Pearl & Dean

Credits

Descriptions by
It'sATrap

Captures by
youjustfailedfilms, StephenCezar15, and Camenati

Editions by
StephenCezar15, Henrynguye5, TheRealMarcel2000 and DannyTheMuppetMan

Video captures courtesy of
JX866, Google Chrom, EpicFam

Main Logo Variations

Background

Pearl & Dean is a British cinema advertising company, founded by brothers Charles and Ernie Pearl, and Robert "Bob" Dean, to sell advertising on British cinema screens prior to the showing of the main feature. Pearl and Dean is now owned by Willowbrook Investments Ltd, and controls advertising at many UK cinema sites including multiplex operators Empire Cinemas, Showcase Cinemas, and UK branch of AMC Theatres; the company also represents approximately half of the UK's independent cinemas.

1st Logo (1953-1968, 1970-1972)

• 
  Fullscreen variant
• 
  Widescreen variant
• 
  Closing variant
• 
  Youngers variant
• 
  Youngers closing variant

Visuals: Over a sky background there are some pillars. Some text fades in at the center of the pillars, and the camera then begins zooming in. Once the camera gets close, it stops, and the text is then revealed to say "PEARL & DEAN present" in yellow. The logo then fades out.

Variants:

• A later variant in the early '1970s had the camera not zooming in as much, and the sky was brighter.
• A version that says, "PEARL, DEAN & YOUNGERS" exists.

Technique: Live-action combined with 2D animation for the text.

Audio: For the 1953-1968 variant, a rather majestic fanfare, which is actually "Grand Vista" by Trevor Duncan. For the 1970-1972 variant, a Latin-flavoured music piece.

2nd Logo (1968-1970)

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Visuals: Two vertical lines (one green, one yellow) are made on the screen. They unfold and make the letters "P" and "D" (for Pearl and Dean). Each has a clip of someone dancing in it. They fold back again, and unfold to the "P" and "D" again, but this time with different clips. They yet again fold back, but this time, they disappear. Ten smaller lines in rows are five are made, which unfold to make the words “PEARL & DEAN” in a rather odd-looking font. Each letter has a small clip in it, but they then combine to make a large image of a car passing. When the car goes by, the smaller clips return to normal, and seven lines appear under the "PEARL & DEAN", and they unfold to read “PRESENTS”.

Trivia: This intro is parodied in one of Terry Gilliam’s animated segments for the Monty Python’s Flying Circus episode “Intermission”.

Technique: 2D animation and live action.

Audio: A 5/4 dance tune.

3rd Logo (Asteroid) (1972-1995)

• 
  Normal version (1972-1996)
• 
  Closing variant, used as late as 1984
• 
  B&W variant (1972-1984?)
• 
  B&W closing variant, used as late as 1984
• 
  Phone number closing variant

Visuals: The sequence begins with a black space (which constantly changes shape) on a blue background. An odd-looking white shape appears from that black space, which later fades. When it does, all manner of shapes start shooting up from the center, and while that is happening, the text "PEARL AND DEAN PRESENTS" in white (sometimes blue) shoots up from the center. After it has been there for a few seconds, the logo fades.

Trivia: Heineken used the music in this logo to create an ad specifically for British cinema where the song keeps breaking down and is refreshed by the drink.

Variants:

• A closing version exists, with, "PEARL AND DEAN" zooming out, instead of in. The "PRESENTS" text is absent. Its time of usage is currently unknown, but it was shorter-lived than the opening.
  • On one reel (which ends with an advertisement for Hamlet cigarettes), the logo wipes in.
  • Another closing version with the company's phone number underneath "PEARL AND DEAN".
    • Sometimes, the phone number doesn't zoom out.
• Starting in 1990, the logo was given an "enhanced" look. The blue background and the black space-changing shapes are switched to videotape. The black space-changing shapes and the 1970's Pearl and Dean text zooming are using the 1990s graphics.
• A black and white version also exists.
• There is a short version of the opening variant where the "PRESENTS" text is absent.

Technique: Cel animation.

Audio: A 20-second jazz/a capella piece, composed in A♭ minor by Pete Moore. Later, a stereo mix version was introduced.

Audio Variants:

• Warped versions exist, depending on the quality of the master recording.
  • A low-tone version exists.
  • A higher-pitched version exists.

Availability: The logo and all of the variants have been preserved by movie enthusiasts, though the closing version was shorter lived. They might also be found in the hands of some film projectionists. The closing variant was seen after pre-show reels.

Legacy: One of the most popular British cinema logos due to its fanfare, which continued to be in use with future logos, though reorchestrated.

