MGM/UA Home Entertainment (Home Video Bumpers)

1st Bumper (January 31, 1988-October 17, 1990)

Visuals: There is the 1987 MGM/UA Communications Co. logo animating, which zooms out to reveal itself as a picture on a piece of filmstrip on a purple/blue gradient background with several "MGM/UA"s plastered all over it. The metallic silver filmstrip then moves off of the screen in the upper right corner, with another piece of filmstrip with some yellow text saying when the motion picture is available. That is set on a red gradient background. That filmstrip moves from the bottom left corner to the upper left corner. A third and final piece of filmstrip appears at the bottom left corner and settles in the MGM/UA piece of filmstrips' original place, in the center of the screen. That final piece of filmstrip includes the 1986 MGM logo, which is seen animating as normal. When it is done, it fades to black. The blank/black picture on the piece of filmstrip then zooms in and rotates slowly, taking up the whole screen. The trailer for the motion picture mentioned in the bumper then begins.

Trivia: This bumper has been seen before trailers for Willow, The Russia House, Desperate Hours, Fatal Beauty, and Rocky V.

Variants:

On some releases, the release date text is on a black background and says either "COMING SOON TO A THEATER NEAR YOU." or "NOW PLAYING AT A THEATRE NEAR YOU."
On some releases, such as the 1990 VHS box set Rocky Collection I * II * III * IV, the MPAA preview screen may be shown in place of the logo.

Technique: Computer animation.

Audio: The MGM/UA logo theme, the late Don LaFontaine announcing "The following MGM/UA Motion Picture is coming to a theater near you [date of release]", and Leo roaring.

Audio Variants:

On the "Now Playing" variant, Don says "The following MGM/UA motion picture is now playing at a theater near you."
On the "Coming Soon" variant, John Leader says "The following MGM/UA motion picture is coming soon to a theater near you."
On a March 1988 demo tape, the "Now Playing" variant plays with an unknown announcer saying "Now that you've seen what MGM/UA Home Video has in store for you this March, take a look at what's currently now playing at a theater near you from MGM and United Artists! It's a coming attraction of future home video releases!".

Availability: This was the first in a series of three bumpers that appeared in tandem on MGM/UA Home Video releases from 1988-1990, including Spaceballs. The "Now Playing" variation appears on Fatal Beauty, Betrayed, Rocky Collection I * II * III * IV, and several 1988 demo tapes; and the "Coming Soon" variation can be seen on Moonstruck and Stanley & Iris.

2nd Bumper (January 31, 1988-August 8, 1990)

Visuals: The 1982-1993 MGM/UA Home Video logo animates as normal, however, once it's done, the black background fades to a grey marble background. The logo separates in that the lion, ribbons, and "MGM/UA" shrink and move to the upper-left corner of the screen, while "HOME VIDEO" and the lines shrink and move right slightly. As this happens, a transparent rectangle flies in from the upper-right corner of the screen and settles, after which it shines and purple and light-green lines etch themselves in below the lion, ribbons and "MGM/UA" and the rectangle. The white-orange gradient words "COMING ATTRACTION" wipe in below the lines and "HOME VIDEO" and flash, after which a box containing the preview fades in and zooms in, taking up the entire screen.

Trivia: This bumper was used to lead into trailers for All Dogs Go to Heaven, Moonstruck, Poltergeist III, Betrayed, Child's Play, Fatal Beauty, Road House, Little Monsters and Bright Lights, Big City.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: A few notes of Keith Mansfield's "Destiny" with a male announcer (Don LaFontaine again) saying "The following is an MGM/UA Home Video coming attraction."

Availability: This was the second in a series of three bumpers that appeared in tandem on MGM/UA Home Video releases from 1988-1990. Its last known appearance is on Blue Steel.

3rd Bumper (1988-1990)

Visuals: On a blue-tinted background of a 1950's-era urban city, there is a marquee with blue squiggly light streaks moving across it. In the area inside these streaks, the light orange-orange gradient words "SNEAK PREVIEW" slide onto the center area of the marquee and settle. After a few seconds, a black rectangle containing the preview fades in, expanding to fill the screen.

Trivia: This bumper was used as a lead-in to trailers for Leviathan, License to Kill, and Stanley & Iris.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: A slower, low-pitched version of Keith Mansfield's "Teenage Crown" is heard in the background as John Leader says "The following is an MGM/UA sneak preview."

Availability: This was the third in a series of three bumpers that appeared in tandem on MGM/UA releases from 1988-1990; this particular bumper was seen on Child's Play, Poltergeist III, Leviathan, and Rain Man.