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Cleopatra (1928)
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'''Visuals:''' Over a black background is a marquee with torches surrounding it, similar to the MGM print logo. A statue of a lion rests on top. There is text over the marquee reading |
'''Visuals:''' Over a black background is a marquee with torches surrounding it, similar to the MGM print logo. A statue of a lion rests on top. There is text over the marquee reading "A '''Metro ''Goldwyn''''' '''PICTURE'''", with "A" on top, "Metro Goldwyn" in the middle ("Metro" in the font used for the Metro Pictures logo of the time and "Goldwyn" in a script font), and "PICTURE" on the bottom, looking slightly smudged out in the center. |
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<center>A</center> |
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<center><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">'''Metro ''Goldwyn'''''</span></center> |
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<center><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">'''PICTURE'''</span></center> |
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On the first part is "A", in the middle is "<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">'''Metro ''Goldwyn'''''</span>" ("<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">'''Metro'''</span>" is the Metro Pictures logo of the time and "<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">'''''Goldwyn'''''</span>" is in a script font), and on the bottom is "<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">'''PICTURE'''</span>", looking slightly smudged out in the center. |
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'''Trivia:''' This logo (with the word "Mayer") was used as a print logo until the 1950s, as well as on various films as late as 1984. |
'''Trivia:''' This logo (with the word "Mayer") was used as a print logo until the 1950s, as well as on various films as late as 1984. |
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'''Variants:''' |
'''Variants:''' |
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* |
* The <u>colors of the logo</u> vary depending on the film. |
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* A <u>sepia variant</u> exists. |
* A <u>sepia variant</u> exists. |
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* On ''Cleopatra'', the logo reads "DISTRIBUTED BY Metro- |
* On ''Cleopatra'', the logo reads "DISTRIBUTED BY Metro-'''''Goldwyn'''''-Mayer DISTRIBUTING CORP", and the lion is more realistic. |
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'''Technique:''' A printed graphic filmed by a camera. |
'''Technique:''' A printed graphic filmed by a camera. |
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</tabber> |
</tabber> |
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'''Visuals:''' Same as the final [[Goldwyn Pictures]] logo, but a new lion named "Slats" occupies the circle. Slats moves his head from right to left and then looks at the camera, and later looks around aimlessly. Instead of "A GOLDWYN PICTURE", the marquee below the logo now reads |
'''Visuals:''' Same as the final [[Goldwyn Pictures]] logo, but a new lion named "Slats" occupies the circle. Slats moves his head from right to left and then looks at the camera, and later looks around aimlessly. Instead of "A GOLDWYN PICTURE", the marquee below the logo now reads "'''Metro''' '''''Goldwyn''''' Mayer". "Metro" is in a plain serif font, "Goldwyn" is in a more fancy script font, and "Mayer" is in an Art Deco-esque font. |
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">'''M<sup>etro</sup>'''</span>{{color|white|----------------}}<br /><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">'''''Goldwyn'''''</span><br />{{color|white|----------------}}<span style="font-size: 18px">m</span>ayer</div> |
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all in differing fonts. "<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">'''M<sup>etro</sup>'''</span>" is in a plain serif font, "<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">'''''Goldwyn'''''</span>" in a more fancy script font, and "<span style="font-size: 18px">m</span>ayer" in an Art Deco-esque font. |
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'''Trivia:''' Slats was born at the Dublin Zoo on March 20, 1919, and was originally named "Cairbre". He died in 1936. |
'''Trivia:''' Slats was born at the Dublin Zoo on March 20, 1919, and was originally named "Cairbre". He died in 1936. |
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*On a <u>promotional film for the studio</u>, the words "METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER" appear word by word, with "<abbr title="STUDIOS">STVDIOS</abbr>" appearing underneath the words. After a few seconds, the words "CONTROLLED BY LOEWS INC." appear below "<abbr title="STUDIOS">STVDIOS</abbr>". Then the logo blinks twice with the mascot on top and a light below. |
*On a <u>promotional film for the studio</u>, the words "METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER" appear word by word, with "<abbr title="STUDIOS">STVDIOS</abbr>" appearing underneath the words. After a few seconds, the words "CONTROLLED BY LOEWS INC." appear below "<abbr title="STUDIOS">STVDIOS</abbr>". Then the logo blinks twice with the mascot on top and a light below. |
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'''Technique:''' Live-action footage |
'''Technique:''' Live-action footage (which differs depending on the film), with the elements surrounding Slats being a printed graphic composited over the footage. |
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'''Audio:''' None or the opening theme of the film. |
'''Audio:''' None or the opening theme of the film. |
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'''Availability:''' It can be seen on the earliest films under the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer name. Some films were still around, while others are destroyed. |
'''Availability:''' It can be seen on the earliest films under the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer name. Some films were still around, while others are destroyed. |
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* Due to the 1965 MGM vault fire, existing prints of most films from this era have the 3rd logo plastering this one, this is not easy to come across. |
* Due to the 1965 MGM vault fire, existing prints of most films from this era have the 3rd logo plastering this one, and this is not easy to come across. |
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* |
* Surviving films with this logo include ''He Who Gets Slapped'', ''Confessions of a Queen'', ''The Unholy Three'' (1925), ''The Circle'', and ''Battling Butler''. |
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* It may have also been seen on some original prints of ''London After Midnight'', ''Lady of the Night'', and ''Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ'' respectively. |
* It may have also been seen on some original prints of ''London After Midnight'', ''Lady of the Night'', and ''Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ'', respectively. |
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===2nd Logo (October 1, 1927-September 27, 1928)=== |
===2nd Logo (October 1, 1927-September 27, 1928)=== |
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</gallery> |
</gallery> |
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'''Visuals:''' Nearly the same as before, but the ribboning has been slightly redone and a different lion named "Numa<ref>https://calisphere.org/item/33aa2009c076c8900cc1e640aebb0e64/</ref> |
'''Visuals:''' Nearly the same as before, but the ribboning has been slightly redone and a different lion named "Numa"<ref>https://calisphere.org/item/33aa2009c076c8900cc1e640aebb0e64/</ref> appears. The usual MGM marquee is seen below, with the ribboning in white, the wreath in yellow, the mask in red and the marquee in green. |
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'''Trivia:''' |
'''Trivia:''' |
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'''Variant:''' As seen in the first picture, there is a variant with copyright notices below the logo. |
'''Variant:''' As seen in the first picture, there is a variant with copyright notices below the logo. |
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'''Technique:''' A printed graphic with Numa being a |
'''Technique:''' A printed graphic, with Numa being a photograph. |
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'''Audio:''' The only films this is known to appear on were silent, so either none or the opening theme of the film. |
'''Audio:''' The only films this is known to appear on were silent, so either none or the opening theme of the film. |
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* This logo would sometimes be sepia-toned. |
* This logo would sometimes be sepia-toned. |
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* Some films in the early 1930s would feature the logo of the [[National Recovery Administration]] (NRA), a New Deal agency that existed between 1933 and 1935, on the left side, below the marquee. |
