HBO Home Entertainment (Home Video Bumpers)

From the Audiovisual Identity Database, the motion graphics museum

North America

1st Bumper (1982-1984)

Visuals: After previews for One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, The Lord of the Rings, The Best of Benny Hill, Heartland, Death on the Nile, Rockshow, and The Tubes Video, there is a list of Thorn-EMI releases under "ALSO AVAILABLE FROM THORN EMI VIDEO" scrolling upward on a color-changing background similar to the one used by Paramount Home Video in their warning screen.

Variant: A white-on-black variant has been spotted on the 1983 VHS releases of The Captain's Paradise and The Lavender Hill Mob (although the 1991 HBO Video reissue of the former and some copies of the latter instead contain the original color version).

Technique: Computer animation.

Audio: A soothing 60's-style synth/orchestra tune, known as "Helena" by Johnny Pearson and his orchestra, with a guitar intro and conga drums in the background.

Availability: Seen on First Blood, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, and Monty Python: Live at the Hollywood Bowl, among other titles.

2nd Bumper (1984-1985)

Visuals: There is a black screen with "ALSO AVAILABLE FROM" in an amber generic font and "THORN EMI VIDEO" in a metallic font resembling that of the Tennessee Volunteers emblem. After previews for First Blood, Frances, Tender Mercies, Bad Boys, The Lord of the Rings, and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, there is a list of Thorn-EMI releases under "AND THESE OUTSTANDING TITLES FROM THORN EMI VIDEO" scrolling upward on a black background with lights moving toward the center of the background on the ceiling and the floor, after which the screen zooms into a grid that changes color from gold to purple and back regularly.

Technique: 2D computer animation.

Audio: Same as the 1st bumper.

Availability: This is by far the most common of Thorn-EMI's "Also Available" scrolls. Seen on The Osterman Weekend, The Dark Crystal, Body Rock, Angel, Flashpoint, Sorcerers, very early pressings of The Terminator, Danger Mouse, and the HBO/Cannon VHS of All of Me, among other titles.

3rd Bumper (1985)

Visuals: There is a list of Thorn-EMI releases under "Also from THORN EMI/HBO VIDEO" scrolling upward on a black background with lights moving toward the centre of the background on the ceiling and the floor.

Technique: 2D computer animation.

Audio: Same as the previous two.

Availability: Only seen on later pressings of The Terminator.

4th Bumper (1985-1986)

Visuals: On a black background is the words "ALSO AVAILABLE FROM", and below it is the Thorn-EMI/HBO Video logo.

Technique: A still, computerized graphic.

Audio: None.

Availability: Seen on tapes from the era, such as Rambo: First Blood Part II.

5th Bumper (1986-1988)

Visuals: On a gray background, "COMING SOON FROM HBO/CANNON VIDEO" slides up from the bottom and stops towards the screen after a few seconds. The text then zooms in via a trail effect.

Variants:

  • A variant exists with "ALSO COMING" in place of "COMING SOON." This can be found on Back to School, before trailers for Link and Twist and Shout.
  • On HBO Video releases from 1987-88, "/CANNON" is removed and there's no trail effect.
  • A sub-variant of the 1987 variant exists, with the text appearing in a computerized font on a blue background. It also acts as a still version.

Technique: 2D computer animation.

Audio: A remixed, short instrumental of Duran Duran's 1984 hit single "The Wild Boys".

Availability: The first variant appears on HBO/Cannon releases such as Raw Deal, Night of the Creeps, and Back to School, and the second version can be seen on HBO Video releases such as Three Amigos, Making Mr. Right, and Something Wild. The blue variant appears on the screener VHS of The Thin Blue Line. Surprisingly, the 1989 reissue of Let's Get Harry retains the HBO/Cannon variant, as it's a straight-up reprint of the original HBO/Cannon release with only the HBO Video logo plastering that of HBO/Cannon.

6th Bumper (May 18, 1988-January 25, 1989)

Visuals: On a black background, there is the text "COMING SOON FROM", with the HBO Video logo underneath.

Technique: A still, computerized graphic.

Audio: None.

Availability: This can be seen on the 1988 VHS releases of Hiding Out, Rent-a-Cop, and The Trouble with Spies.