4th Logo (1995-1996)

Visuals: On a black background, there is a series of blue-tinted stars zoom toward the front. A series of white, blue, red and green lines begin drawing various square and rectangle grids, alongside other abstract shapes. As a blue rectangle forms at the centre, a series of white comet-like lights write in the words "Pearl & Dean". The letters than briefly become 3D and turn blue in a pop-out effect with red fireworks in the background while the rectangle disappears. A series of red streaks then appear, slide downward, and write out the text "Cinema Advertising" in white. A series of white stars begin appearing behind the text before "Pearl & Dean" tilts and wipes off the screen in a similar effect as before, while "Cinema Advertising" fades out. Two pairs of red streaks cover the screen from opposite directions before the text fades back into place. The words briefly shine before fading out.

Closing Variant: On a black background, the words "Presented By" zoom in from the top third of the screen before setting into place. A blue star-like sparkle briefly appears to the left of the text, followed by one to the right and a third underneath. The third sparkle writes in the text "Pearl & Dean" in a larger font on the centre third of the screen. Following this the star-sparkle dissolves into a series of sparkles behind and to the right of the text. "Pearl & Dean" turns blue, and then a blue-tinted light surrounds the words from behind. The light dissolves, and the top text turns back to white with the bottom text still blue. Several more sparkles appear to the left, after which a yellow star wipes away "Presented By" and a blue star wipes away "Pearl and Dean". A final star-sparkle appears just above the now-blank centre area, then slowly fades out.

Technique: A mix of camera controlled animation and CGI. For the closing variant, more camera animation.

Audio: A dreamy space-synth fanfare for the opening ident; a synth-percussion beat followed by several warbling sounds which transitions into a triumphant orchestral fanfare accompanied by several "twinkling" sounds towards the end.

5th Logo (1996-2011)

• 
  Normal version
• 
  Early version
• 
  Website link variant

Visuals: The logo starts with lots of colourful images of filmstrips (or at least the sprockets most of the time) moving around, constantly changing scenes, in time with the music. When that finishes, on the background of the filmstrips, the name "Pearl and Dean" appear in the middle of the screen.

Variant: From 1996 to the early 2000s, the text was in Trajan Pro and faded in instead of jumping back onto the screen.

Technique: Live-action effects, made by Lambie-Nairn.

Audio: A lower-pitched and remixed version of the music from the third logo. This new composition is in the key of G minor.

6th Logo (2006?-2011)

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Visuals: This logo bears a resemblance to "Asteroid" (the third logo). On a blue background are filmstrips appearing from the centre of the screen, and then the following text zooms up all the way from the centre of the screen, in this order:

"all the latest film news...

reviews of the latest releases...

movie merchandise and ringtones...

cinema listings for every site in the UK and Ireland..."

When that text finishes appearing, the filmstrips stop appearing the text "Pearl and Dean for film lovers everywhere" flips in, with "Pearl and Dean" in pink, and at the same time, the website URL, "www.pearlanddean.com", fades in. The URL "shines.", and the "Pearl and Dean for film lovers everywhere" text zooms in and disappear, leaving just the website URL.

Variant: Sometimes, different texts zooming in all the way from the centre of the screen, in this order:

"news...

reviews...

listings & film times...

and much more..."

When that text finishes appearing, the filmstrips stays on screen for 1 second before the filmstrips stop appearing the text "Pearl and Dean for film lovers everywhere" starts flips in. Also, the "Pearl and Dean for film lovers everywhere" flips in faster. After the "www.pearlanddean.com" website URL fades in and "shines", the "Pearl and Dean for film lovers everywhere" text does not zooming in.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: Same as the fifth logo.

Availability: It was only ever used as an outro in tandem with the fifth logo as an intro.

7th Logo (2011-2014)

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Visuals: On a purple background, a sort of wave appears along with what looks like glitter. When that is almost off the screen, a shooting star flies on from the right of the screen, splits in two, and draws a carmine pink "&" sign. That zooms out as the words "Pearl" and "Dean" appear on either side of it. They stop in the centre of the screen.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: A shortened and remixed version of the Asteroid music from the fifth logo.

8th Logo (2014-)

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Visuals: A group of white circles' movement is being synchronized on a violet background. After the music finishes, a larger circle with the "Pearl & Dean" name appears.

Technique: 2D animation.

Audio: Same as before.

Availability: Seen in cinemas which aren't part of the Vue, Cineworld or Odeon chains, like for example Empire Cinemas or the Prince Charles Cinema just off of Leicester Square.