* Some films in the early 1930s would feature the logo of the [[National Recovery Administration]] (NRA), a New Deal agency that existed between 1933 and 1935, on the left side, below the marquee. |
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* In Turner's |
* In Turner's colorized versions, the ribboning is in a brownish-gold color, the wreath is green, and the mask is red. |
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* There's another |
* There's another color variant, like the aforementioned logo, but with the marquee in red. |
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* There's another |
* There's another colorized variant of the 1938 version, with the ribboning in either brownish-gold, pastel yellow, goldenrod, or silver. |
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* In 1949, during MGM's 25th anniversary, an additional "Silver Anniversary" variant was used alongside the Jackie logo. There is a fancy napkin that has "MGM" in a ribbon at the top-right, and text reading "A Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Silver Anniversary Picture" in the center (in the Commercial Script font). Seen on ''Edward, My Son'', ''The Great Sinner'', ''Any Number Can Play'', ''Scene of the Crime'', ''Madame Bovary'', ''The Doctor and the Girl'', ''Border Incident'', ''Adam's Rib'', ''Intruder in the Dust'', and ''Tension''. |
* In 1949, during MGM's 25th anniversary, an additional "Silver Anniversary" variant was used alongside the Jackie logo. There is a fancy napkin that has "MGM" in a ribbon at the top-right, and text reading "A Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Silver Anniversary Picture" in the center (in the Commercial Script font). Seen on ''Edward, My Son'', ''The Great Sinner'', ''Any Number Can Play'', ''Scene of the Crime'', ''Madame Bovary'', ''The Doctor and the Girl'', ''Border Incident'', ''Adam's Rib'', ''Intruder in the Dust'', and ''Tension''. |
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* There is a variant where the logo is redrawn, Jackie has a shadow, and there is copyright information around the logo. This was seen on the ''Our Gang'' shorts "Teacher's Pet", "School's Out" and "Love Business", as well as the Laurel & Hardy short "Another Fine Mess". |
* There is a variant where the logo is redrawn, Jackie has a shadow, and there is copyright information around the logo. This was seen on the ''Our Gang'' shorts "Teacher's Pet", "School's Out" and "Love Business", as well as the Laurel & Hardy short "Another Fine Mess". |
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'''Closing Variants:''' After the MGM merger, a variant of the Metro-Goldwyn Pictures closing logo, with the appropriate addendum, was used on the studio's end cards from 1924 until the 1950s. |
'''Closing Variants:''' After the MGM merger, a variant of the Metro-Goldwyn Pictures closing logo, with the appropriate addendum, was used on the studio's end cards from 1924 until the 1950s. |
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* In 1931, the |
* In 1931, the "''The End''" text was made larger, and the pseudo-logo was made smaller and outlined in white. |
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* From late 1938 to 1941, the closing logo features the reclining lion carving on a white (later grey) marble background, with " |
* From late 1938 to 1941, the closing logo features the reclining lion carving on a white (later grey) marble background, with "THE END" in black, and a pseudo-logo in the same color below. Starting in 1939, the "The End" text appears in a white script font, with the pseudo-logo in the same color. |
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* In 1942, during |
* In 1942, during World War II, the "The End" text was moved to the top of the screen and the pseudo logo was moved to the bottom to give the space for the following advertisement: |
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<center> |
<center> |
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"AMERICA NEEDS YOUR MONEY<br> |
"AMERICA NEEDS YOUR MONEY<br> |
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</center><br> |
</center><br> |
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This was used as the basis for the 1st [[MGM Cartoons]] logo.<br> |
This was used as the basis for the 1st [[MGM Cartoons]] logo.<br> |
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* Starting in 1949, the "MADE IN HOLLYWOOD, U.S.A. by |
* Starting in 1949, the text "MADE IN HOLLYWOOD, U.S.A. by Metro-G''oldwyn''-Mayer" is shown. In 1952, the end title card fades in first, then the title of the movie and the same phrase fades in between top and bottom below, respectively. |
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* On some films, such as ''Red-Headed Woman'', ''Maytime'' (1937), ''Topper'', and ''Rosalie'' (1937), the "THE END" text is only shown. Also, the MGM pseudo |
* On some films, such as ''Red-Headed Woman'', ''Maytime'' (1937), ''Topper'', and ''Rosalie'' (1937), the "THE END" text is only shown. Also, the MGM pseudo-logo is absent, like the 1st [[MGM Cartoons]] logo. |
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'''Technique:''' Live-action footage, with the elements surrounding Jackie being a printed graphic composited over the footage. |
'''Technique:''' Live-action footage, with the elements surrounding Jackie being a printed graphic composited over the footage. |
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'''Visuals:''' Another lion named "Telly" appears in a newly redrawn film-like ribboning. He is the first of the two two-strip Technicolor lions. Telly first stares on camera for several seconds and then roars with a long snarl and two roaring sound effects. The usual MGM marquee is seen below. Everything but the lion is in a green hue (likely caused by the two-strip Technicolor process). |
'''Visuals:''' Another lion named "Telly" appears in a newly redrawn film-like ribboning. He is the first of the two two-strip Technicolor lions. Telly first stares on camera for several seconds and then roars with a long snarl and two roaring sound effects. The usual MGM marquee is seen below. Everything but the lion is in a green hue (likely caused by the two-strip Technicolor process). |
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'''Variant:''' |
'''Variant:''' A black and white version exists, and was seen on ''The Mysterious Island'', which was originally shot in color, but only a black/white version of the film is known to exist. |
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'''Technique:''' Live-action footage, with the elements surrounding Telly being a printed graphic composited over the footage. |
'''Technique:''' Live-action footage, with the elements surrounding Telly being a printed graphic composited over the footage. |
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</tabber> |
</tabber> |
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'''Visuals:''' Another two-strip Technicolor lion named "Coffee" appears in a slightly redrawn film-like ribboning with the mask redrawn. Coffee snarls while looking down and then roars. The Latin phrase is still shown inscribed on the circle. " |
'''Visuals:''' Another two-strip Technicolor lion named "Coffee" appears in a slightly redrawn film-like ribboning with the mask redrawn. Coffee snarls while looking down and then roars. The Latin phrase is still shown inscribed on the circle. "TRADE" and "MARK" appear on different sides. The usual MGM marquee is seen below. The ribboning and wreath are white, and the mask is red. |
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'''Variants:''' |
'''Variants:''' |
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* A longer version of this logo exists, which was only seen on ''Wild People'', where Coffee does a second roar. |
* A longer version of this logo exists, which was only seen on ''Wild People'', where Coffee does a second roar. |
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* A B&W variant also exists on prints in said |
* A B&W variant also exists on prints in said colors. |
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'''Technique:''' Live-action footage, with the elements surrounding Coffee being a printed graphic composited over the footage. |
'''Technique:''' Live-action footage, with the elements surrounding Coffee being a printed graphic composited over the footage. |
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</tabber> |
</tabber> |
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'''Visuals:''' A new lion named "Tanner" appears in this logo. He is the one of the three-strip Technicolor lions. The Latin phrase on the circle is red, the words " |
'''Visuals:''' A new lion named "Tanner" appears in this logo. He is the one of the three-strip Technicolor lions. The Latin phrase on the circle is red, the words "TRADE" and "MARK" are yellow, and the red mask and the ribboning are redrawn slightly, with orange accents on certain parts of the filmstrip ribbons. The wreath is yellow and on the MGM marquee, the letters "M", "G" and "M" are red, with the remainder of the letters in yellow. Tanner roars three times. |
