Columbia Pictures Italia

Background
Columbia Pictures used to have a distribution partnership with C.E.I.A.D. for the distribution of titles in Italy. This venture would be known as Columbia C.E.I.A.D. However in 1985, Columbia and C.E.I.A.D. parted ways which led to Columbia C.E.I.A.D. being dissolved and Columbia began distributing its titles on its own in that region. The unit also began distributing titles from Tri-Star in that region during that studio's early years.

1st Logo (1936?-1958?)
Logo: The 1936 Columbia Pictures logo is seen with "DISTRIBUZIONE" below. After a few seconds, "COLUMBIA" fades in and "DISTRIBUZIONE" cross-fades into "C. E. I. A. D.", both in the same chiseled font in the American logo.

Variant: In its later years, the logo is in color and "DISTRIBUZIONE" is nowhere to be seen, and the text almost covers the Torch Lady. The Torch Lady still has its American flag drape, though.

Technique: None, unless one counts the fading and cross-fading.

Music/Sounds: None or the opening theme of the movie.

Availability: Extremely rare. Seen on local and foreign films that they distributed in Italy.

2nd Logo (December 20, 1985-December 22, 1988)
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Logo: It's the same as the 1981 Columbia Pictures logo, but with a few differences:


 * The logo is shown in a shade (this may be caused by film deterioration).
 * After the sunburst, "Columbia Pictures" appears on either side of the Torch Lady with "Italia" at the bottom.
 * There is a second sunburst before fading out (due to looping the logo back to the beginning).

Variant: Another version is seen. There is no red shade and after the fade from the first sunburst, the logo freezes just as the second sunburst is about to appear before fading out.

Technique: Same as the 1981 Columbia Pictures logo.

Music/Sounds: None.

Availability: Extremely rare. First appeared in Tutta colpa del paradiso (All the Fault of Paradise), and later seen on some films such as Stregati (Bewitched), Il Piccolo Diabolo (The Little Devil), La leggenda del santo bevitore (The Legend of the Holy Drinker) and Fantozzi va in pensione (Fantozzi Retires). The variant appears on the 1987 film Io e mia sorella (Me and My Sister). Don't expect this logo to appear on Italian prints of titles from Columbia and Tri-Star themselves.

Final Note: In 1989, Columbia Pictures Italia was renamed to Columbia TriStar Films Italia and has continued to distribute titles under that name.