Embassy Pictures (1942-1967)

Background
Embassy Pictures was founded by film producer Joseph E. Levine in 1942 as a foreign film distributor. Levine distributed such films as Godzilla, King of the Monsters, Hercules (the 1958 Steve Reeves version) and Santa Claus Conquers the Martians.

In 1967, Levine sold the company to Avco Corporation, an aviation equipment and financial services company, who reincorporated it as "Avco Embassy Pictures Corporation".

Logo (May 28, 1961-December 21, 1967)


Visuals: On a black background, a spotlight is shining on the middle of the screen, and a huge black, lower-case "e" is on it. Inside the "e" are the words "AN EMBASSY PICTURES RELEASE", with the "EMBASSY PICTURES" in white in the middle, centered, and the "AN" and "RELEASE" both in black above it. All the words are in a broad font.

Variants:
 * A black & white variant has been spotted.
 * There are some in-credit variants.

Technique: None.

Audio: The opening theme of the movie.

Availability: It's seen on some American-distributed Italian movies (most of which are in public domain) and The Graduate.
 * The Avco Embassy logo plastered this logo on most pre-1998 prints of The Graduate (while the 1978 Magnetic Video VHS release plasters this with the Avco Embassy Television logo).
 * It has been restored on current prints of The Graduate, beginning with the 1997 StudioCanal/Carolco Pictures (through Strand Releasing and Rialto Pictures) theatrical release and 1998 PolyGram Video VHS release, along with the MGM Home Entertainment DVD and Blu-ray releases and current television airings.