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'''Trivia:''' In addition to this logo, Tanner also appeared in a few Three Stooges shorts such as ''Hold That Lion!''. His roar was also frequently used as a sound effect in some MGM cartoons of the time. |
'''Trivia:''' In addition to this logo, Tanner also appeared in a few Three Stooges shorts such as ''Hold That Lion!''. His roar was also frequently used as a sound effect in some MGM cartoons of the time. |
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</tabber> |
</tabber> |
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'''Visuals:''' This time, the MGM marquee below the logo has been permanently dropped, and the name " |
'''Visuals:''' This time, the MGM marquee below the logo has been permanently dropped, and the name "'''Metro'''-'''''Goldwyn'''''-Mayer" has been placed on top of the logo and is slightly arched, minus the hyphens in between the names. Jackie appears on black/white films and Tanner on color films. A registered trademark symbol is added underneath the left side of the filmstrip. |
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'''Trivia:''' This marks the start of the more established design of the logo, although the more familiar lion wouldn't be introduced until four years later. |
'''Trivia:''' This marks the start of the more established design of the logo, although the more familiar lion wouldn't be introduced until four years later. |
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'''Variants:''' |
'''Variants:''' |
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* A short version of Jackie with the last two roars exists. |
* A short version of Jackie with the last two roars exists. |
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* For the Tanner version, there are two versions. One has the ribbons in |
* For the Tanner version, there are two versions. One has the ribbons in silver and the other in gold. |
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* Another version appears with the |
* Another version appears with the gold ribbon Tanner variant with copyright info on either side. |
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* Tanner was used for a 3D version that can be found on films such as ''Kiss Me Kate''. |
* Tanner was used for a 3D version that can be found on films such as ''Kiss Me Kate''. |
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* A CinemaScope variant exists. After the logo fades out is the golden text "IN '''CINEMASCOPE'''", with " |
* A CinemaScope variant exists. After the logo fades out is the golden text "IN '''CINEMASCOPE'''", with "CINEMASCOPE" in its respective font (similarly to the CinemaScope used by [[20th Century Studios|20th Century-Fox]]), all on a black background. |
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'''Technique:''' Live-action footage, with the elements surrounding either lion being a printed graphic composited over the footage. |
'''Technique:''' Live-action footage, with the elements surrounding either lion being a printed graphic composited over the footage. |
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</tabber> |
</tabber> |
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'''Visuals:''' A new lion named George appears in the studio's logo. The ribboning is more stretched out than in the earlier versions. The red mask appears redrawn and the wreath looks more stretched out below. The color of the letters " |
'''Visuals:''' A new lion named George appears in the studio's logo. The ribboning is more stretched out than in the earlier versions. The red mask appears redrawn and the wreath looks more stretched out below. The color of the letters "M", "G" and "M" are still red, but look faded. A registered trademark symbol has been added. The first version has the lion looking at the camera, then he turns away and starts roaring. Then he would later look back at the camera and roar again and snarl. The other would have the lion look at the camera first, then would roar while looking up and snarl at the end. |
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'''Trivia:''' |
'''Trivia:''' |
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</tabber> |
</tabber> |
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'''Visuals:''' A new lion named "Leo" appears. The script " |
'''Visuals:''' A new lion named "Leo" appears. The script "Metro Goldwyn Mayer" is in a new font. The wreath and the mask are redrawn once again, and the ribboning on the sides is stretched out even more. Leo roars at first, then turns his head to his right. He would roar again for the second time and look away, and would do the same thing on his third roar and would look away for the final time. |
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'''Trivia:''' |
'''Trivia:''' |
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* On films shot in the Cinerama format, the logo is curved to accommodate the format and the ribboning is also enhanced. |
* On films shot in the Cinerama format, the logo is curved to accommodate the format and the ribboning is also enhanced. |
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* By the 1970s, the logo looks a little more enhanced and the lettering on the marquee has more of a grey color. |
* By the 1970s, the logo looks a little more enhanced and the lettering on the marquee has more of a grey color. |
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* May 23, 1974-July 4, 1975: A special variant was used to commemorate MGM's 50th anniversary. At the top, " |
* May 23, 1974-July 4, 1975: A special variant was used to commemorate MGM's 50th anniversary. At the top, "'''Metro Goldwyn Mayer'''" (in the same font as the 1957 logo) is in yellowish-gold, and the wreath is slightly thinner. Inside the circle is the yellowish-gold text "'''BEGINNING OUR NEXT 50 YEARS...'''", with "B" a bit bigger and stretched vertically, as Leo roars. There would be a crossfade between the phrase and Leo. Instead of "TRADE MARK", "'''GOLDEN'''" is seen on the left and "'''ANNIVERSARY'''" is seen on the right in the same color. Leo would roar again two more times. This became the basis of Leo's two roar footage. |
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* June 3, 1983-February 21, 1986, July 10, 1987: The marquee name was altered to read " |
* June 3, 1983-February 21, 1986, July 10, 1987: The marquee name was altered to read "MGM/UA Entertainment Co.", following their acquisition of United Artists in 1981, with all text (apart from the initials and Latin phrase) rendered in orange. Everything else remains the same. |
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** A prototype variant where the MGM/UA marquee is slightly off center and Leo also has a greenish tint also exists. |
** A prototype variant where the MGM/UA marquee is slightly off center and Leo also has a greenish tint also exists. |
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* The MGM/UA closing variant debuted on ''Diner'', while the opening variant made its debut on ''WarGames'' and made its final appearance on ''9 1/2 Weeks''. |
* The MGM/UA closing variant debuted on ''Diner'', while the opening variant made its debut on ''WarGames'' and made its final appearance on ''9 1/2 Weeks''. |
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** MGM/UA releases between March 1982 and June 1983, which feature the closing variant, still open with the standard MGM version on MGM releases, while UA releases from the period open with the standard United Artists logo. |
** MGM/UA releases between March 1982 and June 1983, which feature the closing variant, still open with the standard MGM version on MGM releases, while UA releases from the period open with the standard United Artists logo. |
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** Starting with the release of ''Dream Lover'' on February 28, 1986, it reverted back to the |
** Starting with the release of ''Dream Lover'' on February 28, 1986, it reverted back to the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer name. However, the MGM/UA variant appeared on the 1987 film ''O.C. and Stiggs'' (which was originally made in 1985 but was shelved for two years). |
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* The 1960-1982 version was also plastered over with the 1983-1986 version on ''Two Weeks in Another Town'' on an international TCM airing. |
* The 1960-1982 version was also plastered over with the 1983-1986 version on ''Two Weeks in Another Town'' on an international TCM airing. |
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* This logo was seen on original theatrical prints of ''Where the River Runs Black'', but video releases replaced it with the 11th logo. |
* This logo was seen on original theatrical prints of ''Where the River Runs Black'', but video releases replaced it with the 11th logo. |
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</gallery> |
</gallery> |
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'''Visuals:''' On a blue background, there is a |
