• In the CBS/FOX era, the title faded in and remained at the top throughout the warning.
• The font varies. From 1984 to 1993, the font was in Helvetica. From 1993 to 1999, the font was in Futura. From 1999 onward a condensed Futura-ish font was used. Sometimes two fonts are used at once (the title using one and the scroll using another).
• In some cases, the title isn't in italics.
• In some rare cases (such as the 2000 VHS of The Simpsons Against the World), no italics are used.
• MGM Home Entertainment releases from 1999-2005 used this warning, though the manufacturing notice at the bottom is omitted.
• The 2005 release of Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith has massively oversized title text, in a different font - the same font is used for the warning scroll.

FX/SFX: The Warning text scrolling.

Music/Sounds: Silent for almost all movies. The warning at the end of Monty Python and the Holy Grail appears while the music from the ending of the movie is still playing.

Availability: Seen on most British tapes at both the start and the end.

Editor's Note: None.

Australia

1st Warning (1982-1984)

20th Century Fox Home Entertainment Warning Screen - CLG Wiki20th Century Fox Home Entertainment Warning Screen - CLG Wiki20th Century Fox Home Entertainment Warning Screen - CLG Wiki20th Century Fox Home Entertainment Warning Screen - CLG Wiki CBS/FOX Video Australia Warning Screen (c. 1983) (Part 1)CBS/FOX Video Australia Warning Screen (c. 1983) (Part 2)CBS/FOX Video Australia Warning Screen (c. 1983) (Part 3)CBS/FOX Video Australia Warning Screen (c. 1983) (Part 4)

Warning: On a blue background is the word "WARNING" in a large yellow font with black drop shadow. Below it, white INTERPOL warning text, also with black drop shadow, scrolls up. When the last of the warning text is gone, it cuts to the 20th Century Fox Video or CBS/FOX Video bumper.

Variant: Later on (probably when the 1983 logo was introduced), the background was changed to light blue and the "WARNING" text is underlined, the INTERPOL warning text is also in a different font and is not shaded.

FX/SFX: The text scrolling.

Music/Sounds: Relaxing bright elevator music plays in the background. An announcer reads the text out loud.

Availability: Found at the start of 20th Century Fox-Video and early CBS/Fox Video releases in Australia.

Editor's Note: None.

2nd Warning (1984-1988?)

20th Century Fox Home Entertainment Warning Screen - CLG Wiki20th Century Fox Home Entertainment Warning Screen - CLG Wiki20th Century Fox Home Entertainment Warning Screen - CLG Wiki20th Century Fox Home Entertainment Warning Screen - CLG Wiki20th Century Fox Home Entertainment Warning Screen - CLG Wiki

Warning: On the same background as the 1984 CBS/Fox Video logo, a large light blue "WARNING" fades in at the top. Underneath it, light blue INTERPOL warning text scrolls up. After the scrolling is done, "WARNING" fades out.

Variant: There is an alternate variant in a Courier New-type font with rephrased wording. In some cases this is used on the same tape as the standard version.

FX/SFX: The fading of "WARNING", the text scrolling.

Music/Sounds: None.

Availability: Found on Australian CBS/Fox Video releases from the era.

Editor's Note: None.

3rd Warning (1988?-1995)

Warning: On a black background, we see a yellow outline of a television set. Inside it is the red word "WARNING" and underneath said word is yellow warning text.

FX/SFX: None.

Music/Sounds: None.

Availability: Found on later CBS/Fox Video releases, as well as most Fox Video releases.

Editor's Note: None.