Cinecom Pictures

From the Audiovisual Identity Database, the motion graphics museum


Background

Cinecom Pictures was established in 1982 by Ira Deutchman (formerly of United Artists Classics), Amir Malin, and John Ives. In 1990, the company formed a joint venture with Odyssey Distributors before filing for bankruptcy and closing up shop the following year. Most of the Cinecom catalog now sits with MGM which owns the Epic library under the pre-1996 PolyGram Filmed Entertainment library.

1st Logo (1982-1985)

Visuals: On a black background, there is a big red letter "C" in an Art Deco font. On the right is the word "cinecom international films" in a plain font. Above it was the word "from".

Technique: A still, digital image.

Audio: None.

Availability: Seen on earlier Cinecom releases, like the 1984 redub of Metropolis.

2nd Logo (1985-1989)

Visuals: Over a light blue background, the logo starts with the word "Cinecom" zooming out. The word "INTERNATIONAL FILMS" fade in below the logo. The text fades out, and the background fades out later.

Variants:

  • On early releases, like The Coca-Cola Kid, the logo is inverted.
  • Depending on the print, the logo would either be on a blue background with pink text, or on a black background.
  • On some trailers, the text "INTERNATIONAL FILMS" was deleted and the logo was still.

Technique: Motion-controlled animation.

Audio: None.

Availability: Seen on the American release of A Room With a View, among possible others.

3rd Logo (Mid/late 1980s-1991)


Visuals: Over a clip of the man stroking with the paddles from the boat, which was filmed at sunset. The text "Cinecom" in the same style as the previous logo fades in above the footage. The byline "AN AFFILIATE OF SBK ENTERTAINMENT WORLD" fades in, and the background then fades out.

Variant: Depending on the print, the text would sometimes be yellow.

Technique: Live-action.

Audio: A somber synth tune with a repeating flute arpeggio.

Availability: Seen on Scenes from the Class Struggle in Beverly Hills.


4th Logo (as Odyssey/Cinecom International) (March 9, 1990-1991)


Visuals: Over a blue background, the logo starts with the text "ODYSSEY" in a futuristic font. Then it moves to the left, and the CInecom logo from the last two logos slide in from the right. The word "I·N·T·E·R·N·A·T·I·O·N·A·L" fades letter by letter as a slash appears between the two letters, and two lines fade in above and below the text. The logo shines.

Technique: Motion-controlled animation.

Audio: None

Availability: Seen on the American release of Mister Frost, as well as the 1990 film version of The Handmaid's Tale.