British Empire Films
Jesse Coffey
Compiled by
Jesse Coffey
Captures by
Rank and File, a British Cinema Blog
Video captures courtesy of
Logo Archive
Background
British Empire Films was an Australian film company founded in 1930 by the Greater Union Organisation for use as a distribution arm for its cinema chain and also for Cinesound Productions, a local film studio that operated until the start of World War II, and was the first in Australia to produce films with sound. Its other clients included British International Pictures, Eros Films and The Rank Organisation, which acquired a 50% stake in GUO in 1947. In 1971, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, which was experiencing financial difficulties at the time, sold its Australian distribution facilities to GUO; the acquisition gave the cinema chain the distribution rights to films from Walt Disney Productions. Although MGM relocated the Australian distribution of its films to Cinema International Corporation in 1973, the Disney distribution contract remained with BEF. Toward the end of its life, BEF began to distribute its own local productions again and acquired the Australian theatrical distribution contract for EMI Films. In 1976, the company was renamed to GUO Film Distributors.
1st Logo (1932-1967)
Visuals: On a gray-to-black gradient background, there is the stacked text "DISTRIBUTED IN AUSTRALIA BY" and, below it, a large metallic object containing the letters B-E-F. Enclosed inside the object is a globe showing only the continents of Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East and the country of Australia. The text "British Empire Films" appears below.
Technique: A still, printed image.
Audio: None or the opening theme of the movie.
Availability: This logo has been spotted on a small number of early Australian film prints of domestic and imported movies, among which are The Girl in the Picture and Bond of Fear.
2nd Logo (1967-1976)
 | This logo is currently missing in action. Please do not add reconstructions of the logo if any exist, as they are likely not accurate to the actual logo. Additionally, do not attempt to add a finalized description of the logo until it has been found in its entirety. |
Visuals: On a blue background, there are three octagons, each of which the letters B, E, and F. The stacked text "BRITISH EMPIRE FILMS" wipes in from the left.
Technique: Cel animation.
Audio: None or the opening theme of the movie.
Availability: As of this writing, no film prints with this logo are known to have surfaced.
|
|
British Empire Films |
|
