MGM Home Entertainment Warning Screen

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USA/CANADA WARNINGS

1st Warning
(1979-1981/1984)

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Warning: We see the Warning screen scrolling up. The word "WARNING" appears in a cream color; the Warning text is in white. Everything's in capitals.

FX: The scroll up of the Warning.

Cheesy Factor: It seems the graphics and animation were done on a 1970s computer.

Availability: On all MGM/CBS releases of the era. This warning also appears on the 1984 CBS/FOX release of S.O.B., but at the end, following the movie. (MGM/CBS originally released the film in 1982 as part of their label)

Scare Factor: Low.


2nd Warning
(1981-1990, 1991, 1992)

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Warning: We see the Warning screen scrolling up. The word "WARNING" is in red with white outline between two white lines; the warning text is in white and now appears in lowercase. The black bars are at the top and bottom of the screen, but faded.

Variant: On classic MGM movies the warning is in black and white.

FX: Same as the previous Warning screen.

Availability: On all MGM/CBS and MGM/UA releases from the era. Also seen on Wood Knapp Video releases, as well as a couple of Nova Home Video and Junior Home Video releases at the time. For an odd reason, this appeared on the original VHS release of Thelma and Louise.Possibly an editing mistake on MGM's part. Finally, this warning can also be seen on the 1992 reprint VHS of Fiddler On The Roof because it was released on another videocassette in 1990 or 1991, and they possibly forgot to change the warning

Scare Factor: Low.


3rd Warning
(1990-2005)

Warning: We see the word "WARNING" in red with drop shadow. Below it is the Warning text in white and in Helvetica font.

Variant: Most MGM DVD releases have an updated version of this Warning. A brighter shade of red is used and the text is in the Johnston font (except for"WARNING" which is set in Arial).

FX: None.

Availability: On all MGM releases from the era. Also seen on New Line Home Video releases from 1992 to 1997, as well as HBO DVD releases and some WarnerVision/KidVision releases.

Scare Factor: Low to medium. The cut from the MGM Home Entertainment logo could frighten some.

Final Note: When Fox acquired MGM's home entertainment rights in 2006, it went to use the warnings from 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment.

INTERNATIONAL WARNINGS

United Kingdom
1st Warning
(1980s-2000)

Warning: There is yellow text on a blue background. On the first screen, it reads:

This video cassette
is a genuine first
generation copy
produced on behalf
of and with the
approval of

MGM/UA HOME VIDEO

Then it transitions via flip effect to the next screen with the same blue background. We see "WARNING" at the top with warning text (which has a quote at the beginning) underneath it, also in yellow. Then it flips to another screen with the second portion of the text, and to another with the third and last portion of it. Finally, it flips to the fifth screen, which reads:

Any such unauthorised
action could give rise to
civil or criminal
proceeding."

Variant: Sometimes all the screens were stacked on one another and they scroll up on a blue background.

FX/SFX: The flipping of each screen. The scroll up of the text in said variant.

Music/Sounds: None.

Availability: Seen on British MGM/UA tapes.

Scare Factor: None.


2nd Warning
(2000-2005)

See 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment Warning Screen for details.

Australia

1st Warning

(1980-1990)

See PBV/CEL Warning Screen for details.


2nd Warning
(1990-2000)

Warning: On a white background, blue Warning text scrolls up in a Courier font and in capitals.

FX/SFX: The text scrolling.

Music/Sounds: None.

Availability: Appears on Australian VHS and DVD releases of the era. Also used by Warner Home Video.

Scare Factor: None.