VistaVision

Credits

Captures by
ClosingLogosHD, VPJHuk and Camenati

Video captures courtesy of
Cassavetesforaday, BreadCrustCouncil, VPJHuk, David's Logo Archive and Jesse Coffey

Logo (October 14, 1954-March 30, 1961)

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  White Christmas (A)

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  White Christmas (B)

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  White Christmas (C)

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  The Trouble with Harry (A)

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  The Trouble with Harry (B)

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  The Trouble with Harry (C)

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  German version (A)

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  German version (B)

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  Italian version (A)

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  Italian version (B)

Visuals: During the Paramount logo's second half of screening, the stars and text fade out, followed by the text "in", which itself fades out and is followed by a big "V" zooming in (a la Viacom's "V of Doom" logo). The words "VISTA" and "ISION" then appear on either side in a wiping effect. Then the words "MOTION PICTURE" appear under "VISTA", followed by "HIGH-FIDELITY" under "ISION".

Variants:

• On The Ladies' Man, a text saying "Ovur" comes up and then fades to text saying "We wish to Thank the United States Armed Forces ....(But only if they came to see the picture.)." Then the logo resumes like normal.
• On White Christmas, "Paramount proudly presents the first picture in" (with the "P" written in their corporate font) first appears over the mountain, followed by the VistaVision logo without any other text. The rest of the Paramount Pictures logo then plays as usual.
• On the short subject VistaVision Visits Norway, the text "MOTION PICTURE HIGH-FIDELITY" does not appear below the VistaVision half of the logo.
• A German variant exists where "MOTION PICTURE" and "HIGH-FIDELITY" is replaced by "Symbol der Vollendung" and also appears to be reanimated, with the sky background being still. This can be seen on a German print of We're No Angels.
• An Italian variant also appears on an Italian print of said film, but with "MOTION PICTURE" and "HIGH-FIDELITY" omitted. Like the former, it is also reanimated to have the sky background still.
• A French variant also appears on a French print of said film where "IN" is replaced by "EN".

Technique: 2D animation.

Audio: The logo has a majestic fanfare composed by Nathan Van Cleave. It debuted on White Christmas and was last heard on Omar Khayyam.

Audio Variants:

• The VistaVision fanfare was sometimes specially rearranged for films such as The Desperate Hours (Gail Kubik and Daniele Amfitheatrof), Hell's Island (Miklós Rózsa), The Tin Star (Elmer Bernstein), Artists and Models (Walter Scharf, also in a lower pitch) and The Joker is Wild (also Scharf).
• Such VistaVision films as Gunfight at the O.K. Corral, Strategic Air Command, Houseboat, Maracaibo, The Matchmaker, It Started in Naples, Another Time, Another Place, The Rainmaker, Loving You, Vertigo, The Black Orchid, The Five Pennies, The Jayhawkers, Last Train from Gun Hill, Desire Under the Elms, The Geisha Boy, Hot Spell, Lil' Abner, and One-Eyed Jacks used their respective opening themes.
• The Sad Sack, Rock-a-Bye Baby, St. Louis Blues, and Teacher's Pet use different fanfares at the beginning.
• On White Christmas, the VistaVision fanfare segues into the final notes of the Paramount on Parade fanfare, which itself trails into the opening theme.

Availability: Seen on most films shown in VistaVision starting with White Christmas.

• However, not all films shot in VistaVision used the process; the extension is missing from Wild is the Wind, King Creole, The Trap, and Heller in Pink Tights.
• It is preceded by the 1990 Universal Pictures logo on 90s prints of Vertigo.
• The last film to use this was One-Eyed Jacks. It is plastered by the 2012 Universal logo on current home video releases of said film, albeit shortened to fit the length of this logo.