7th Bumper (April 15-December 13, 1989)

Visuals: On a blue gradient background, the text "COMING SOON TO A THEATER NEAR YOU" types itself in letter-by-letter.

Variant: A home video variant exists where the gradient background is shaded differently and the text instead reads "COMING SOON FROM HBO VIDEO." It's also metallic.

Technique: 2D computer animation.

Audio: A bright, triumphant, military-style fanfare.

Availability: The theatrical variant can be seen on the 1989 video releases of Miracle Mile, Dakota, and Shag: The Movie, while the home video variant only appears on the former title.

8th Bumper (February 21, 1990-November 10, 1993)

Visuals: On a purple gradient background, the white text (in a script font) "A Preview of Coming Attractions" or "Our Feature Presentation" is shown.

Variants:

  • A variant exists where the gradient runs the other way, and the text is orange and reads "Presenting Goldwyn's Original Theatrical Trailer" or "And Now... Our Feature Presentation." This variant appears on the 1992 VHS releases of The Westerner, Wuthering Heights, and The Best Years of Our Lives.
  • An animated version exists where the text is in orange and reads "And Now..." in a Brush Script font. Below them, "Our Animated Feature Presentation" fades in.
  • Another version exists on both purple and blue gradient background where the golden text (in a script font) "A Preview of Our Coming Attractions" or "Our Feature Presentation" fades in.

Technique:

  • For the normal version, none.
  • For the animated versions, 2D computer animation.

Audio: None.

Availability: "Coming Attractions" and the first "Feature Presentation" version appear on Switch, Breaking In, and Kickboxer 2. The second "Feature Presentation" version appears on the titles mentioned in the Variants section, and the "Animated Feature Presentation" version can be seen on Rock-a-Doodle. The last releases to use this variant are Cast a Deadly Spell, American Dream, and American Kickboxer. The "A Preview of Our Coming Attractions" and third "Feature Presentation" bumpers were used only briefly in 1993, and can be seen on The Night We Never Met, Mom and Dad Save the World, Blue Ice, Traces of Red, Map of the Human Heart, and Citizen Cohn.

9th Bumper (November 17, 1993-May 10, 2005)

Visuals: On a red curtain background, which was also used on the then-current HBO Home Video logo, one of the following bumpers plays out:

  • Coming Attractions: The sequence starts with the HBO Home Video logo. The metallic ball seen in that logo zooms into the "O," revealing the metallic text "COMING ATTRACTIONS". The ball then zooms in towards the viewer and we cut to black, leading off the trailers.
  • In Video Stores Now: Just the text "IN VIDEO STORES NOW" being shown before the ball zooms into it.
  • Feature Presentation: There is the words "F E A T U R E PRESENTATION" in steel with spotlights shining across it. Then, a steel-colored ball with a white director's slate/clapperboard layered on it comes in from the left side of the screen, falling toward the "O" in "PRESENTATION". The camera pans toward the ball as it bounces on the right side of the "O" and passes through it. It then flies off to the bottom left of the screen, revealing either the HBO Home Video logo or the HBO Savoy Video logo.

Variants:

  • Sometimes, the "COMING ATTRACTIONS" variant will cut to something other than black:
    • On A Bronx Tale, Exit to Eden, and Citizen X, the very end of the bumper cuts to the MPAA rating screen for the first trailer on the tapes.
    • On the 1996 VHS of Missing Pieces, the very end of the bumper cuts right to the start of the trailer for America's Dream, with the end of the bumper music blending right into the start of the trailer's audio.
  • On most DVDs, the bumper fades in rather than cutting in (2 Days in the Valley, Ricochet, Turbulence, Hans Christian Andersen, and Zeus and Roxanne feature the cut-in).

Technique: 2D computer animation.

Audio:

  • Coming Attractions: A whimsical, majestic fanfare that begins with strings, followed by two trumpet notes. Then a harp comes in, followed by four fully orchestrated notes, and a second harp segment.
  • In Video Stores Now: Only the opening strings and trumpet notes from the Coming Attractions variant.
  • Feature Presentation: The fanfare from the 1993 HBO Home Video logo, which continues into the logo that this bumper seques into.

