CIC-Taft Video

Credits

Captures by
Eric S. and others

Editions by
mr3urious, TrickyMario7654, V of Doom and Martin V.B.

Background

CIC-Taft Video was the Australian subsidiary of CIC Video. It originated as a joint venture between Cinema International Corporation and Rigby Publishers Pty. Ltd., a subsidiary of James Hardie Industries, to distribute material from CIC and Hanna-Barbera. It was one of the Magnificent Seven home video distributors. Its tapes were duplicated by Roadshow Home Video. In 1983, the joint venture was reorganized as Taft-Hardie Group, after which the video subsidiary changed its name accordingly. After a takeover of Taft-Hardie and a renaming to Southern Star Group, the company sold its interests in the distributor to CIC, which from that point on became the sole owner; as such, it became CIC Video Australia.

1st Logo (1981-1989)

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Visuals: On a light blue (or dark blue) background, the text "Rigby-CIC Video presents" fades in, in a very fancy-looking font. Then it just fades out, and the warning screen scrolls. When the warning screen is done, one of four logos fades in:

• On CIC Video releases, a 2D white CIC logo appears. A version has been spotted with the "prototype" (chain-less) logo.
• On Merlin Video releases, the Merlin Video logo fades in, which is a silver-colored shield with 6 lightning bolts protruding from the top and the bottom, "Merlin" in a very "Shakespearian" font, and "VIDEO" in a sans-serif font. When Rigby-CIC became CIC-Taft, a still of the normal logo was used.
• On THG Video releases, the still THG Video logo fades in.
• On Worldvision Home Video releases, a still version of the Worldvision Home Video logo (minus the byline) fades in. If you look closely, the CIC logo briefly appears before the Worldvision logo appears.

Variants:

• The warning screen may be in a Helvetica or Century Gothic-like font. Tapes branded with "CIC-Taft" use a Courier New-like font.
• From about 1984 onwards, "Rigby-CIC" is replaced with "CIC-Taft". This variant also lacks the "Presents" text.
• CIC-Taft releases from 1986 to 1989 use a modified version of the logo which only shows the CIC-Taft Video logo and the warning scroll. After this, it transitions to the 2nd CIC Video logo.

Technique: Computer animation.

Audio:

• A triumphant fanfare at the beginning, a mellow synth jazz tune in the middle, and another triumphant fanfare at the end. There is also an announcer saying, "Rigby/CIC (or CIC-Taft) Video proudly presents, a spectacular range of the finest full-length feature films and animated family favourites, from the studios of Universal, Paramount, and other major film production houses. The movie you have selected is one from the comprehensive Rigby/CIC (or CIC-Taft) Video catalogue, which enables you to enjoy these authentic movies in the comfort of your own home. So now, it's Hollywood at home!".
• This can also be silent, particularly if it's the prototype variation.

Availability: Can be seen on old PAL tapes from Australia, Here's some examples of were to find each variant of the logo:

• Rigby-CIC: Jaws (Prototype), Urban Cowboy, My Bloody Valentine, Friday The 13th Part 2, Airplane (known locally as Flying High), Bloodsuckers (Merlin).
• CIC-Taft: Flashdance, Airwolf, Friday The 13th Part 3, Airplane II: The Sequel (known locally as Flying High II: The Sequel), Beverly Hills Cop, Trading Places, Witchfinder General (Merlin), Future Schlock (THG), The Dead Don't Die (Worldvision).

2nd Logo (1989-1990)

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Visuals: On the same background as on the CIC Video warning scroll, there is the "CIC-Taft Video" logo in the same font as before. When the logo fades out, it then transitions to the warning scroll. When that finishes it either transitions to one of the following:

• On retail tapes, it would fade into the 2nd logo with the blue background variant with the marquee.
• On rental tapes, it would fade into the Hologram warning, which then fades into the 2nd logo with the "PREVIEWS" advice (see the 4th logo on the CIC Video page).

Technique: Computer animation.

Audio: None or the music from the 1st logo.

Availability: Can be seen on old PAL tapes from Australia.