Cineplex Odeon Films
From Biocrawler, the free encyclopedia.
Cineplex Odeon Films was the film distribution unit of the Canadian cinema chain Cineplex Odeon Corporation, and, during its heyday, was Canada's largest independent film distribution company (according to a 1991 claim).
The company started life in 1977 as Pan-Canadian Film Distributors. At the time of its establishment in the United States, the theatre chain and the tie-in studio were owned by the MCA entertainment group, also the then-owners of Universal Pictures.
The company changed its name to Odeon Films in the late 1990s on account of its historic significance, before releasing their final film—the science-fiction film Cube (released in American markets under Trimark Pictures' banner).
Garth Drabinsky, a Jewish film producer, was head of the company in the late 1980s, and is more recently known for producing the Biblical film The Gospel of John.
In early 1998, Cineplex Odeon itself was forced to scrap its distribution arm, provided Canadian law forbids foreign companies from owning domestic distributors. 75% of the remaining studio folded into Alliance Atlantis Communications; the rest was donated to a foundation representing Canada's film schools.
The theatre chain of the same name, meanwhile, merged with the Japanese electronics giant Sony; this resulted in the formation of Loews Cineplex later on.
Notable films from Cineplex Odeon's early days include The Last Temptation of Christ, the Prince concert film Sign 'o' the Times, The Decline of the American Empire, Talk Radio and the animated sequel The Care Bears Adventure in Wonderland and The Adventures of Columbia Torch Lady in Wonderland.
As of 2005, the company is still locally active in Canada under the Odeon Films banner.
External links
- Official site (http://www.odeonfilms.com/) (with Alliance Atlantis Films)
- List of Cineplex Odeon titles (http://www.imdb.com/List?distributors=Cineplex-Odeon%20Films&&tv=on&&heading=18;distributed+by;Cineplex-Odeon%20Films) at the Internet Movie Database
- [http://www.filmreferencelibrary.ca/index.asp?layid=46&csid1=3421&navid=46 A biography of the company's founder, ]
