Post by vanhagar3000 on Apr 7, 2007 11:36:51 GMT -5
KNOWN HISTORY
It’s important to note, there are really two FVI’s. Edward Montoro’s FVI which began in 1968. The original FVI produced lowbudget ripoffs, usually of the horror nature, or import lowbudget ripoffs, again, usually of the horror nature. The company became somewhat (in)famous for it’s movies and their sometimes box office magic. In 1980 they released a Jaws ripoff called Great White and advertised the hell out it. However, Universal sued and the movie had to be pulled in only a few weeks, making it a colossal failure.
By 1984 everything was going down the drain as FVI was losing money fast and Montoro had just settled his divorced which entitled half of FVI to his wife. So Montoro quickly took a million from the company and left the country. FVI was left in the hands of four executives, who couldn’t keep the thing alive after Mutant (Montoro’s last film) bombed with others.
In 1985, FVI released their final film Torchlight. Film Ventures went into Chapter 11 bankruptcy sometime this year. Also in 1985, The FVI produced film City Limits was released by The Atlantic Releasing Corporation (which also released Teen Wolf the same year). The production company name was changed from Film Ventures International to The City Limit Venture, likely to distance itself from the collapsed FVI. Some time later, all of the remaining assets of FVI (but not all movies, for example Beyond the Green Door II is distributed by the Peter Rodgers Organization) were bought by what was then a small TV syndicator called INI Entertainment Group Inc. They thought there was a value in the FVI name.
INI reactivated the FVI name in 1987. They used about the only value the FVI library had- a sequel to a movie popular over a decade previous, and a previously unreleased title. Alien Predator has been produced in 1984, but hadn’t seen a release, so they did it this year in February. They also produced a sequel to one of the most successful Montoro run FVI films Grizzly named Predator: The Concert.
The “FVI” Treatment
For the previous years, besides the mentioned releases, looking at the copyright files, it looks like INI was pressing out legal matters concerning the FVI name. In 1989, they produced and released Criminal Act and released a subtitled Israeli war film with no English title according to IMDb.
This is the year though that they started giving movies the “FVI treatment” (legally new music, editing, and compilation of preexisting footage in the opening and closing credits). One of these was Gamera Strikes Back. (Aka Gamera vs. Barugon) The registration date is October 18, and the publication date is November 5. It looks like a direct to VHS release, like what most of the rest look like they were intended.
1990 was FVI’s last presence as a theater distributor. They released Any Man’s Death in May to theaters, with FVI as the domestic distributor, and INI was the worldwide distributor. Too bad MST3K never got it’s hand on this, its looks like a real stinker.
Also that year, Cave Dwellers is copyrighted by FVI. According to the credits in the version that aired on MST it was in ““video, music, editing, special effects, packaging, and design”, while the library of congress copyright states “new music, editing, and compilation of preexisting footage in the opening and closing credits.” This was originally a New Line Cinema release domestically as Ator, the Bladmaster. According to IMDb it was released into theaters this year under the FVI name, but I have no other evidence suggesting such a thing. By the next year it would be licensed to Comedy Central and BBI for airing on MST3K, which (if the theater thing is true) would technically make it the fastest move from the theater to the show, in under a years time. The copyright on the website is in early December, so the theater thing is unlikely (as it was released in 1990 according to IMDb). The episode debuted July 1, 1991. I’m guessing FVI had full rights to this one, and bought the film outright. I haven’t seen a VHS release under the CD title, but the copyright is for videocassette, so I assume that’s what it was intended purpose.
Another interesting note, is the Elvis film Charro! is copyright for “FVI” treatment. With it publication and registration happening in December of that year. This again is for a videocassette. They also copyrighted a version of Gunslinger with the “FVI treatment” for a videocassette. This is unlikely to be the version that showed up on MST.