'''Visuals:''' On a blue background, there is a yellow-orange outlined drawing of a lion's head in a circle. Below it are the yellow-orange letters "'''MGM'''" (set in Helvetica). |
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'''Trivia:''' |
'''Trivia:''' |
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'''Variants:''' |
'''Variants:''' |
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* A variant has the background color |
* A variant has the background color teal-green, the lion drawing is now white and bigger, and "'''MGM'''" is smaller. |
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* On trailers for the studio's films that were released by United Artists, an inverted version of the logo appears above the 1976 United Artists logo, with the text "An '''MGM''' Presentation" next to it. |
* On trailers for the studio's films that were released by United Artists, an inverted version of the logo appears above the 1976 United Artists logo, with the text "An '''MGM''' Presentation" next to it. |
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</tabber> |
</tabber> |
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'''Visuals:''' Same as the 9th logo, but most of the logo is now colored in gold instead of white. The mask also appears in a darker |
'''Visuals:''' Same as the 9th logo, but most of the logo is now colored in gold instead of white. The mask also appears in a darker red color. Leo roars twice as usual, sometimes once. |
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'''Trivia:''' The design of the filmstrip was first introduced in 1982 as the corporate logo for its then-parent MGM/UA Entertainment Co., and was used for the 1982-1993 [[MGM Home Entertainment|MGM/UA Home Video]] logo. Also, the filmstrip would remain golden going forward. |
'''Trivia:''' The design of the filmstrip was first introduced in 1982 as the corporate logo for its then-parent MGM/UA Entertainment Co., and was used for the 1982-1993 [[MGM Home Entertainment|MGM/UA Home Video]] logo. Also, the filmstrip would remain golden going forward. |
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'''Variants:''' |
'''Variants:''' |
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* June 22, 1984-January 18, 1985: For the studio's 60th anniversary, the arched words "DIAMOND JUBILEE" appear in white above the logo. On the circle |
* June 22, 1984-January 18, 1985: For the studio's 60th anniversary, the arched words "DIAMOND JUBILEE" appear in white above the logo. On the circle, "METRO GOLDWYN MAYER/UNITED ARTISTS" is inscribed in red, instead of the usual Latin phrase. The mask is redrawn once again, with the mouth inside the mask in white, and the wreath surrounding the mask is not there. Below the mask is a ribboning banner that reads "ENTERTAINMENT CO." On the right side above the ribbon, there is a small trademark symbol, and below the logo is the white text "SIXTY YEARS OF GREAT ENTERTAINMENT". Leo roars while the letters "M", "E" and "J" sparkle. |
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* An early version of the 1986 logo also exists, which can be found on some prints and the 1987 |
* An early version of the 1986 logo also exists, which can be found on some prints and the 1987 US VHS release of ''Where the River Runs Black'', where Leo is slightly off-centered. |
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* October 30, 1987-1992: There is a byline that reads " |
* October 30, 1987-1992: There is a byline that reads "An MGM/UA Communications company". The byline was used intermittently from late 1988 to 1992, mainly on trailers. However, it makes an appearance on the original VHS release of ''Leviathan'' (another version has the bylineless logo). Films with this byline are generally preceded by the MGM/UA Communications logo. |
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* November 26, 1986-2001, 2006, 2008: The logo is bylineless. Despite general use ending around 2001, it made appearances on ''The Cutting Edge: Going for the Gold'' and ''WarGames: The Dead Code''. |
* November 26, 1986-2001, 2006, 2008: The logo is bylineless. Despite general use ending around 2001, it made appearances on ''The Cutting Edge: Going for the Gold'' and ''WarGames: The Dead Code''. |
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* 1994: For the studio's 70th anniversary, the text " |
* 1994: For the studio's 70th anniversary, the text "70th ANNIVERSARY" is seen, and the logo is pushed up to the top. "ANNIVERSARY", wipes in underneath the logo in spaced-out letters, followed by "70th" appears. Starting with this logo, the ribbons now appear in a darker golden-brown color. |
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* 1999: 75th |
* 1999: For the studio's 75th anniversary, the text "'''75''' A LEGACY OF EXCELLENCE" is used, and the MGM logo is once again moved upwards. When it begins, the "75" zooms back and rests, followed by the shining text "A LEGACY OF EXCELLENCE" fading in. There is a version on ''The World Is Not Enough'' without the animation. |
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* January 12, 2001-April 28, 2009: A " |
* January 12, 2001-April 28, 2009: A "www.mgm.com" URL is added below the logo. |
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* Some films that used the 2001 version of the logo, such as ''Wicker Park'', ''Good Boy!'', and ''Bulletproof Monk'', have the URL off-center. |
** Some films that used the 2001 version of the logo, such as ''Wicker Park'', ''Good Boy!'', and ''Bulletproof Monk'', have the URL off-center. |
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* The Tubi print of ''The Last Man On Earth'' starts with a somewhat cheaply edited black-and-white version of the 2001 logo. |
* The Tubi print of ''The Last Man On Earth'' starts with a somewhat cheaply edited black-and-white version of the 2001 logo. |
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* The bylineless logo with the 1994 roar can be found on original prints of ''The Pebble and the Penguin'' (U.S. prints), ''Fluke'', ''Species'', and ''Get Shorty'', as well as on ''Red Corner''. |
* The bylineless logo with the 1994 roar can be found on original prints of ''The Pebble and the Penguin'' (U.S. prints), ''Fluke'', ''Species'', and ''Get Shorty'', as well as on ''Red Corner''. |
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** It can also be found on the Vudu print of ''Snow White'' (1987). |
** It can also be found on the Vudu print of ''Snow White'' (1987). |
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* The 1999 75th Anniversary version is seen on ''The Thomas Crown Affair'' (1999) and pre-2006 prints of ''The World is Not Enough''; however, the earlier and mid versions are usually replaced by the 2001 logo, such as on the Ultimate Edition DVD and Blu-ray releases of the latter. |
* The 1999 75th Anniversary version is seen on ''The Thomas Crown Affair'' (1999) and pre-2006 prints of ''The World is Not Enough''; however, the earlier and mid versions are usually replaced by the 2001 logo, such as on the Ultimate Edition DVD and Blu-ray releases of the latter. It also plastered the ninth logo on the 2001 European DVD release of ''Rocky IV''. |
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* The silent version is seen at the end of network prints of ''Topkapi''. |
* The silent version is seen at the end of network prints of ''Topkapi''. |
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* This logo also replaces the 1981 [[Columbia Pictures]] logo on releases of MGM-owned Castle Rock/Nelson films such as ''When Harry Met Sally...'', ''Lord of the Flies'', ''Misery'', and ''City Slickers''. |
* This logo also replaces the 1981 [[Columbia Pictures]] logo on releases of MGM-owned Castle Rock/Nelson films such as ''When Harry Met Sally...'', ''Lord of the Flies'', ''Misery'', and ''City Slickers''. |
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</tabber> |
</tabber> |
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'''Visuals:''' Same as the previous logo, but with several enhancements: the text, ribbons and mask, along with its wreath, are now all in a lighter, more metallic shade of |
'''Visuals:''' Same as the previous logo, but with several enhancements: the text, ribbons and mask, along with its wreath, are now all in a lighter, more metallic shade of gold; the URL now reads "'''MGM.COM'''"; and the footage of Leo has been digitally enhanced. |
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'''Trivia:''' This was actually based on the print logo that was used by MGM Home Entertainment and MGM DVD, as seen on VHS and DVD covers and other merchandise. The gold mask used here also looks similar to the one in the 1993 MGM/UA Home Video logo. |
'''Trivia:''' This was actually based on the print logo that was used by MGM Home Entertainment and MGM DVD, as seen on VHS and DVD covers and other merchandise. The gold mask used here also looks similar to the one in the 1993 MGM/UA Home Video logo. |
