Cineplex Odeon Films

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Cineplex Odeon Films
Cineplex Odeon Corporation

Cineplex Odeon Films (later known as Odeon Films) was the film distribution unit of the Canadian cinema chain Cineplex Odeon Corporation. The company was originally named Pan-Canadian Film Distributors. In 1998, the company was purchased by Alliance Communications, whose film unit was merged into Alliance Atlantis, split from the company in 2007 as Alliance Films, and folded into Entertainment One, currently a subsidiary of Lionsgate Studios Corp.

History

The company began in 1979 as Pan-Canadian Film Distributors, a partnership between film producer

MCA entertainment group, also the then-owners of Universal Pictures.[3] On August 27, 1986, Pan-Canadian renamed itself as Cineplex Odeon Films,[4] and began operations at Los Angeles, California in November 1986;[5] Garth Drabinsky became its chief officer.[6] Cineplex Odeon Films made its first film to American screens, which was The Decline of the American Empire, produced by Rene Malo.[7]

The distribution branch then underwent a restructuring shortly afterwards, in order to turn the company into a U.S.-based subsidiary of the firm, with headquarters in Century City, with regional offices in New York City, Chicago and other markets, and the new Canadian division of the studio would start operating out of the new Cineplex Odeon corporate headquarters in Canada, and the turf included licensing of films on home video, pay TV and theatrical distribution.[8] In late 1987, it formed a partnership with Robert Redford's production company Wildwood Enterprises, Inc. by setting up Northfolk Productions, for combining the production of both pictures with budgets less than $5 million, and has plans to produce at least five films for the next five years between the average budget of $4–5 million.[9] By 1990, it was Canada's largest independent film distribution company.[10]

On October 22, 1987, Cineplex Odeon created yet another subsidiary, that of the television division, Cineplex Odeon Television Productions, whose first offerings included 41 then=new episodes of the anthology series

MCA TV, (they were seen in Canada on the Global Television Network). David J. Patterson became senior vice president of the Cineplex Odeon television division.[11]

In December 1993, it was announced by Michael Herman (Cineplex Odeon Films Canada Senior Vice President of Corporate Affairs) that as part of a corporate restructuring, Bryan Gliserman had been appointed to the role of Senior Vice President of Corporate Affairs effective January 17, 1994. Gliserman would oversee all of Cineplex Odeon Films operations, and would be responsible for the maintenance and improvement of Cineplex Odeon Films distribution services. Gliserman would also build relationships with key suppliers like Columbia/Tri-Star, Savoy Pictures and Gramercy Pictures. Prior to his promotion, Gliserman had spent 17 years in the Canadian film industry. He had experience with development, financing, production, distribution and exhibition posts with a wide variety of organization.[12]

Later in the 1990s, it changed its name to Odeon Films on account of its historic significance, before releasing one of their final films—the

science-fiction film Cube (released in American markets under Trimark Pictures
' banner).

In early 1998, 75% of Cineplex Odeon Films was sold to Alliance Communications for CA$5 million, shortly before it merged with Atlantis Communications into

Canadian law that forbids foreign companies from owning domestic distributors as the company was no longer Canadian.[citation needed
]

The Cineplex Odeon Films library is currently copyrighted to Lionsgate Studios Corp (through Entertainment One) and AMC Theatres, with SP Media Group owning distribution rights outside Canada.[14]

Film history

Notable films from Cineplex Odeon's early days include

The Decline of the American Empire, Oliver Stone's Talk Radio, and The Care Bears Adventure in Wonderland
.

A home video division was also started in 1986, previously known as Pan-Canadian Video Presentations in the early 80s. The company also had a home video deal with Universal with most titles released through their MCA Video banner in the US and Canada. The home video division lasted until 1998, when it was absorbed into

Virgin Vision in 1987 for the Canadian distribution of the output.[15]

Cineplex Odeon worked with Universal for distributing and co-producing some of their notable productions in the US, such as The Glass Menagerie, The Last Temptation of Christ, Oliver Stone's Talk Radio, and Madame Sousatzka. The company also had a home video deal with Universal with most titles released through their MCA Home Video (later Universal Studios Home Video) banner.

Cineplex Odeon also had an international division, Cineplex Odeon Films International, meant for distributing their films outside of North America.

References

  1. ISBN 0-8020-8398-6
    .
  2. The Leader-Post
    . p. A 13. Retrieved November 4, 2010.
  3. doi:10.22230/cjc.1998v23n4a1068
    .
  4. McGraw-Hill
    . August 29, 1986.
  5. Montreal Gazette
    . p. B-8. Retrieved November 4, 2010.
  6. ^ Kasindorf, Martin (November 8, 1987). "Movie Houses Turn Movie Makers: Capturing big-name film makers and releasing their heartfelt projects has brought prestige to Cineplex Odeon, an aggressive company that entered the movie-making business just a year ago. / In the Film Business, They Call Him 'Garth Vader'". Newsday. p. 09 (Part 2). Retrieved November 4, 2010.[permanent dead link]
  7. ^ Tusher, Will (1986-08-27). "Cineplex is entering U.S. distribution". Variety. p. 3.
  8. ^ "Cineplex Odeon Restructures New Distrib Arm; To Base On Coast". Variety. 1986-11-19. pp. 7, 107.
  9. ^ "Wildwood, CO Pact". Variety. 1987-10-14. p. 26.
  10. ISBN 0-7126-3911-X
    . One of [Cineplex Odeon Corporation's] divisions, Cineplex-Odeon Films, quickly became Canada's largest independent film distributor, leading to a joint venture with Robert Redford's production entity, Wildwood Enterprises, as well as other Hollywood filmmakers.
  11. ^ "Cineplex Odeon TV New Creation With 'Hitchcock' 1st Step". Variety. 1987-10-28. p. 66.
  12. ProQuest 450082392
    .
  13. ^ Hoffman, Andy (September 18, 1998). "Odeon operating independently". Retrieved 2019-08-06.
  14. ^ US Copyright Office Document No V9965D445 2019-01-11
  15. ^ "Cineplex Odeon To Distrib Virgin HV In Canada". Variety. 1987-09-23. p. 118.

External links

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