Cineplex Odeon Films

From the Audiovisual Identity Database, the motion graphics museum

Background

This was the theatrical production/distribution unit of the Canadian theater chain Cineplex Odeon. In 1998, Cineplex Odeon sold controlling interest in the company to Alliance Communications, who subsequently rebranded it Odeon Films.

Logo (November 14, 1986-May 1998)


Visuals: On a black background, the Cineplex Odeon logo fades in, though in a lighter purple than usual, closer to an orchid color. The logo then turns into two C-shaped ribbons, spreading apart and rotating around as they shine. The ribbons then unfold and bend into a far more standard "C", in which the ribbons (which now changed to lavender and hot pink respectively and they also appear to be in different sizes now; they are also not as shiny) appear to cross over each other. "CINEPLEX ODEON FILMS" fades in next to it in orchid.

Variants:

  • A still variant exists.
  • There is also a short variant that cuts to the ribbon already morphing. This particular variant was spotted on a Canadian trailer for the political documentary The War Room (1993), which can be found on the Canadian VHS of All the Mornings of the World.
  • A prototype variant exists as seen in the video above, where the animation appears to be quicker, less fluid, and darker. The ending result is quite different in coloration though, with the ribbons being purple and white, and the text in red. The Cineplex Odeon logo in the beginning is also in its normal colors.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: A low synth drone, followed by a eight-note piano and horn fanfare, composed by Brad MacDonald Music Ltd. of Toronto. Sometimes, it is silent, or has the film's opening theme over it.

Availability:

  • The silent variant can be found on Talk Radio and The Glass Menagerie. On FilmRise's print of the latter film, the 3rd Alliance Atlantis logo plasters this logo.
  • The variant with music can be found on Canadian VHS copies of Talons of the Eagle, A Brief History of Time, Still Life, Dance Me Outside, The Hanging Garden, Wedding Bell Blues, Mille Bolle Blu, Salmonberries, Rude, Floating Life, All the Mornings of the World (Canadian screener VHS only), Ponette, Red Scorpion, Hired to Kill, and Slam Dance. It's also seen on the trailer to Highway 61, as seen on Canadian Cineplex Odeon Video releases of Tiger Claws and Scorchers.
  • It's also seen on a Canadian theatrical trailer for All the Mornings of the World, which was spotted on a Canadian VHS of The War Room.
  • The logo with music also appeared on the Canadian VHS, as well as the Alliance Atlantis reprint from 1999 along with the original U.S. MCA Home Video release and 1995 Goodtimes Home Video release of The Care Bears Adventure in Wonderland.
  • It also makes an appearance on the Universal Vault Series DVD-R of Madame Sousatzka, after the 2012 Universal logo, while streaming prints plaster it with the 2010 variant of the 1997 Universal logo. It was also missing from the Canadian Cineplex Odeon Video VHS release.
  • The still variant can be found on two TV spots for Highway 61 on that film's Canadian DVD release.
  • A high-pitched version was spotted on an (now-defunct) AT&T U-Verse Screen Pack print of Abraxas: Guardian of the Universe and the British VHS release of Sign 'o' the Times; domestic prints of the latter film omit this logo.
  • This also appears on the Pacific Arts VHS and Strand Releasing/filmswelike Blu-Ray of Comic Book Confidential. It is unknown if it appears on other prints of the film, including the Home Vision Entertainment DVD.
  • For later 1997/1998 VHS tapes from Cineplex Odeon Video, such as The Hanging Garden and Floating Life, this makes appearances in place of the COV logo.
  • Cineplex Odeon Films handled the majority of Canadian theatrical (but not video) distribution of films produced by PolyGram Filmed Entertainment, The Cannon Group, Cinetel Films, Gramercy Pictures, Vestron Pictures, and Savoy Pictures, among other outfits; it is unknown if this was seen on Canadian theatrical prints of films from the aforementioned studios.
  • It was also spotted on a Canadian trailer for Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker's Apocalypse, which can be found on Canadian VHS releases of Defenseless and Deadly Currents.
  • It is believed this was seen on Canadian theatrical prints of The Last Temptation of Christ in place of the 1963 Universal logo, as it was a co-production with them; it does not appear on Canadian video releases of the film.
  • It was also spotted on the 1987 MCA Home Video release of The Decline of the American Empire, as well as Amazon Prime prints of the 1997 sci-fi film Falling Fire (aka The Cusp). It is unknown if the DVD and Blu-Ray releases of the former film retain this logo.
  • It may have also been seen on U.S. theatrical prints of Traveling North, Kangaroo, Jacknife, Withnail and I, and Five Corners, but home video releases show no evidence. However, the short version is seen on the trailer for Withnail and I, as well as the trailer for Jacknife.
  • This logo also may have been seen on the Canadian Re-release print of Apocalypse Now, as Cineplex Odeon Films obtained Canadian theatrical rights (but not home video rights) to re-release the film in 1987.
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