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* Starting in 2011, the logo began appearing without the URL, likely due to MGM no longer releasing their own films (outside some regions) after their emergence from bankruptcy. This version first appeared on ''The Cutting Edge: Fire and Ice'' in 2010. It later made an appearance on a behind-the-scenes video of ''Zookeeper'' found on the MGM website, as well as the trailers for ''The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo'', ''21 Jump Street'' and ''G.I. Joe: Retaliation''. The roar track is not used on the former two trailers, but is still heard on the latter. The logo made its first appearance on a theatrical release of ''The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo''. |
* Starting in 2011, the logo began appearing without the URL, likely due to MGM no longer releasing their own films (outside some regions) after their emergence from bankruptcy. This version first appeared on ''The Cutting Edge: Fire and Ice'' in 2010. It later made an appearance on a behind-the-scenes video of ''Zookeeper'' found on the MGM website, as well as the trailers for ''The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo'', ''21 Jump Street'' and ''G.I. Joe: Retaliation''. The roar track is not used on the former two trailers, but is still heard on the latter. The logo made its first appearance on a theatrical release of ''The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo''. |
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'''Closing Variant:''' At the end of ''Hot Tub Time Machine'' and some catalog titles, in which the words " |
'''Closing Variant:''' At the end of ''Hot Tub Time Machine'' and some catalog titles, in which the words "DISTRIBUTED BY MGM DISTRIBUTION CO." appear in place of the URL. On a WGN airing of ''Mr. Mom'', a slightly different font is used. |
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'''Technique:''' Live-action footage, with a digitally-made filmstrip and text, done at Pacific Title. The footage of Leo in this logo is from a negative master of the 1958 film ''Cat on a Hot Tin Roof'', as the original 1956 negative was believed to be lost. Leo was then given an HD enhancement, with his mane and ears digitally remodeled to remove film fuzz and blemishes. They were also made to overlap the film ribbons in order to give the logo more depth. More info on the project can be found [https://garycoates.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/logo-history-restoration-article.pdf here]. |
'''Technique:''' Live-action footage, with a digitally-made filmstrip and text, done at Pacific Title. The footage of Leo in this logo is from a negative master of the 1958 film ''Cat on a Hot Tin Roof'', as the original 1956 negative was believed to be lost. Leo was then given an HD enhancement, with his mane and ears digitally remodeled to remove film fuzz and blemishes. They were also made to overlap the film ribbons in order to give the logo more depth. More info on the project can be found [https://garycoates.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/logo-history-restoration-article.pdf here]. |
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'''Audio:''' |
'''Audio:''' |
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{{YouTube|id=Iih6FWzXqGM|id2=Ly-kdZXhbE0}} |
{{YouTube|id=Iih6FWzXqGM|id2=Ly-kdZXhbE0}} |
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</tabber> |
</tabber> |
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'''Visuals:''' Over a black background, the logo starts with flickers of light. The image then pulls back to reveal that it is a pupil, an extreme close-up of Leo's eye. The camera zooms out to reveal Leo, the ribboning, mask and the words " |
'''Visuals:''' Over a black background, the logo starts with flickers of light. The image then pulls back to reveal that it is a pupil, an extreme close-up of Leo's eye. The camera zooms out to reveal Leo, the ribboning, the mask, and the words "TRADE MARK" on both sides (from the previous logo, all in gold and metallic) ease back with the ribbons moving. The words "ARS GRATIA ARTIS" move from right to left on the ribbon as "Metro Goldwyn Mayer" appears shimmering and eases itself above the ribboning. The company name is darker and appears to have a "shining" effect applied to it, while the mask is also different as well. Leo, whose 1957 footage is digitally restored and enhanced, like the previous logo, roars as this happens. |
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'''Trivia:''' |
'''Trivia:''' |
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</tabber> |
</tabber> |
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'''Visuals:''' On a black background, a golden, rounded square passes by, bringing in a bright light. Another square passes while the screen zooms out through another to reveal it is inside the golden filmstrip ribbon. The ribbon zooms out and settles in place, this time reading " |
'''Visuals:''' On a black background, a golden, rounded square passes by, bringing in a bright light. Another square passes while the screen zooms out through another to reveal it is inside the golden filmstrip ribbon. The ribbon zooms out and settles in place, this time reading "ART FOR ART'S SAKE" (the English translation of "ARS GRATIA ARTIS") written in MGM's custom typeface (named Metro Mayer Serif). A bright light is seen filtering out of the words in the ribbon, filling it with gold. By the time the light fades away from the right, the ribbon gains an extremely shiny metallic luster, and the English translation changes back to its familiar Latin version. The ribbons on either side of the circle unfurl into their familiar form as Leo (now an updated, photorealistic CGI rendering of him, based on the 1957 footage) fades in and roars. The mask (once again redesigned, with a solid mouth this time) and leaf-like design around it grow and fade from the darkness, and the company name zooms out (just like the previous logo) and shines on top of the ribbon, with "TRADE MARK" fading in shortly after. The entire logo has a subtle, faint golden shine all around it. |
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'''Trivia:''' |
'''Trivia:''' |
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* The 100th anniversary variant pays homages to the 1974 and 1984 anniversaries such as the "100" fading into Leo's footage (like in the 1974 logo, with "BEGINNING OUR NEXT 50 YEARS...") and "100 YEARS OF ENTERTAINMENT" (similar to the "SIXTY YEARS OF GREAT ENTERTAINMENT" phrase from 1984). Furthermore, the print version replaces the lion with "100". |
* The 100th anniversary variant pays homages to the 1974 and 1984 anniversaries such as the "100" fading into Leo's footage (like in the 1974 logo, with "BEGINNING OUR NEXT 50 YEARS...") and "100 YEARS OF ENTERTAINMENT" (similar to the "SIXTY YEARS OF GREAT ENTERTAINMENT" phrase from 1984). Furthermore, the print version replaces the lion with "100". |
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'''Byline:''' Starting with ''Sitting in Bars with Cake'' (released on September 8, 2023), the |
'''Byline:''' Starting with ''Sitting in Bars with Cake'' (released on September 8, 2023), the gold byline "AN AMAZON COMPANY" (in the Amazon Ember font) fades in below the logo. |
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'''Variants:''' |
'''Variants:''' |
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* To celebrate the 60th anniversary of the ''007'' franchise, MGM made a special variant for the occasion. When Leo starts to roar, the logo zooms out to the left, while the text appears earlier and zooms out at a slower rate. As on the right, there are the words "60 YEARS OF BOND" (with the "60" being seen on top in large font, while "YEARS OF BOND" is seen below in much smaller letters). On the 6 is the older 007 logo fade in number by number, and then when the gun fades in, the tip of the gun appears from the left of the "0", creating the 60 Years of Bond logo. |
* To celebrate the 60th anniversary of the ''007'' franchise, MGM made a special variant for the occasion. When Leo starts to roar, the logo zooms out to the left, while the text appears earlier and zooms out at a slower rate. As on the right, there are the words "60 YEARS OF BOND" (with the "60" being seen on top in large font, while "YEARS OF BOND" is seen below in much smaller letters). On the 6 is the older 007 logo fade in number by number, and then when the gun fades in, the tip of the gun appears from the left of the "0", creating the 60 Years of Bond logo. |
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* On Screenpix On Demand's print of the 1953 film ''A Day to Remember'', the logo, in color is cut short; before the second 1995 roar plays, it cuts to the film's original [[The Rank Organisation|J. Arthur Rank Organisation]] logo in black and white. |
* On Screenpix On Demand's print of the 1953 film ''A Day to Remember'', the logo, in color is cut short; before the second 1995 roar plays, it cuts to the film's original [[The Rank Organisation|J. Arthur Rank Organisation]] logo in black and white. |
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* During their 100th anniversary, a golden " |