Also in this year, Godzilla vs. The Sea Monster is copyrighted in “video, music, editing, special effects, packaging, and design” by FVI. In early 1991 it was licensed to Comedy Central and Best Brains for riffing. This is why I believe, that these effects may have been designed specifically for MST3K. In episode 213, the SOL crew doesn’t enter the theater until after the credits are over. I have a feeling because the credits weren’t done by the time of production for this episode, but they wanted to get it in the can so they could take time off before the next season. They aired the episode in February 1991. The movie was released onto VHS sometimes that year according to IMDb, and I thought I saw it somewhere else but can’t find the site. The only copyright for Godzilla vs. The Sea Monster in 1991 is for a copyright mortgage with Broadway Video and Imperial Bank in July. Also, Stranded in Space is copyrighted in December 1990 for the “FVI treatment” and for a videocassette according to the LOC.
Two former FVI movies are reedited and recopyrighed by the company. City Limits is copyrighted by FVI for the “FVI treatment.” This film was originally a FVI production, (though in the credits listed as City Limit Ventures, see above) which is likely why it’s the only film (besides Sea Monster) to not have a name change. It’s for a videocassette. The Unearthling, was recopyrighted by the new FVI in December of 1990 as Pod People with new opening/closing titles. It’s copyright is in the standard FVI “video, music, editing, special effects, packaging, and design” or “FVI treatment” according to the official copyright. It was licensed to Comedy Central and BBI in 1991 and aired only two weeks after Cave Dwellers. At some point, someone released it on VHS as Pod People according to Amazon.com. I’m guessing it was in 1991 by FVI/INI, since the copyright is for a videocassette. This is again, another movie that was originally produced and distributed by Film Ventures in 1983. Though in 1985, Astral Video distributed it to Canada.
This is why I’m beginning to think this is what the case is on some FVI titles. INI acquired the ownership of some films (like Pod People), but someone else already held the distribution rights for TV or home entertainment. Therefore, they’d take the film they legally own, and edit it into their own movie for distribution. It’s a wild theory, but it’s about the only think that makes sense for some of them.
In the fall of 1991, Master Ninja I was copyrighted by Film Ventures International. It wasn’t specific on what it held copyrights over. Master Ninja II is also copyrighted by FVI, but no year is given on the credits, and is no more specific. These are edited together episodes of ‘the Master,” and there were seven released (with the first episode appearing on 2 VHS). Both “movies” at the end have a copyright by Viacom Corporation Inc. for 1984. So I doubt that these Master Ninja movies could be in the public domain, because Viacom should hold the copyright for 95 years from 1984 or FVI for 95 years from 1991. FVI it registered in 1991 at the LOC. Later that year, the first two was licenced to BBI and Comedy Central for use on MST3K. Sometime this year all seven VHS episode compilations were released on VHS by FVI. However, only the first two have a copyright listed on the LOC website.
Also in 1991, Space Travelers is copyrighted by “FVI.” Like Master Ninja I, it isn’t very specific. Being from Another Planet is also copyrighted by FVI this year. It was released the year before by Charter Entertainment on VHS on September 26, though IMDb gives the date of 1986. Again, not very specific copyright. Neither of these are registered at the LOC.
1992 was interesting, in that it was the last year FVI licenced anything new to BBI and CC for riffing. In this case it was Marooned, City Limits, and Being from Another Planet. Another reason to think FVI may have produced some of these specifically for MST3K is because Marooned was something they mentioned all the way back at the beginning of season two, and Marooned opened season four. Even back then Dr. Forrester said “We couldn’t get it!” Later that year, FVI’s Charro! was announced as episode 421, but then replaced by Monster a-Go Go.
Kid’s Krap
Since 1990 an INI Entertainment Group had been producing animated kids movies for VHS starting with Alice Through the Looking Glass. This checks on the LOC and another website. They continued pretty steady with movies in conjunction with the Burbank Animation Studio. Most of them were released by Video Treasures. Such titles include Treasure Island, Ali-Baba and Brer Bunny. They also produced a series called Cliff Hanger.
