CBS Theatrical Films
Encyclopedia
CBS Theatrical Films was the film production branch of the U.S. television network, CBS
, in the 1980s. CBS began its theatrical films operation in 1979, headed by Donald March, and turned the operation into the separate CBS Theatrical Films division in 1980. The company was active from 1979 to 1985. In that time it had four presidents (March, Michael Levy, Bill Self
, and Alan Levin
). None of its releases were commercial successes.
CBS was also a partner on TriStar Pictures
, which started as a joint venture with Columbia Pictures
(owned by The Coca-Cola Company
), and Time, Inc.'s HBO.
s got higher ratings than films released on cable and video. The market became overcrowded with startup boutiques, causing box office strain at the same time movie production costs doubled to $10 million, and marketing costs rose to almost the same level. Another factor was that as a boutique company, CBS Theatrical Films did not have a distribution system, so had to release its films through major studios, which sometimes resulted in disadvantageous release dates. Most of their films were distributed by Warner Bros.
(The Challenge
and their final production The Lightship were released through Embassy Pictures
and Castle Hill Productions
respectively). Today most of the movies made by the company are distributed by Paramount Pictures on DVD, as Paramount Pictures has a home vodeo distribution deal with CBS.
which was released in July of that year.
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
, in the 1980s. CBS began its theatrical films operation in 1979, headed by Donald March, and turned the operation into the separate CBS Theatrical Films division in 1980. The company was active from 1979 to 1985. In that time it had four presidents (March, Michael Levy, Bill Self
Bill Self
Bill Self is an American college men's basketball coach at the University of Kansas, where he led the Jayhawks to the 2008 NCAA national championship....
, and Alan Levin
Alan Levin
Alan Levin may refer to:* Alan Levin , former CFO of Pfizer* Alan Levin , filmmaker* Alan Levin , policy, research and development specialist involved in global Internet Governance...
). None of its releases were commercial successes.
CBS was also a partner on TriStar Pictures
TriStar Pictures
TriStar Pictures, Inc. is an American film production/distribution studio and subsidiary of Columbia Pictures, itself a subdivision of the Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group, which is owned by Sony Pictures...
, which started as a joint venture with Columbia Pictures
Columbia Pictures
Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. is an American film production and distribution company. Columbia Pictures now forms part of the Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group, owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment, a subsidiary of the Japanese conglomerate Sony. It is one of the leading film companies...
(owned by The Coca-Cola Company
The Coca-Cola Company
The Coca-Cola Company is an American multinational beverage corporation and manufacturer, retailer and marketer of non-alcoholic beverage concentrates and syrups. The company is best known for its flagship product Coca-Cola, invented in 1886 by pharmacist John Stith Pemberton in Columbus, Georgia...
), and Time, Inc.'s HBO.
Closure
Several factors contributed to the closure of CBS Theatrical Films. As a so-called "boutique" company (a small company that makes only a few films per year), it was disadvantaged because it was usually only offered projects left over after the major studios had selected the more likely commercial successes. Broadcast television stopped buying films because their own television movieTelevision movie
A television film is a feature film that is a television program produced for and originally distributed by a television network, in contrast to...
s got higher ratings than films released on cable and video. The market became overcrowded with startup boutiques, causing box office strain at the same time movie production costs doubled to $10 million, and marketing costs rose to almost the same level. Another factor was that as a boutique company, CBS Theatrical Films did not have a distribution system, so had to release its films through major studios, which sometimes resulted in disadvantageous release dates. Most of their films were distributed by Warner Bros.
Warner Bros.
Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., also known as Warner Bros. Pictures or simply Warner Bros. , is an American producer of film and television entertainment.One of the major film studios, it is a subsidiary of Time Warner, with its headquarters in Burbank,...
(The Challenge
The Challenge (1982 film)
The Challenge is a 1982 American action film directed by John Frankenheimer and co-written by John Sayles. The film stars Scott Glenn and Toshirō Mifune.-Plot:...
and their final production The Lightship were released through Embassy Pictures
Embassy Pictures
Embassy Pictures Corporation was an independent studio and distributor responsible for such films as The Graduate, The Lion in Winter, This Is Spinal Tap and Escape from New York.-Founding:The company was founded in 1942 by producer Joseph E...
and Castle Hill Productions
Castle Hill Productions
Castle Hill Productions is an independent television and film distribution company handling classic and independent films whose library spans eight decades.-Background:...
respectively). Today most of the movies made by the company are distributed by Paramount Pictures on DVD, as Paramount Pictures has a home vodeo distribution deal with CBS.
Films produced
- Back RoadsBack Roads (1981 film)Back Roads is a 1981 American romantic comedy film starring Sally Field and Tommy Lee Jones. It is directed by Martin Ritt. It got middling reviews and grossed $11 million at the box office.- Plot :...
(1981) - The ChallengeThe Challenge (1982 film)The Challenge is a 1982 American action film directed by John Frankenheimer and co-written by John Sayles. The film stars Scott Glenn and Toshirō Mifune.-Plot:...
(1982) - Table for FiveTable for FiveTable for Five is a 1983 American theatrical dramatic film, starring Jon Voight and Richard Crenna.-Plot:J.P. Tannen is a former professional golfer residing in California. He is estranged from his three children, who live in New York with their mother Kathleen and stepfather, attorney Mitchell...
(1983) - Finders KeepersFinders Keepers (1984 film)Finders Keepers is a 1984 film starring Michael O'Keefe and Beverly D'Angelo. It also starred Jim Carrey in his 6th film role.-Plot:With the law after him, and a women's Roller Derby team as well, con man Michael Rangeloff takes on the lam. He steals a coffin and boards a train, pretending to be a...
(1984) - Grandview, U.S.A.Grandview, U.S.A.Grandview, U.S.A. is a 1984 American comedy-drama film directed by Randal Kleiser. It stars Jamie Lee Curtis, Patrick Swayze, C. Thomas Howell, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Carole Cook, Ramon Bieri, John Cusack, Joan Cusack, M. Emmet Walsh, Michael Winslow, Troy Donahue, and Steve Dahl. The original music...
(1984) - Windy City (1984)
- American DreamerAmerican Dreamer (film)American Dreamer is a 1984 American film starring JoBeth Williams and Tom Conti. It was directed by Rick Rosenthal from a script by Ann Biderman, David Greenwalt and Jim Kouf.An American housewife wins a trip to Paris in a mystery-writing contest...
(1984) - Better Off Dead (1985)
- TargetTarget (1985 film)Target is a 1985 film directed by Arthur Penn. It stars Matt Dillon and Gene Hackman.-Plot:In Dallas, Walter Lloyd runs a lumber business. After checking out at the office, Walter stops by the local racetrack, where his college-age son Chris works repairing stock cars...
(1985) - EleniEleni (film)Eleni is the 1985 film adaptation of the memoir Eleni by Greek-American journalist Nicholas Gage. Directed by Peter Yates, the film stars John Malkovich, Kate Nelligan, Linda Hunt and Glenne Headly.- Synopsis :...
(1985) - The Lightship (1986)
Cancelled film
Starblasters, was to be a videogame themed movie, due to be released about Christmas time 1982, at least some of the film was to be computer-animated. It would have been the second videogame themed movie after TronTron (film)
Tron is a 1982 American science fiction film written and directed by Steven Lisberger, and released by Walt Disney Pictures. It stars Jeff Bridges as the protagonist Kevin Flynn; Bruce Boxleitner in a dual role as security program Tron and Tron's "User", computer programmer Alan Bradley; Cindy...
which was released in July of that year.