* During their 100th anniversary, a golden "100" appears in front of the ribboning (with the camera focusing on it) before settling into the circle. The number then disappears in dust (meaning that the footage appears a bit late) and the logo plays as normal, but a golden glow is shown to reveal the text "'''100 YEARS OF ENTERTAINMENT'''", wiping from the middle to both the left and right sides. The glow then dissipates, and the text shines slightly. |
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'''Technique:''' CGI by Baked Studios, originally made in 2019, two years before the logo's proper debut. |
'''Technique:''' CGI by Baked Studios, originally made in 2019, two years before the logo's proper debut. |
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*[https://www.imdb.com/search/title/?companies=co0007143&sort=release_date,asc Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer on IMDb] |
*[https://www.imdb.com/search/title/?companies=co0007143&sort=release_date,asc Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer on IMDb] |
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{{Chronology|[[Metro Pictures Corporation]]<br>[[Goldwyn Pictures]]<br>Louis B. Mayer Pictures |
{{Chronology|[[Metro Pictures Corporation]]<br>[[Goldwyn Pictures]]<br>Louis B. Mayer Pictures}} |
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{{American film logos}} |
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[[Category:Film logos]] |
[[Category:Film logos]] |
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[[Category:Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer]] |
[[Category:Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer]] |
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[[Category:United States]] |
[[Category:United States]] |
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[[Category:American film logos]] |
[[Category:American film logos]] |
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[[Category:English-language logos]] |
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[[Category:Logos made by Lippincott]] |
[[Category:Logos made by Lippincott]] |
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[[Category:Logos made by Pacific Title & Art Studio]] |
[[Category:Logos made by Pacific Title & Art Studio]] |
Metro Pictures Corporation, founded in 1915 by Richard Rowland and Louis B. Mayer, started by distributing films before Mayer left to form his own company. After several years of independent operation under Rowland, theater magnate Marcus Loew acquired Metro Pictures in 1920. Seeking better content for his theaters, Loew merged Metro Pictures with Goldwyn Pictures and eventually acquired Mayer's company in 1924, forming Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM). With Mayer serving as head of the studio, MGM became one of the major players in the Golden Age of Hollywood, and was one of the "Big Five" film studios, alongside Paramount Pictures, RKO Radio Pictures, 20th Century Fox and Warner Bros. At its peak in the 1930s, the studio was releasing 50 films a year. In 1952, Loews Inc. was forced to relinquish control of MGM due to the outcome of United States v. Paramount Pictures, Inc., which forced studios and theaters to separate. By the time the split was completed in 1959, MGM was in decline due to a combination of the split, the decline of the old studio system, and the rise of television. In 1957, the same year Louis B. Mayer died, the company filed a loss for the first time ever.
In 1969, Kirk Kerkorian purchased the company. However, in 1973, MGM closed its distribution offices and signed an agreement with United Artists for distribution of its films in the United States; the company made a similar agreement with Cinema International Corporation for international distribution. In 1981, MGM purchased the failing United Artists before renaming itself MGM/UA Entertainment Co. a year later, with UA's distribution branch being renamed MGM/United Artists Distribution and Marketing (later MGM/UA Distribution Co.). MGM was also a founding partner in CIC's successor United International Pictures. On March 25, 1986, MGM/UA was purchased by Ted Turner (who temporarily renamed the company MGM Entertainment Co.), but after a large amount of debt, he sold it back on August 26, keeping the pre-1986 MGM library. MGM was then renamed MGM/UA Communications Co. In 1990, it became MGM-Pathé Communications Co. after Giancarlo Parretti purchased the company and merged it with Pathé Communications (not to be confused with the French studio, which Parretti attempted to buy but failed due to French governmental concerns over his business background). Due to lawsuits, it was sold back to Kerkorian yet again, and the company reverted back to the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer name in 1992. In 2000, MGM broke off its international distribution agreement with UIP and signed with 20th Century Fox for it to take over international distribution rights for its films. On April 8, 2005, a consortium led by Sony's American branch bought the company.
In 2009 and 2010, MGM suffered financial problems and filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on November 3, 2010. After it emerged from bankruptcy on December 20, Spyglass Entertainment executives Gary Barber and Roger Birnbaum became co-CEOs and co-chairs of the company. Birnbaum left on October 3, 2012, and Barber was fired in March 2018. For much of the 2010s, much of MGM's output was produced with and/or distributed by Columbia, Paramount, Universal, or Warner Bros. in all territories except the Nordics, Israel, Central Europe, the Middle East, and Portugal. In 2017, MGM signed an agreement with Annapurna Pictures to distribute titles from both parties in the US, with third-party titles being released under the Mirror banner. MGM also signed an agreement with Universal that same year to handle the international distribution of MGM titles. In 2019, the partnership became known as United Artists Releasing, and Orion Pictures' distribution staff was added to the venture.
On May 26, 2021, technology company Amazon announced its intention to acquire MGM for $8.45 billion, a deal that was finalized on March 17, 2022. On August 15, 2022, MGM announced a new distribution agreement with Warner Bros. for international markets outside North America, which excluded two titles from Orion and the 26th James Bond film, which will be retained by Universal. As part of the deal, Warner Bros. will take over home video rights in all regions. In 2023, Amazon Studios was renamed Amazon MGM Studios, with MGM serving as a banner of the company.
As of 2024, MGM's major film franchises include Rocky and James Bond, while its most recent television productions include Fargo and The Handmaid's Tale. The current company and studio location are located in Beverly Hills, California. MGM owned a more well-known set of studios in Culver City from 1925 until 1986, when the backlot was sold to Lorimar-Telepictures; the lot is now owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment, and is known as Sony Pictures Studios.
Visuals: Over a black background is a marquee with torches surrounding it, similar to the MGM print logo. A statue of a lion rests on top. There is text over the marquee reading "A Metro Goldwyn PICTURE", with "A" on top, "Metro Goldwyn" in the middle ("Metro" in the font used for the Metro Pictures logo of the time and "Goldwyn" in a script font), and "PICTURE" on the bottom, looking slightly smudged out in the center.
Trivia: This logo (with the word "Mayer") was used as a print logo until the 1950s, as well as on various films as late as 1984.
Variants:
Technique: A printed graphic filmed by a camera.
Audio: The closing theme of the film.
Availability: Seen at the end of early MGM-era films such as He Who Gets Slapped, Lady of the Night, and Cleopatra (1928), and also as an opening logo like on Greed.
Visuals: Same as the final Goldwyn Pictures logo, but a new lion named "Slats" occupies the circle. Slats moves his head from right to left and then looks at the camera, and later looks around aimlessly. Instead of "A GOLDWYN PICTURE", the marquee below the logo now reads "Metro Goldwyn Mayer". "Metro" is in a plain serif font, "Goldwyn" is in a more fancy script font, and "Mayer" is in an Art Deco-esque font.
Trivia: Slats was born at the Dublin Zoo on March 20, 1919, and was originally named "Cairbre". He died in 1936.
Variants:
Technique: Live-action footage (which differs depending on the film), with the elements surrounding Slats being a printed graphic composited over the footage.
Audio: None or the opening theme of the film.
Availability: It can be seen on the earliest films under the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer name. Some films were still around, while others are destroyed.
This logo is currently missing in action. Please do not add reconstructions of the logo if any exist, as they are likely not accurate to the actual logo. Additionally, do not attempt to add a finalized description of the logo until it has been found in its entirety. |
Visuals: Nearly the same as before, but the ribboning has been slightly redone and a different lion named "Numa"[1] appears. The usual MGM marquee is seen below, with the ribboning in white, the wreath in yellow, the mask in red and the marquee in green.