In 1995, Master Ninja III was announced as the finale of season six, but it was replaced by Samson vs. The Vampire Women. Probably because Frank always wanted to do a Mexican wrestling move. Also in this year, FVI licences Godzilla vs. The Sea Monster, Cave Dwellers, Pod People, Stranded in Space, Master Ninja I, Master Ninja II, and Space Travelers to Tradewinds Television and BBI for a syndication version of MST3K. The syndicated version goes off the air the next year.
Also this year, the animated children’s VHS Thumbelina and Hans and the Silver Skates are released by Video Treasures, and are credited “by INI.” INI was given direct production credits for Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Pied Piper of Hamlin, and Puss in Boots (rereleased in 1997 by Reader’s Digest Young Families Inc.). All of these were released in 1995 by Video Treasures.
Video Treasures the next year would evolved into Anchor Bay Entertainment. Anchor Bay Entertainment released a lot of the former FVI catalog. Interestingly, Video Treasures also put out a release of Godzilla vs. The Sea Monster and Godzilla vs. Megalon. Many of these animated titles seem to come from a production company called Burbank Animation Studios which is based in Australia.
In 1996, Marooned is released on VHS by Sony on January 3. Space Travallers though would air on Comedy Central into December of the year. Cave Dwellers and Pod People are licenced to Rhino Home Video this year for release on VHS. Rhino announces they are also going to release Stranded in Space and Master Ninja I (along with about 18 others) the next year. They never release them, and claims rights issues held many episodes up. But looking at the list, there are a few public domain episodes that still haven’t even gotten a release. The after that year Jet Films releases City Limits on February 24 on VHS, I think it’s a German or French company that did it illegally.
In 2001, The Return to Treasure Island is released, and INI is listed as a firm. Cave Dwellers and Pod People are released as MST3K episodes on DVD the next year. Also Lion’s Gate (accordingto travis) apparently releases City Limits the same year, though I’ve seen a credit for Artisan Entertainment.. In 2004 according to Amazon, Pod People is released by Jet Films under it’s original title, likely one again illegally.
That’s all I could find, along with some contradictory stuff.
Sources:
-Early FVI and Montoro Info
-All copyright information is taken directly off the episodes
-Theatrical Releases Between 1987-1990
-Information about Animated Releases.
Article on FVI
It’s important to note, there are really two FVI’s. Edward Montoro’s FVI which began in 1968. The original FVI produced lowbudget ripoffs, usually of the horror nature, or import lowbudget ripoffs, again, usually of the horror nature. The company became somewhat (in)famous for it’s movies and their sometimes box office magic. In 1980 they released a Jaws ripoff called Great White and advertised the hell out it. However, Universal sued and the movie had to be pulled in only a few weeks, making it a colossal failure.
By 1984 everything was going down the drain as FVI was losing money fast and Montoro had just settled his divorced which entitled half of FVI to his wife. So Montoro quickly took a million from the company and left the country. FVI was left in the hands of four executives, who couldn’t keep the thing alive after Mutant (Montoro’s last film) bombed with others.
In 1985, FVI released their final film Torchlight. Film Ventures went into Chapter 11 bankruptcy sometime this year. Also in 1985, The FVI produced film City Limits was released by The Atlantic Releasing Corporation (which also released Teen Wolf the same year). The production company name was changed from Film Ventures International to The City Limit Venture, likely to distance itself from the collapsed FVI. Some time later, all of the remaining assets of FVI (but not all movies, for example Beyond the Green Door II is distributed by the Peter Rodgers Organization) were bought by what was then a small TV syndicator called INI Entertainment Group Inc. They thought there was a value in the FVI name.
INI reactivated the FVI name in 1987. They used about the only value the FVI library had- a sequel to a movie popular over a decade previous, and a previously unreleased title. Alien Predator has been produced in 1984, but hadn’t seen a release, so they did it this year in February. They also produced a sequel to one of the most successful Montoro run FVI films Grizzly named Predator: The Concert.
The “FVI” Treatment
For the previous years, besides the mentioned releases, looking at the copyright files, it looks like INI was pressing out legal matters concerning the FVI name. In 1989, they produced and released Criminal Act and released a subtitled Israeli war film with no English title according to IMDb.
