United States[]
October 1980–July 1982[]
Bumper: On a black background, we see the orange text "ALSO FROM" above the white "MGM/CBS" logo.
Trivia: Whenever this ID was shown, the previews that followed were for the same three movies: Fame, 2001: A Space Odyssey, and The Wizard of Oz. However, on the MGM/CBS releases of Silk Stockings, The Sunshine Boys, Till the Clouds Roll by, Rio Lobo, and some copies of The Horse That Played Centerfield, only the Fame trailer was shown. On Meet Me in St. Louis, the 2001 trailer is missing, and on Ben-Hur and North by Northwest, the Wizard of Oz trailer is absent. On the actual release of Fame, its own trailer was removed.
FX/SFX: None.
Music/Sounds: A 6-note jazzy trumpet theme that sounds rather similar to the 1978 Filmways Television logo.
Availability: Seen on most MGM/CBS Home Video releases of the era.
August 1982–July 28, 1993[]
Bumper: Similar to the second 1988 ID, except "HOME VIDEO" doesn't appear below and the logo eases back, during which one of the clip-ons below appears via fade-in, the color of the clip-on depending on the attraction(s) being advertised. Also, the background remains black during all of this.
Clip-ons:
- Coming Soon To A Theatre Near You
- Now Playing At A Theatre Near You
- Coming Soon On Videocassette
- Now Available On Videocassette
Variants:
- A still version of this bumper exists.
- On releases of classic movies, a version exists where "HOME VIDEO" remains intact and when it eases, the words "ALSO AVAILABLE" fade in.
FX/SFX: The logo animating and easing back, the fade-in of the clip on.
Music/Sounds: Just the music of the logo.
Music/Sounds Variant: The variant can be silent or have the music.
Availability: Appears on MGM/UA Home Video releases from 1982-1993. The "ALSO AVAILABLE" version is very rare, but it is known to appear on the 1987-92 VHS releases of Take Me Out to the Ballgame, Anchors Aweigh, the Thin Man series, and Billy Rose's Jumbo. The "Coming Soon on Videocassette" clip-on also appears on the Warner Home Video VHS of Class Act, preceding a trailer for Diggstown.
1987[]
Bumper: On a green background, this text scrolls up:
| Before our feature begins, and to add to your viewing pleasure, please join us for this brief preview of another new and exciting feature motion picture soon to come your way from MGM/UA. |
FX/SFX: The scrolling.
Music/Sounds: None until the last second when the MPAA rating screen pops up for the teaser of Spaceballs.
Availability: Extremely rare. The bumper's only known appearance is on the 1987 VHS of Running Scared.
January 31, 1988–October 17, 1990[]
Bumper: We see the 1980s MGM/UA logo animating, which zooms out to reveal itself as a picture on a piece of filmstrip on a purple/blue gradient background with several "MGM/U\"s plastered all over it. The metallic silver filmstrip then moves off of the screen in the upper right corner, with another piece of filmstrip with some yellow text mentioning the film's release date, set on a red gradient background. This piece of filmstrip moves from the bottom left corner to the upper right corner. A third and final piece of filmstrip appears at the bottom left corner and settles in the center of the screen. It includes the 1987 MGM logo, which is seen animating as normal. When it is done, it fades to black. The blank/black picture on the piece of filmstrip then zooms in and rotates slowly, taking up the whole screen. The trailer for the motion picture mentioned in the bumper then begins.
Trivia: This bumper has been seen before trailers for Willow, The Russia House, Desperate Hours, Fatal Beauty, and Rocky V.
Variants:
- On some releases, the release date text is on a black background and says either "COMING SOON TO A THEATER NEAR YOU." or "NOW PLAYING AT A THEATRE NEAR YOU."
- On some releases, such as the 1990 VHS box set Rocky Collection I * II * III * IV, the MPAA preview screen may be shown in place of the logo.
FX/SFX: The MGM/UA logo animating, and the filmstrip animation.
Music/Sounds: As we hear the late Don LaFontaine announcing "The following MGM/UA motion picture is coming to a theater near you [date of release]", we hear the MGM/UA logo theme, and then Leo's roar.
Music/Sounds Variants:
- On the "Now Playing" variant, Don says "The following MGM/UA motion picture is now playing at a theater near you."