Trivia:
Variant: As seen in the first picture, there is a variant with copyright notices below the logo.
Technique: A printed graphic, with Numa being a photograph.
Audio: The only films this is known to appear on were silent, so either none or the opening theme of the film.
Availability: Was mainly seen on early colorized silent films.
Visuals: A new lion named "Jackie" appears in a slightly re-done film-like ribboning. Jackie roars three times and then looks offscreen. The marquee from the last two logos is seen below.
Trivia: Jackie was born in 1915, and was nicknamed "Leo the Lucky" because he survived several accidents, including two trainwrecks, an earthquake, and an explosion inside the studio. He retired in 1931 and was given to the Philadelphia Zoo and died in February 1935 from heart problems. His hide is currently on display at the McPherson Museum in McPherson, Kansas.
Variants:
Closing Variants: After the MGM merger, a variant of the Metro-Goldwyn Pictures closing logo, with the appropriate addendum, was used on the studio's end cards from 1924 until the 1950s.
"AMERICA NEEDS YOUR MONEY
BUY DEFENSE BONDS AND STAMPS
EVERY PAY DAY"
This was used as the basis for the 1st MGM Cartoons logo.
Technique: Live-action footage, with the elements surrounding Jackie being a printed graphic composited over the footage.
Audio: Jackie roaring; there are several variants. From 1928 to 1930, Jackie's actual roar was used. From 1930 to 1932, starting with the film Paid, a panther's roar was used. From 1932 to 1953, another roar was used, which would also be used for the 4th logo. For silent films, it's the music's intro only without Jackie roaring.
Audio Trivia: Jackie roaring at the beginning of White Shadows in the South Seas marks the first time audiences ever heard an MGM lion, as it was the studio's first film with a pre-recorded soundtrack.
Audio Variants:
Availability: Seen on films of the era, such as Freaks, Grand Hotel, Manhattan Melodrama, The Thin Man films from 1934 to 1947, The Girl From Missouri, Riptide, A Night at the Opera, Fury (1936), Libeled Lady, Camille (1936), Romeo and Juliet (1936), The Good Earth, Captains Courageous, Topper, A Day at the Races, the Andy Hardy films from 1937 to 1946, The Wizard of Oz (1939), Goodbye, Mr. Chips (1939), Ninotchka, The Philadelphia Story, Ziegfeld Girl, Mrs. Miniver, Gaslight, The Asphalt Jungle, The Bad and the Beautiful, Pat and Mike, as well as the 1930s The Captain and the Kids cartoons.
Legacy: Along with Tanner, Jackie rates at the top with logo enthusiasts as far as MGM lions go. He was the third-longest lion to be used behind Tanner and Leo.
Visuals: Another lion named "Telly" appears in a newly redrawn film-like ribboning. He is the first of the two two-strip Technicolor lions. Telly first stares on camera for several seconds and then roars with a long snarl and two roaring sound effects. The usual MGM marquee is seen below. Everything but the lion is in a green hue (likely caused by the two-strip Technicolor process).
Variant: A black and white version exists, and was seen on The Mysterious Island, which was originally shot in color, but only a black/white version of the film is known to exist.
Technique: Live-action footage, with the elements surrounding Telly being a printed graphic composited over the footage.
Audio: A cougar's roar, which was also used for Jackie in the 1932 variant of the 3rd logo. Some films would only have the opening theme by itself or with Telly's roar.
Audio Variant: On Crazy House, the logo is silent.
Availability: Seen on color films such as The Viking, The Mysterious Island, The Rogue Song, and Crazy House, as well as color shorts like Kiddie Revue and Over the Counter.
Visuals: Another two-strip Technicolor lion named "Coffee" appears in a slightly redrawn film-like ribboning with the mask redrawn. Coffee snarls while looking down and then roars. The Latin phrase is still shown inscribed on the circle. "TRADE" and "MARK" appear on different sides. The usual MGM marquee is seen below. The ribboning and wreath are white, and the mask is red.
Variants:
Technique: Live-action footage, with the elements surrounding Coffee being a printed graphic composited over the footage.
Audio: Coffee's roar.
Availability: Seen on several of MGM's color short subjects, including Roast-Beef and Movies and Wild People and on the first season of MGM's "Happy Harmonies" cartoons.
Visuals: A new lion named "Tanner" appears in this logo. He is the one of the three-strip Technicolor lions. The Latin phrase on the circle is red, the words "TRADE" and "MARK" are yellow, and the red mask and the ribboning are redrawn slightly, with orange accents on certain parts of the filmstrip ribbons. The wreath is yellow and on the MGM marquee, the letters "M", "G" and "M" are red, with the remainder of the letters in yellow. Tanner roars three times.
Trivia: In addition to this logo, Tanner also appeared in a few Three Stooges shorts such as Hold That Lion!. His roar was also frequently used as a sound effect in some MGM cartoons of the time.
Variants:
Technique: Live-action footage, with the elements surrounding Tanner being a printed graphic composited over the footage.
Audio: Some films would feature Tanner's roars, while animated features would use Coffee's. Other live-action films would have the music's intro with Tanner roaring. For the long version, it's just Tanner roaring.
Audio Variants:
Availability: Seen on color live-action films such as Lassie Come Home, Meet Me in St. Louis, National Velvet, Good News, On the Town, An American in Paris, Quo Vadis, Singin' in the Rain, short subjects, FitzPatrick's Traveltalks travelogues Cherry Blossom Time In Japan, Rocky Mountain Grandeur, Hong Kong: The Hub of the Orient, Java Journey, Paris On Parade, Sitka and Juneau, Cavalcade of San Francisco, Over the Andes, Colorful Colorado and Monumental Utah, several musicals and animated features from MGM's "Golden Age", the 1939's Pete Smith Speciality "Marine Circus" on TCM (but not on the Warner Archive DVD nor Blu-ray releases), and Two Hearts in Wax Time. Its first feature film appearance after four years later was Sweethearts, and the last few films to use this were The Naked Spur, The Band Wagon, Latin Lovers, and Give a Girl a Break.
Legacy: As one of the more iconic lions, those who grew up watching Tom and Jerry may consider Tanner a favorite. However, he has gained some notoriety for frightening younger viewers, mainly towards those that grew up watching MGM cartoons such as the previously mentioned Tom and Jerry.
Visuals: This time, the MGM marquee below the logo has been permanently dropped, and the name "Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer" has been placed on top of the logo and is slightly arched, minus the hyphens in between the names. Jackie appears on black/white films and Tanner on color films. A registered trademark symbol is added underneath the left side of the filmstrip.
Trivia: This marks the start of the more established design of the logo, although the more familiar lion wouldn't be introduced until four years later.
Variants:
Technique: Live-action footage, with the elements surrounding either lion being a printed graphic composited over the footage.
Audio: Jackie or Tanner roaring depending on the film.
Audio Variant: The Long, Long Trailer and Forever Darling have Tanner with Jackie's roar.
Availability: Seen on MGM films during this era, starting with the films Ride, Vaquero! and Torch Song, and ending with The Rack.
Visuals: A new lion named George appears in the studio's logo. The ribboning is more stretched out than in the earlier versions. The red mask appears redrawn and the wreath looks more stretched out below. The color of the letters "M", "G" and "M" are still red, but look faded. A registered trademark symbol has been added. The first version has the lion looking at the camera, then he turns away and starts roaring. Then he would later look back at the camera and roar again and snarl. The other would have the lion look at the camera first, then would roar while looking up and snarl at the end.
