Greater Union Film Distributors

Credits

Video captures courtesy of
Logo Archive, FT Depot

Background

Greater Union Film Distributors, a successor to GUO Film Distributors, was the name of the distribution arm of Greater Union Cinemas, an Australian cinema chain. The company distributed its own productions as well as those of Thorn EMI Screen Entertainment, Walt Disney Productions (later Walt Disney Pictures), and the Touchstone Pictures subsidiary that was founded by Disney in 1984. Also in 1984, The Rank Organisation sold its 50% share of the Greater Union chain to Amalgamated Holdings, Ltd., a move that returned the chain to being wholly-owned by Australian interests for the first time since 1947. In 1987, Greater Union Film Distributors merged with the distribution arm of Village Roadshow, but both companies retained their own patterns of distributing films temporarily. In 1992, Greater Union Film Distributors was absorbed into Roadshow Films. The Greater Union chain (which renamed itself to Event Cinemas in 2010) is now owned by Event Hospitality and Entertainment, which falls under Village Roadshow ownership.

1st (known) Logo (1982-1988)

Logo: The camera zooms back through a star-shaped tunnel made out of lines. It zooms so far out that it goes out of a star-like shape revealing the words "GREATER UNION" in a bubbly font which is neon blue. Many lasers shoot the logo in different places and leaves stars on many letters. The letters change to a yellow colour and shines many times. The logo then shines more brightly and the words "FILM DISTRIBUTORS" are revealed in a yellow font. The logo then glows once more.

Trivia: This logo was a variation of their cinema idents at the time.

Technique: Backlit animation.

Music/Sounds: A rising spaceship engine drone sound for the zooming back, followed by an ethereal choir, accompanied by the laser sounds, on the flash the choir breaks into a synth fanfare. Sometimes, it's silent.

Availability: This logo was only used in Australian cinemas. However this has shown up letterboxed on a 1984 PBV VHS of The Last Starfighter, another unknown video and strangely enough the UK VHS release of Warriors of the Wind, the infamous Manson International dub of Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind. Also appears on the short film Palace of Dreams. This makes a surprise appearance on the Umbrella Entertainment Blu-ray of Razorback, instead of the Warner Bros. logo.

2nd Logo (1988-November 7, 1991)

Logo: On a space background with a purple nebula, the camera slowly pans down to reveal the Earth's horizon as a white flash of light appears on the centre of the nebula. A spinning silver disc then zooms in shining to a comfortable position. It stops spinning, revealing it to be a stylised "GU" monogram (an updated version of the monogram used in the GUO days). Below, the following text also in silver zooms in from the horizon:

GREATER UNION
DISTRIBUTORS

A star-shaped cutout is seen on the "A". The byline "A Roadshow Greater Union Company" in Futura Black fades in afterwards underneath the company name.

Variants:

• Widescreen and scope versions exist.
• There also existed a "Greater Union Presents" version of this.

Technique: Appears to be a mix of live-action model work and cel animation.

Music/Sounds: A ding when the flash of light appears, followed by a synth horn fanfare over a chorus pad, then a drumbeat when the emblem stops zooming in, ending in a synthesised flourish.

Availability: Until 2023, the only evidence this logo existing is on Australian VHS releases of Blinky Bill on the video cover and on trailers for the film. This print logo has been recently spotted on a TV spot for Proof. This logo was most likely seen only in Australian cinemas as the logo is erased from all home media releases or plastered with the Roadshow Television logo on TV prints. According to the OzMovies website, Greater Union Distributors' final production under that name was The Magic Riddle, released theatrically on September 26, 1991 in Australia, and its final release under that name was Sweet Talker, also released theatrically and also in Australia, but just two months after it, on November 7. It is unknown if there are prints of either film with this logo.

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Greater Union Film Distributors

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