- On the "Coming Soon" variant, John Leader says "The following MGM/UA motion picture is coming soon to a theater near you."
- On a March 1988 demo tape, the "Now Playing" variant plays with an unknown announcer saying "Now that you've seen what MGM/UA Home Video has in store for you this March, take a look at what's currently now playing at a theater near you from MGM and United Artists! It's a coming attraction of future home video releases!".
Availability: Rare. This was the first in a series of three bumpers that appeared in tandem on MGM/UA Home Video releases from 1988-1990, including Spaceballs. The "Now Playing" variation appears on Fatal Beauty, Betrayed, Rocky Collection I * II * III * IV, and several 1988 demo tapes; and the "Coming Soon" variation can be seen on Moonstruck and Stanley & Iris.
Editor's Note: What's with the two different spellings of "THEATER" on the black background variants?
January 31, 1988–August 8, 1990[]
Bumper: The 1982-1993 MGM/UA Home Video logo animates as normal, however, once it's done, the black background fades to a grey marble background. The logo separates in that the lion, ribbons, and "MGM/UA" shrink and move to the upper-left corner of the screen, while "HOME VIDEO" and the lines shrink and move right slightly. As this happens, a transparent rectangle flies in from the upper-right corner of the screen and settles, after which it shines and purple and light-green lines etch themselves in below the lion, ribbons and "MGM/UA" and the rectangle. The white-orange gradient words "COMING ATTRACTION" wipe in below the lines and "HOME VIDEO" and flash, after which a box containing the preview fades in and zooms in, taking up the entire screen.
Trivia: This bumper was used to lead into trailers for All Dogs Go to Heaven, Moonstruck, Poltergeist III, Betrayed, Child's Play, Fatal Beauty, Road House, Little Monsters and Bright Lights, Big City.
FX/SFX: Everything.
Music/Sounds: A few notes of Keith Mansfield's "Destiny" with a male announcer (Don LaFontaine again) saying "The following is an MGM/UA Home Video coming attraction."
Availability: Rare. This was the second in a series of three bumpers that appeared in tandem on MGM/UA Home Video releases from 1988-1990. Its last known appearance is on Blue Steel.
1988–1990[]
Bumper: On a blue-tinted background of a 1950's-era urban city, we see a marquee with blue squiggly light streaks moving across it. In the area inside these streaks, the light orange-orange gradient words "SNEAK PREVIEW" slide onto the center area of the marquee and settle. After a few seconds, a black rectangle containing the preview fades in, expanding to fill the screen.
Trivia: This bumper was used as a lead-in to trailers for Leviathan, License to Kill, and Stanley & Iris.
FX/SFX: Everything.
Music/Sounds: A slower, low-pitched version of Keith Mansfield's "Teenage Crown" is heard in the background as John Leader says "The following is an MGM/UA sneak preview."
Availability: Rare. This was the third in a series of three bumpers that appeared in tandem on MGM/UA releases from 1988-1990; this particular bumper was seen on Child's Play, Poltergeist III, Leviathan, and Rain Man.
August 4, 1993–August 23, 2005[]
Bumper: We see a still version of the closing variant of the 1993-1998 MGM/UA Home Video logo with one of the below clip-ons in place of "HOME VIDEO".
Clip-ons:
- COMING SOON TO A THEATER NEAR YOU
- NOW PLAYING AT A THEATER NEAR YOU
- NOW AVAILABLE ON VIDEOCASSETTE
- COMING SOON ON VIDEOCASSETTE
- THEATRICAL TRAILER
FX/SFX: Normally, a fade-in and fade-out. However, on the 1999 demo VHS of The Thomas Crown Affair, it cuts in and fades out.
Music/Sounds: None.
Availability: Seen on MGM/UA Home Video and MGM Home Entertainment video releases from 1993-2005. Strangely, the "THEATRICAL TRAILER" variant does not appear on the 1996 VHS of On the Beach before its original trailer, while its 2000 DVD does contain it.
April 4, 2000[]
Bumper: Same as the 1997-2002 Polygram Video/USA Home Entertainment Feature Presentation clip-on.
