Scalera Film

Background
Scalera Film was an Italian film production and distribution company which operated between 1938 and 1950. It had strong backing from the Italian state, as the Fascist government of Benito Mussolini was keen to build up and centralise the Italian film industry.

1st Logo (September 17, 1941-August 31, 1942)


Logo: We first see a silhouette of a mountain against a grey background with a spotlight in the middle. Light illuminates from above, revealing the entire mountain. A giant S forms by itself on the mountain, followed by "CALERA" appearing by itself letter-by-letter, being noticeably smaller than the giant S. Once it is fully formed, the cursive word "film" forms right below "CALERA" along with 5 lines morphing below "film" from left to right, which connects to both the cursive word "film" and the giant S. The camera zooms in once it is complete.

Technique: Stop-motion animation.

Music/Sounds: A harp glissando with a shrill string theme at the beginning, followed by a vibraphone note with its pitch getting higher for every letter, and it ends with a bombastic orchestral fanfare.

Availability: Extremely rare. The majority of its films use an in-credit notice or have been lost, and its known appearances were in La nave bianca, Il bravo di Venezia, Il re si diverte, and Alfa Tau.

2nd Logo (April 8, 1943)
Logo: We first see a screenshot of a staircase leading to a royal palace. Shortly, "Times New Roman" appears on the staircase letter by letter, with the camera slowly zooming in as it is slowly appearing. and once that is complete, "Times New Roman" wipes in underneath in the same style, along with "League Spartan" wiping in underneath both of the text.

Technique: A mix of practical effects and cel animation (for the text).

Music/Sounds: A triumphant orchestral fanfare with bell tongs corresponding to the text appearing.

Availability: Only seen in Il treno crociato.