This is the year though that they started giving movies the “FVI treatment” (legally new music, editing, and compilation of preexisting footage in the opening and closing credits). One of these was Gamera Strikes Back. (Aka Gamera vs. Barugon) The registration date is October 18, and the publication date is November 5. It looks like a direct to VHS release, like what most of the rest look like they were intended.
1990 was FVI’s last presence as a theater distributor. They released Any Man’s Death in May to theaters, with FVI as the domestic distributor, and INI was the worldwide distributor. Too bad MST3K never got it’s hand on this, its looks like a real stinker.
Also that year, Cave Dwellers is copyrighted by FVI. According to the credits in the version that aired on MST it was in ““video, music, editing, special effects, packaging, and design”, while the library of congress copyright states “new music, editing, and compilation of preexisting footage in the opening and closing credits.” This was originally a New Line Cinema release domestically as Ator, the Bladmaster. According to IMDb it was released into theaters this year under the FVI name, but I have no other evidence suggesting such a thing. By the next year it would be licensed to Comedy Central and BBI for airing on MST3K, which (if the theater thing is true) would technically make it the fastest move from the theater to the show, in under a years time. The copyright on the website is in early December, so the theater thing is unlikely (as it was released in 1990 according to IMDb). The episode debuted July 1, 1991. I’m guessing FVI had full rights to this one, and bought the film outright. I haven’t seen a VHS release under the CD title, but the copyright is for videocassette, so I assume that’s what it was intended purpose.
Another interesting note, is the Elvis film Charro! is copyright for “FVI” treatment. With it publication and registration happening in December of that year. This again is for a videocassette. They also copyrighted a version of Gunslinger with the “FVI treatment” for a videocassette. This is unlikely to be the version that showed up on MST.
Also in this year, Godzilla vs. The Sea Monster is copyrighted in “video, music, editing, special effects, packaging, and design” by FVI. In early 1991 it was licensed to Comedy Central and Best Brains for riffing. This is why I believe, that these effects may have been designed specifically for MST3K. In episode 213, the SOL crew doesn’t enter the theater until after the credits are over. I have a feeling because the credits weren’t done by the time of production for this episode, but they wanted to get it in the can so they could take time off before the next season. They aired the episode in February 1991. The movie was released onto VHS sometimes that year according to IMDb, and I thought I saw it somewhere else but can’t find the site. The only copyright for Godzilla vs. The Sea Monster in 1991 is for a copyright mortgage with Broadway Video and Imperial Bank in July. Also, Stranded in Space is copyrighted in December 1990 for the “FVI treatment” and for a videocassette according to the LOC.
Two former FVI movies are reedited and recopyrighed by the company. City Limits is copyrighted by FVI for the “FVI treatment.” This film was originally a FVI production, (though in the credits listed as City Limit Ventures, see above) which is likely why it’s the only film (besides Sea Monster) to not have a name change. It’s for a videocassette. The Unearthling, was recopyrighted by the new FVI in December of 1990 as Pod People with new opening/closing titles. It’s copyright is in the standard FVI “video, music, editing, special effects, packaging, and design” or “FVI treatment” according to the official copyright. It was licensed to Comedy Central and BBI in 1991 and aired only two weeks after Cave Dwellers. At some point, someone released it on VHS as Pod People according to Amazon.com. I’m guessing it was in 1991 by FVI/INI, since the copyright is for a videocassette. This is again, another movie that was originally produced and distributed by Film Ventures in 1983. Though in 1985, Astral Video distributed it to Canada.
This is why I’m beginning to think this is what the case is on some FVI titles. INI acquired the ownership of some films (like Pod People), but someone else already held the distribution rights for TV or home entertainment. Therefore, they’d take the film they legally own, and edit it into their own movie for distribution. It’s a wild theory, but it’s about the only think that makes sense for some of them.