FX/SFX: Same as the 1997-2002 Polygram Video/USA Home Entertainment clip-on.
Music/Sounds: None.
Availability: Extremely rare. Seen on the 2000 MGM Movie Time VHS reissue of Malice.
November 22, 2002-March 25, 2003[]
Bumper: On a black background, we see the white words "coming soon" or "now available" fading in and out. Then we see the red words "to VHS and DVD" or "on VHS and DVD" fading in and out.
FX/SFX: The fading.
Music/Sounds: The ending theme of the All or Nothing trailer.
Availability: Seen on a 2002 demo DVD of All of Nothing and 2003 VHS releases of Killing Me Softly, Igby Goes Down, and Personal Velocity.
November 22, 2002-May 25, 2004[]
Bumper: Same as the 2002-2005 Paramount clip-ons, but the text is different.
Variants:
- On a preview of Jeepers Creepers 2, there's a red drop shadow on the clip-on used (which is different depending on the version of the trailer). Copyright text is underneath.
- On a preview of Assassination Tango, the word "and" is replaced with the "&" symbol.
- Another preview of the aforementioned film, as well as a trailer for Casa de los Babys, have a DVD of the film with the text next to it. Copyright information and the specific film's MPAA rating are underneath.
- A preview of Igby Goes Down has a prototype version of both clip-ons.
FX/SFX: The fading.
Variants:
- On a preview of Jeepers Creepers 2, There's a red drop shadow on the clip-ons and the copyright texts were underneath them.
- On a preview of Assassination Tango, The word "and" is replaced with a symbol.
- On another preview of latter film and a preview of Casa de los Babys, A DVD of the film is shown next to the text with copyright information underneath.
- A prototype exists on a preview of Igby Goes Down.
Music/Sounds: None for the Together preview. A windy breeze for the Jeepers Creepers 2 preview. The closing theme of the trailer for the Assassination Tango, Igby Goes Down, and Casa de los Babys previews.
Availability: The "Coming Soon to VHS and DVD" clip-on appears on the 2003 VHS of It Runs in the Family, Barbershop and Assassination Tango and the 2002-2003 demo DVDs of Jeepers Creepers 2 and All or Nothing. The "Now Available on VHS and DVD" clip-on appears on the 2003-2004 VHS and DVD releases of Killing Me Softly, Personal Velocity, Assassination Tango, Jeepers Creepers 2, Out of Time, and Bubba Ho-Tep. Strangely, the Jeepers Creepers 2 variant of "Now Available on VHS and DVD" appeared on a 2004 Video Collection International UK VHS release of Buffalo Soldiers.
January 30-August 19, 2003[]
Bumper: On a black background, we see white handwritten text that says "Coming Soon to VHS and Special Edition DVD", "Now Available on VHS and Special Edition DVD" or just the words "Coming Soon".
FX/SFX: The fading.
Music/Sounds: The ending theme of the Nicholas Nickleby trailer.
Availability: Seen on the 2003 Pizza Hut exclusive DVD of Honeymoon in Vegas and the 2003 VHS of Dark Blue. The "Coming Soon" clip-on is seen on the 2003 UK VHS releases of Die Another Day and The Dancer Upstairs. The "Now Available on VHS and Special Edition DVD" clip-on is seen on the 2003 VHS of Carrie and Bowling for Columbine. Don't expect this to appear on the 2003 UK VHS of Agent Cody Banks, because the 1999-2004 UK MGM "Coming Soon to Video and DVD" clip-on was used.
International variants[]
United Kingdom[]
1983-1985[]
Bumper: The 1982 MGM/UA Home Video logo is seen with its lines still flashing. Above it is the maroon text in a Helvetica font, "MORE GREAT TITLES", and below the logo is "Available now from your local dealer".
Variants:
- After a few trailers, the words, "Also available from your local dealer......" in the same font and colour fade in and out at the bottom of the screen.
- During trailers, either of the two captions fade in and out at the bottom during the trailer at some point.
FX/SFX: None, except for the text in the variants.
Music/Sounds: None. Sometimes it had the opening or closing music from the trailer.
Availability: Ultra rare. May have appeared on some of the earliest releases from MGM/UA in the UK, such as the original VHS releases of Poltergeist and The Phantom Tollbooth, which also contains the first variant.
