Criterion Pictures Corp. Ltd.

Background

Criterion Pictures Corp. Ltd. was a Canadian 16mm movie distributor founded in 1966 by Jack F. Murphy and based in Montreal, Quebec. It has no affiliation with The Criterion Collection.

Logo (Early 1970s-1974?)

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Visuals: On a black background, two white film reels from the left to the right roll to the center of the screen. The film reels then continue to move, forming a purple rectangle, with a grouped celeste/pink outline. Inside the rectangle is the text:distributed by
CRITERION PICTURES CORP, LTD.
montreal

The film reels then move away, leaving us the logo for a few seconds.

Variant: On the Canadian film print of Asylum, the rectangle is dark magenta and the outlines are blue, orange, and red.

Technique: 2D cel animation.

Audio: A creepy warbling, ascending Moog synthesizer, which is not too dissimilar to the 1970s Public Broadcasting Service and Children's Television Workshop logos.

Availability: Possibly seen on a few films that the company distributed, although the only known releases from the company are Canadian film prints of British films such as Man About the House and Asylum.