In the fall of 1991, Master Ninja I was copyrighted by Film Ventures International. It wasn’t specific on what it held copyrights over. Master Ninja II is also copyrighted by FVI, but no year is given on the credits, and is no more specific. These are edited together episodes of ‘the Master,” and there were seven released (with the first episode appearing on 2 VHS). Both “movies” at the end have a copyright by Viacom Corporation Inc. for 1984. So I doubt that these Master Ninja movies could be in the public domain, because Viacom should hold the copyright for 95 years from 1984 or FVI for 95 years from 1991. FVI it registered in 1991 at the LOC. Later that year, the first two was licenced to BBI and Comedy Central for use on MST3K. Sometime this year all seven VHS episode compilations were released on VHS by FVI. However, only the first two have a copyright listed on the LOC website.
Also in 1991, Space Travelers is copyrighted by “FVI.” Like Master Ninja I, it isn’t very specific. Being from Another Planet is also copyrighted by FVI this year. It was released the year before by Charter Entertainment on VHS on September 26, though IMDb gives the date of 1986. Again, not very specific copyright. Neither of these are registered at the LOC.
1992 was interesting, in that it was the last year FVI licenced anything new to BBI and CC for riffing. In this case it was Marooned, City Limits, and Being from Another Planet. Another reason to think FVI may have produced some of these specifically for MST3K is because Marooned was something they mentioned all the way back at the beginning of season two, and Marooned opened season four. Even back then Dr. Forrester said “We couldn’t get it!” Later that year, FVI’s Charro! was announced as episode 421, but then replaced by Monster a-Go Go.
Kid’s Krap
Since 1990 an INI Entertainment Group had been producing animated kids movies for VHS starting with Alice Through the Looking Glass. This checks on the LOC and another website. They continued pretty steady with movies in conjunction with the Burbank Animation Studio. Most of them were released by Video Treasures. Such titles include Treasure Island, Ali-Baba and Brer Bunny. They also produced a series called Cliff Hanger.
In 1995, Master Ninja III was announced as the finale of season six, but it was replaced by Samson vs. The Vampire Women. Probably because Frank always wanted to do a Mexican wrestling move. Also in this year, FVI licences Godzilla vs. The Sea Monster, Cave Dwellers, Pod People, Stranded in Space, Master Ninja I, Master Ninja II, and Space Travelers to Tradewinds Television and BBI for a syndication version of MST3K. The syndicated version goes off the air the next year.
Also this year, the animated children’s VHS Thumbelina and Hans and the Silver Skates are released by Video Treasures, and are credited “by INI.” INI was given direct production credits for Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Pied Piper of Hamlin, and Puss in Boots (rereleased in 1997 by Reader’s Digest Young Families Inc.). All of these were released in 1995 by Video Treasures.
Video Treasures the next year would evolved into Anchor Bay Entertainment. Anchor Bay Entertainment released a lot of the former FVI catalog. Interestingly, Video Treasures also put out a release of Godzilla vs. The Sea Monster and Godzilla vs. Megalon. Many of these animated titles seem to come from a production company called Burbank Animation Studios which is based in Australia.
In 1996, Marooned is released on VHS by Sony on January 3. Space Travallers though would air on Comedy Central into December of the year. Cave Dwellers and Pod People are licenced to Rhino Home Video this year for release on VHS. Rhino announces they are also going to release Stranded in Space and Master Ninja I (along with about 18 others) the next year. They never release them, and claims rights issues held many episodes up. But looking at the list, there are a few public domain episodes that still haven’t even gotten a release. The after that year Jet Films releases City Limits on February 24 on VHS, I think it’s a German or French company that did it illegally.
In 2001, The Return to Treasure Island is released, and INI is listed as a firm. Cave Dwellers and Pod People are released as MST3K episodes on DVD the next year. Also Lion’s Gate (accordingto travis) apparently releases City Limits the same year, though I’ve seen a credit for Artisan Entertainment.. In 2004 according to Amazon, Pod People is released by Jet Films under it’s original title, likely one again illegally.
That’s all I could find, along with some contradictory stuff.
Sources:
-Early FVI and Montoro Info
-All copyright information is taken directly off the episodes
-Theatrical Releases Between 1987-1990
-Information about Animated Releases.
Article on FVI