1985–1991[]
Bumper: We see the normal MGM/UA Home Video logo of that time without any bumper indicator whatsoever.
Variant: Sometimes, "DISTRIBUTED BY" would fade in above the logo.
FX/SFX: The logo animating, and on the variant, "DISTRIBUTED BY" fading in.
Music/Sounds: The music of the logo, along with a British voiceover saying "The following new films, which will soon be available from your local stockist, are brought to you by MGM/UA Home Video, one of the leaders in home entertainment."
Voiceover Variant: On tapes with trailers also at the end of the film, a different announcer says "The following new films, which will soon be available from your local stockist, are brought to you by MGM/UA Home Video, leaders in home entertainment. News of more exciting MGM/UA Home Video movies will follow at the end of this feature film presentation."
Availability: Seen on late 80s-early 90s MGM/UA tapes in the UK with previews, like Spaceballs, Dirty Dozen: The Deadly Mission, Running Scared, The Dressmaker, A Hazard of Hearts, and Terror Train (released in the US by CBS/Fox Video), among others. Tapes with the voiceover variant include A Chorus of Disapproval, A Dry White Season, A Fish Called Wanda, After Midnight, Back to Back, Bloodfist, Blood Ransom, Brain Dead, The Dawning, Dealers, The Dressmaker, The Drifter, Earth Girls Are Easy, The Fabulous Baker Boys, Family Business, Gate II, Gleaming the Cube, Gone with the Wind, Halloween 4, Heroes Stand Alone, The January Man, Last Rites, Living Doll, Masque of the Red Death, Matewan, Memories of Me, The Mighty Quinn, Mindfield, Munchies, Nowhere to Run, Queen of Hearts, Return of the Family Man, Rude Awakening, Sisters (aka Some Girls), Spellbinder, Spontaneous Combustion, The Tenth Man, Transylvania Twist, Tucker: The Man and His Dream, Weekend at Bernie's and Wicked Stepmother. Strangely, no voiceover is heard on the UK rental releases of Scenes from the Class Struggle in Beverly Hills, Seven Minutes and Stanley & Iris, but their retail counterparts had the voiceover intact.
1991–1995[]
Bumper: On a black background, the white-grey gradient words "COMING SOON" zoom out from left and right and settle. After settling, two lines draw themselves above and below them, sandwiching them.
FX/SFX: The words zooming out and settling, the lines drawing.
Music/Sounds: None.
Availability: Rare. Tapes that have this bumper include Thelma and Louise, Of Mice and Men, Son of the Pink Panther, Quigley Down Under, Man in the Moon, Benny and Joon, The Borrower, Delirious, Not Without My Daughter, and Midnight Sting, among others. Strangely, Warner Home Video's 1991 UK release of Pink Cadillac contained this bumper at both ends of the tape, as opposed to the one that was regularly used by them at the time.
1993, 1995–1999[]
Bumper: On a black background, we see the italicised words "COMING SOON" in blue, sandwiched in between two lines.
FX/SFX: None.
Music/Sounds: None.
Availability: Rare. Appears on UK MGM/UA releases from the era, such as Bio-Dome, Dirty Work, Evidence of Blood, Fled, Fluke, Get Shorty, Lord of Illusions, Rich in Love, Rob Roy, Species, Species II, and Tank Girl, among other titles. Its first appearance was as a one-off bumper on the 1993 rental tape of Rich in Love. It also makes a surprise appearance on the 1998 Warner Home Video rental tape of The Devil's Advocate.
2003-04[]
Bumper: On a black background, one of these two clip-ons is shown in a plain white font:
- COMING SOON TO VIDEO AND DVD
- OUT NOW ON VIDEO AND DVD
FX/SFX: None.
Music/Sounds: None.
Availability: Extremely rare. This appears on the UK video releases of Windtalkers and Agent Cody Banks.
July 21-October 8, 2003[]
Bumper: On a black background with red clouds, the text "Coming Soon" appears.
FX/SFX: The text appearing in red clouds.
Music/Sounds: A windy breeze at the end of the preview of Jeepers Creepers 2.
Availability: Seen on UK VHS releases of Bulletproof Monk and Buffalo Soldiers.