Trivia:
Variants:
Technique: Live-action footage. Unlike previous and future MGM logos, the graphic surrounding the lion is actually a physical cutout as evidenced by the behind-the-scenes photos.
Audio: Tanner's re-dubbed roar or Tanner's roar with the music's intro.
Audio Variant: A slightly different tone of Tanner's roar with an extra growl was heard twice on Barnacle Bill and First Man Into Space with the synced roar that was used for the next logo.
Availability: Seen on MGM films during this era, starting with the film The Swan (released on April 26, 1956).[2]
Visuals: A new lion named "Leo" appears. The script "Metro Goldwyn Mayer" is in a new font. The wreath and the mask are redrawn once again, and the ribboning on the sides is stretched out even more. Leo roars at first, then turns his head to his right. He would roar again for the second time and look away, and would do the same thing on his third roar and would look away for the final time.
Trivia:
Variants:
Closing Variants:
Technique: Live-action footage, with the elements surrounding Leo being a printed graphic composited over the footage.
Audio: Some movies, especially later movies with the logo, would only have Leo's roar. Other movies would have the music's intro with the roar.
Audio Variants: Tanner's roar was used from 1957 to 1982. The sound used is Tanner's first roar, repeated twice; for Leo's second roar, Tanner's first roar is used without the growl. For the three-roar variant, the first roar is Tanner's second roar.
Availability: Was used for almost three decades.
Legacy: It's seen as one of MGM's most iconic logos, with Leo considered the most famous out of all the MGM lions.
Visuals: On a blue background, there is a yellow-orange outlined drawing of a lion's head in a circle. Below it are the yellow-orange letters "MGM" (set in Helvetica).
Trivia:
Variants:
Technique: A printed graphic.
Audio: None, but on 2001: A Space Odyssey, the film's opening theme (the very beginning of Richard Strauss's "Also sprach Zarathustra") plays over the logo.
Availability: It was seen only on two films: The Subject Was Roses (which has the logo intact on its Warner Archive DVD-R release) and 2001: A Space Odyssey (which had the logo edited out on most TV prints, but is still preserved on DVD and Blu-ray, as well as some international TCM airings and on the 2018 IMAX re-release).
Visuals: Same as the 9th logo, but most of the logo is now colored in gold instead of white. The mask also appears in a darker red color. Leo roars twice as usual, sometimes once.
Trivia: The design of the filmstrip was first introduced in 1982 as the corporate logo for its then-parent MGM/UA Entertainment Co., and was used for the 1982-1993 MGM/UA Home Video logo. Also, the filmstrip would remain golden going forward.
Variants:
Closing Variants:
Technique: Live-action footage with a printed graphic composited over it for the normal variant, 2D animation for the sparkles on the Diamond Jubilee variant, and computer effects for the additional text on the other anniversary variants.
Audio: Leo's roar, which would change throughout the years.
Audio Variants:
Availability: This logo was used for 25 years, and is easy to find, especially the 2001 website variant, which plasters both previous logos and numerous logos from other companies.
Legacy: This logo and the 9th logo are well-known due to their longevity. As for the 2001 website variant, it is infamous for its omnipresence and plastering, and has earned it some despise.
Visuals: Same as the previous logo, but with several enhancements: the text, ribbons and mask, along with its wreath, are now all in a lighter, more metallic shade of gold; the URL now reads "MGM.COM"; and the footage of Leo has been digitally enhanced.
Trivia: This was actually based on the print logo that was used by MGM Home Entertainment and MGM DVD, as seen on VHS and DVD covers and other merchandise. The gold mask used here also looks similar to the one in the 1993 MGM/UA Home Video logo.
Variants:
Closing Variant: At the end of Hot Tub Time Machine and some catalog titles, in which the words "DISTRIBUTED BY MGM DISTRIBUTION CO." appear in place of the URL. On a WGN airing of Mr. Mom, a slightly different font is used.
Technique: Live-action footage, with a digitally-made filmstrip and text, done at Pacific Title. The footage of Leo in this logo is from a negative master of the 1958 film Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, as the original 1956 negative was believed to be lost. Leo was then given an HD enhancement, with his mane and ears digitally remodeled to remove film fuzz and blemishes. They were also made to overlap the film ribbons in order to give the logo more depth. More info on the project can be found here.
Audio:
Audio Variant: The 1995 roar track is muted on The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.
Availability: Seen on all MGM releases from this period, starting with Quantum of Solace and ending with 21 Jump Street.
Visuals: Over a black background, the logo starts with flickers of light. The image then pulls back to reveal that it is a pupil, an extreme close-up of Leo's eye. The camera zooms out to reveal Leo, the ribboning, the mask, and the words "TRADE MARK" on both sides (from the previous logo, all in gold and metallic) ease back with the ribbons moving. The words "ARS GRATIA ARTIS" move from right to left on the ribbon as "Metro Goldwyn Mayer" appears shimmering and eases itself above the ribboning. The company name is darker and appears to have a "shining" effect applied to it, while the mask is also different as well. Leo, whose 1957 footage is digitally restored and enhanced, like the previous logo, roars as this happens.
Trivia:
Variants:
Technique: Live-action footage for Leo, and CGI for all other elements.
Audio: The 1995 roar is used, along with whooshes throughout the animation and the sound of a running film projector before the roar. The noise dies down after the first roar. There is also an extra growling sound added after the second roar.
Audio Variants:
Availability: It can be seen on every MGM film from 2012 until 2021, starting with Hope Springs (albeit a shortened version) and ending with select prints of No Time to Die.
Visuals: On a black background, a golden, rounded square passes by, bringing in a bright light. Another square passes while the screen zooms out through another to reveal it is inside the golden filmstrip ribbon. The ribbon zooms out and settles in place, this time reading "ART FOR ART'S SAKE" (the English translation of "ARS GRATIA ARTIS") written in MGM's custom typeface (named Metro Mayer Serif). A bright light is seen filtering out of the words in the ribbon, filling it with gold. By the time the light fades away from the right, the ribbon gains an extremely shiny metallic luster, and the English translation changes back to its familiar Latin version. The ribbons on either side of the circle unfurl into their familiar form as Leo (now an updated, photorealistic CGI rendering of him, based on the 1957 footage) fades in and roars. The mask (once again redesigned, with a solid mouth this time) and leaf-like design around it grow and fade from the darkness, and the company name zooms out (just like the previous logo) and shines on top of the ribbon, with "TRADE MARK" fading in shortly after. The entire logo has a subtle, faint golden shine all around it.
Trivia:
Byline: Starting with Sitting in Bars with Cake (released on September 8, 2023), the gold byline "AN AMAZON COMPANY" (in the Amazon Ember font) fades in below the logo.
Variants:
Technique: CGI by Baked Studios, originally made in 2019, two years before the logo's proper debut.
Audio: A majestic, orchestral five-note fanfare and a whoosh play in the beginning (notably marking the first time the logo has been complimented with a proper fanfare), which ends in a somber, violin-esque descent as the 1995 roar track caps it off. Composed by Sounds Red.
Audio Variants:
Availability: Seen on almost every MGM film beginning with Respect.
Legacy: Considered as a stunning update to the MGM logo for its CGI, fanfare, and use of the English "Art for Art's Sake", although the lion's CGI form was not as well-received at first.
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