Cinematográfica Filmex

Note: Not to be confused with Filmax (Spain).

Background
Filmex was a Mexican film distributor and creator. Due to their large inactivity, it is most likely that they have shut down. However, their website is still active and can be seen here. Their only recent work is as a distributor for the 2008 TV show Delta.

1st Logo (1941-1944)
Logo: We see a stop-motion set of clouds and a globe, with "FILMEX" spinning around it (similar toUniversal Studios). The text halts to a stop.

Variants:
 * On México de mis recuerdos and El baisano Jalil (A.K.A. Libanés en México), the text "Presenta" fades in.
 * On Adiós juventud (Goodbye Youth), there's a longer variant.

Technique: The rotating of the globe, "Filmex" spinning.

Music/Sounds: A rather dramatic and bombastic fanfare.

Music/Sounds Variants:
 * Adiós juventud uses a softer fanfare.
 * El Conde de Montecristo uses the opening theme of the movie.
 * El baisano Jalil uses a shorter and more bombastic fanfare after the globe and the "FILMEX" text stop moving. Before that, the logo is silent.

Availability: Extremely rare. It can be seen on films made by Filmex from the era, some being México de mis recuerdos (Mexico of my Memories), El sombrero de tres picos and El Conde de Montecristo (The Count of Monte Cristo). They can be seen on Veoh and YouTube.

Legacy: The fast spinning and texture of "FILMEX" combined with the dark nature, fanfare and clouds may not please some of the audience. The El baisano Jalil variant may surprise a few with its fanfare, because it starts after 10 seconds of silence.

2nd Logo (December 20, 1944-1949)


Logo: The signature logo text from the previous logo is seen on a TCF-like tower, placed on a cityscape background. The same globe from the first logo is behind it. "Presenta" lights up.

Technique: The globe spinning, "Presenta" lighting up.

Music/Sounds: The majority of the films with this logo used the music from the 1st logo.

Music/Sounds Variant: Arriba el Norte (Up the North) uses a rearrangement of the fanfare.

Availability: Very rare. First seen on El Gran Makakikus (The Great Makakikus). In addition, it can be seen on films made by Filmex from the era, some being La mujer que engañamos (The Woman who Deceives), Los nietos de Don Venacio (The Grandsons of Mr. Venacio) and La familia Pérez (The Perez Family), all of which can be seen on YouTube.

Legacy: The design is less unnerving, but those who are afraid of black and white scratchy prints and the fanfare may be scared from it.

3rd Logo (1950-1960s)


Logo: We see a blurred globe zoom out in space, transmitting stars. The "Filmex" tower from the previous logo fades in, with the bottom part transparent, as well as some clouds. "Presenta" writes itself onto the tower.

Technique: A combination of stop-motion and animation. The globe, the stars, the fading, the writing.

Music/Sounds: The arrangement used on Arriba el Norte. Another rearrangement was used on a few films.

Availability: It can be seen on films made by Filmex from the era, some being El Mil Amores ("The Thousand Loves"), Los Bárbaros del Norte ("Northern Barbarians"), Sobre el muerto las coronas ("About the Dead of the Crowns"), La cama de roca ("The Stone Bed"), Persíguelas y... ¡Alcánzalas! ("Chase Them and... Reach Them!"), La marca del cuervo ("The Mark of the Crow"), El que con niños se acuesta, El Vividor, La mujer que yo amé ("The woman I loved"), La estatua de carne, La Entrega, La cama de piedra ("The Stone Bed"), Doña Mariquita, El casto Susano, La Tercera Palabra, Nunca es tarde para amar and La Chamaca Resortes which can be seen on YouTube.

4th Logo (1950?-1968)


Logo: Same concept as the previous logo, but redesigned. In addition, the stars don't appear, the space background doesn't change into the clouds, the "FILMEX" appears more like a model, and the earth globe is at the right side of the "FILMEX".

Technique: Again, a combination of stop-motion and animation. Same as the previous logo, minus the stars, plus the earth globe above the "FILMEX".

Music/Sounds: The 2nd rearrangement from the previous logo.

Availability: Very rare. Seen on Escuela de rateros (School of Thieves), Con los días contados (With the Counted Days) and Yo el Mujeriego.

5th Logo (1970s-1981)
Logo: We see a superimposed "F" with a sharp edge on the bottom, piercing an outlined version of the globe. On the left and right sides of the logo is "Cinematografica FILMEX, S.A."

Technique: None.

Music/Sounds: The opening theme of the movie.

Availability: Extremely rare. Seen on Las siete cucas (The Seven Cucas).

6th Logo (1980s-????)
Logo: A superimposed and stylized "CF" (a la KCET) is seen with a period and the C, and with "cinematografica filmex, s.a.". Below that is "mexico".

Technique: None.

Music/Sounds: The opening theme of the movie.

Availability: Extremely rare. Seen on Secuestro en Acapulco (Kidnapping in Acapulco).