Scalera Film

Background

Scalera Film was an Italian Rome-based film production and distribution company founded by the brothers Michele and Salvatore Scalera, that operated between 1938 and 1950. It had strong backing from the Italian state, as the Fascist government of Benito Mussolini was keen to build up and centralise the Italian film industry. In 1943, the studio was relocated to Venice in the Italian Social Republic as part of a planned Cinevillaggio film complex developed by Mussolini loyalists. During the second world war, it had difficulty repossessing its Rome-based studios which was politically suspected of being closely linked with the old regime.

Eventually, Scalera restarted its production to build co-production arrangements with foreign filmmakers from different countries. Scalera released its distribution subsidiary in the United States in Late 1950, abruptly collapsing during the shooting of Othello, resulting in the company being liquidated two years later, as well as its American office closing in 1951.

1st Logo (September 17, 1941-August 31, 1942)

Logo: We first see a silhouette of a mountain against a grey background with a spotlight in the middle. Light illuminates from above, revealing the entire mountain. A giant S forms by itself on the mountain, followed by "CALERA" appearing by itself letter-by-letter, being noticeably smaller than the giant S. Once it is fully formed, the cursive word "film" forms right below "CALERA" along with 5 lines morphing below "film" from left to right, which connects to both the cursive word "film" and the giant S. The camera zooms in once it is complete.

Technique: Stop-motion animation.

Music/Sounds: A harp glissando with a shrill string theme at the beginning, followed by a vibraphone note with its pitch getting higher for every letter, and it ends with a bombastic orchestral fanfare.

Availability: Extremely rare. The majority of its films use an in-credit notice or have been lost, and its known appearances were in La nave bianca, Il bravo di Venezia, Il re si diverte, and Alfa Tau.

2nd Logo (April 8, 1943)

Logo: We first see a screenshot of a staircase leading to a royal palace. Shortly, "SCALERA" appears on the staircase letter by letter, with the camera slowly zooming in as it is slowly appearing. and once that is complete, "FILM" wipes in underneath in the same style, along with "presenta" wiping in underneath both of the text.

Technique: A mix of practical effects and cel animation (for the text).

Music/Sounds: A triumphant orchestral fanfare with bell tongs corresponding to the text appearing.

Availability: Only seen in Il treno crociato.