CBS Theatrical Films

Credits

Descriptions by
TheMisterFree

Captures by
Eric S.

Editions by
Jeffrey Gray, Eric S. and indycar

Video captures courtesy of
Eric S.

Background

CBS Theatrical Films was the second and short-lived film production arm of CBS, after Cinema Center Films and before CBS Films. The network begun theatrical films operation in 1979, headed by Donald March, and turned it into CBS Theatrical Films on December 2, 1980. The studio's films were distributed primarily by Warner Bros. Pictures; The Challenge was released by Embassy Films Associates, and the studio's final production, The Lightship, was released by Castle Hill Productions. The studio did not use a logo until 1981.

In March 1980, the unit was promoted to group level, same as the broadcast and records groups, as CBS Theatrical Films Group with Michael Levy as group president reporting directly to CBS president Thomas H. Wyman. Before 1985, future Fox TV executive William Self was president of production.

On December 17, 1984, it was merged with the CBS Worldwide Enterprises branch along with CBS Broadcast International to form CBS Productions, which co-existed with, but was unrelated to, what was then CBS Entertainment Productions. The following year, CBS Productions decided to wind down CBS Theatrical Films' operations, and CBS closed the company in November 1985, within weeks of rival ABC shutting down ABC Motion Pictures. CBS Broadcast International spun-out from the production unit at that time.

Amongst the factors that contributed to the closure of CBS Theatrical Films was the fact that it was a boutique label, and was therefore disadvantaged because it was usually only offered left over films after the major studios had selected more likely commercial successes; none of CBS Theatrical Films' releases were commercially successful. The market was by then overcrowded by additional startup boutiques, causing box office strain at the same time movie production costs doubled to $10 million with marketing matching that level, and television movies did better in the ratings than theatrical films already released via cable and home media. In addition, since it was a boutique, CBS Theatrical Films did not have a distribution system and had to release its films through major studios, which sometimes resulted in disadvantageous release dates.

After CBS Theatrical Films was shuttered, CBS sold CBS Productions' assets to international film backer J&M Film Sales, which included all the foreign licensing contracts that were previously handled by CBS Theatrical Films, and four planned CBS titles were sold by CBS to J&M on May 28, 1986.

Paramount Pictures (since 2000) owns the rights to the studio's films, with certain films licensed to Kino Lorber.

Contents
1st Logo (March 13, 1981-July 23, 1982)	2nd Logo (February 18, 1983-November 8, 1985)

1st Logo (March 13, 1981-July 23, 1982)

Visuals: On a bluish-black gradient background, from the lower-right corner, the giant capital letters (in silver) "CBS" rise up with solid trails on the bottom. As they turn around, the trails "retract" to normal, while the font turns to black. Then the words "THEATRICAL FILMS" (in white) fade in below "CBS". The logo then cuts either to black or to the opening of the movie.

Technique: CGI designed by Information International, Inc.

Audio: A majestic-sounding fanfare, with some synthesized noises (similar to the 1982 Vestron Video logo). On The Challenge, it's silent.

Availability: Seen only on Back Roads and The Challenge. This logo was also shown in Information International's 1982 demo reel.

2nd Logo (February 18, 1983-November 8, 1985)

Visuals: On a black background, two lines go to the center and crash into each other. When they crash, there is a big explosion forming lots of white stars, then the screen zooms out and three white stars appear. Below the three stars, C, B, and S zoom out, one by one. A laser light turns the whole thing 3-D and wipes in "THEATRICAL FILMS". The logo shines.

Variants:

• On some films, the logo starts when the three white stars are already there.
• On trailers, a shortened variant with the logo completely formed exists.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: None, but on Grandview U.S.A., a synth-guitar tune and a dark bang with 3 synth-zaps was used.

Availability: The standard version can be seen on Grandview U.S.A. and American Dreamer, while the shortened versions can be found on earlier film releases such as Table for Five and Finders Keepers. It's been suggested one can tell which WB logo preceded this one originally just by whether the standard or shortened version of this logo appears.

References

◄ Cinema Center Films

CBS Theatrical Films

CBS Films ►