Audio Variant: On the 1994 VHS of Lightning Jack, the very end of the music is cut off by the start of the trailer for No Escape.

Availability:

  • The "FEATURE PRESENTATION" variant is the most common of the three, and can be seen on every HBO Home Video VHS release from the era, as well as the company's earliest DVD releases.
  • The "COMING ATTRACTIONS" variant was used only from 1993-2000, and can be seen on No Escape, Serial Mom, Tales from the Hood, Three Wishes, A Bronx Tale, and Earthly Possessions, among others. It can also be seen on the 1996 demo tapes of Warner Home Video's Executive Decision, Big Bully, and Diabolique, preceding a trailer for Getting Away with Murder.
  • The "IN VIDEO STORES NOW" variant is rarer and can only be seen on And the Band Played On, Citizen X, Indictment - The McMartin Trial, The Infiltrator, The Tuskegee Airmen, 2 Days in the Valley, A Bright Shining Lie, Winchell, and Babar: King of the Elephants.
  • The ""COMING ATTRACTIONS" and "IN VIDEO STORES NOW" variants last appeared on RKO 281: The Battle Over Citizen Kane.
  • This bumper also appears on the 1997-98 HBO Kids Video tapes of The Water Babies, Rock-a-Doodle, and Kids Are Punny.

Europe and Oceania (Thorn-EMI only)

United Kingdom

1st Bumper (1982-1985)

Visuals: Just the standard Thorn-EMI Video logo without any bumper indicator.

Technique: 2D computer animation.

Audio: Same as the Thorn-EMI logo, but when the music finishes fading out, a male announcer says, "Some of the newest blockbusters from Thorn-EMI Video!"

Audio Variant: On a few Australian VHSs from the time, a different announcer with an Australian accent says, "Thorn-EMI Video brings you the best in new video entertainment." This is said playing over the last half of the logo with no music.

Availability: Seen on pre-cert Thorn-EMI releases in the UK with previews, such as Watership Down and Fire and Ice. The variant appears on the Australian VHS of The Soldier.

2nd Bumper (1985-1986)

Visuals: The Thorn-EMI logo, minus "VIDEO", is seen slightly slanted on a black background, with some purple and blue light shining from it. There is a few streaks of white stars shine from it in both directions, then pan up to see the blue odd-looking letters, "F", "L" and "X" with yellow shadows rotating in and settling in different directions. The blue on the letters pixelates off, revealing the letters are white, while the thorn from the Thorn-EMI logo appear between "L" and "X", thus spelling "FLIX".

Variant: After the last trailer, the above plays in reverse.

Technique: 2D computer animation.

Audio: A funky sounding synth tune plays, whilst a male voiceover says:

  • For Cinema Releases: "Welcome to the world of Thorn-EMI Screen Entertainment. In the next few moments, we'll bring you details of the latest releases from the Thorn-EMI Screen Entertainment list of feature films, coming soon to a cinema near you."
  • For Video Releases (after the cinema releases promo): "Just one of the latest in a long line of world-class releases from Thorn-EMI Screen Entertainment. For details of release dates, check your local press... Thorn-EMI Screen Entertainment presents, 'Flix'. Your chance to preview the latest video releases from the top name in film and video. Take a look now at the new titles..."
  • After the last preview, before the movie: "Just a selection of the great entertainment on video, coming to you soon from Thorn-EMI Screen Entertainment. We hope you've enjoyed this preview. Remember to check for these releases and the full list of top-class video entertainment from Thorn-EMI Screen Entertainment through your local video store. And now, sit back and enjoy our feature film."

Availability: It appears on UK tapes from Thorn-EMI Screen Entertainment from 1985-1986, before Cannon Video UK took over the company. Seen on the rental releases of Red Sonja, Rambo: First Blood Part II, Restless Natives, and Catholic Boys, possibly among others.

Australia

Bumper (1983-1985)

Visuals: Just the Thorn-EMI Video logo of the time without any bumper indicator.

Technique: 2D computer animation.

Audio: The music of the Thorn-EMI logo, "Flash" by Keith Mansfield, plus an announcer saying "And now, here are some preview scenes of other exciting attractions from Thorn-EMI Video."

Availability: Seen on Thorn-EMI Video Australia tapes after the movie, such as The Soldier.

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