Nelson Entertainment

Nelson Entertainment was a Los Angeles-based film production and home video distribution company, a subsidiary of Nelson Holdings International Ltd., a Vancouver, Canada, holding company formed in 1985 by British film producer Barry Spikings and Richard Northcott, a British financier who amassed his fortune from a chain of hardware and furniture stores.[1] The company acquired Galactic Films as well as Spikings Corporation in 1985, then later acquired distribution rights to a majority of Embassy titles after purchasing its home video division. Sometime in August 1987, Embassy Home Entertainment was renamed Nelson Entertainment,[2] but retained the earlier brand as well as Charter Entertainment for sell-through products.[3] Nelson then financed a deal with Castle Rock Entertainment to co-produce their films, and in addition handle the international distribution rights. In September 1988, Orion Home Video took over sales and marketing for Nelson; in addition, Orion Pictures would later theatrically distribute a few of Nelson's titles.[4] By February 1989, Orion was the official home video distributor of Nelson product.[5]

Nelson Entertainment
TypeSubsidiary of Nelson Holdings International, Ltd.
IndustryFilm
home video
FateRebranded as Sultan Entertainment, folded into New Line Cinema, library later purchased by Epic Productions
PredecessorGalactic Films
Spikings Corporation
Embassy Home Entertainment
SuccessorNew Line Cinema (1992–1994)
Alpha Library Company (1994–1997)
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer/Orion Pictures (1999–present)
Founded1985
FoundersBarry Spikings
Richard Northcott
Defunct1991
HeadquartersLos Angeles, California, United States
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Barry Spikings
Richard Northcott
ProductsMotion pictures
VHS
Laserdisc
ParentNelson Holdings International, Ltd. (1986–1991)
New Line Cinema (1991)
Divisions
  • Nelson Films
  • New Galactic and Tate
  • Charter Entertainment

In 1991, Nelson Entertainment sold its home video division to New Line Cinema and it was rebranded as New Line Home Video.[6] The company was later renamed Sultan Entertainment and was acquired by New Line, who then later took over the rights to the library.[7] By 1994, Nelson's catalog had been acquired by Epic Productions and folded into the Alpha Library Company. After Epic's closure Crédit Lyonnais assumed responsibility of its library. Upon the collapse of the bank the library was retitled as the Consortium de Realisation a.k.a. the Epic library. Crédit Lyonnais later sold the Epic film library to PolyGram Filmed Entertainment in 1997,[8] then Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer acquired 2/3 of PolyGram's pre-April 1996 library in October 1998.[9] Therefore, MGM now owns most of the Nelson Entertainment library with the copyrights being held by Orion Pictures. Due to a previous agreement with Viacom Enterprises, Paramount Pictures via Trifecta Entertainment & Media holds the television rights to Nelson's post-January 1989 films not co-produced with Castle Rock. While Castle Rock's pre-July 1994 titles are owned by Warner Bros. Entertainment but are controlled by MGM via Orion.

Films

Release Date Title Co-producer Distributor
October 16, 1987The Whales of August Alive Films
November 13, 1987Hope and Glory Goldcrest Films Columbia Pictures
April 15, 1988The Moderns Alive Films
April 22, 1988A Time of Destiny Columbia Pictures
White Mischief Goldcrest Films
BBC
Columbia Pictures
September 10, 1988Far North Alive Films
January 27, 1989Cohen and Tate New Galactic Tate Productions Hemdale Film Corporation
February 17, 1989Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure Interscope Communications
De Laurentiis Entertainment Group
Orion Pictures
April 14, 1989Winter People Castle Rock Entertainment Columbia Pictures
July 21, 1989When Harry Met Sally... Castle Rock Entertainment Columbia Pictures
November 17, 1989Prancer Cineplex Odeon Films Orion Pictures
March 16, 1990Lord of the Flies Castle Rock Entertainment Columbia Pictures
April 6, 1990The First Power Interscope Communications Orion Pictures
September 28, 1990Texasville Cine-Source Columbia Pictures
October 26, 1990Sibling Rivalry Castle Rock Entertainment Columbia Pictures
November 30, 1990Misery Castle Rock Entertainment Columbia Pictures
December 19, 1990Hamlet Icon Productions
Carolco Pictures
Sovereign Pictures
Warner Bros.
January 18, 1991Eve of Destruction Interscope Communications Orion Pictures
June 7, 1991City Slickers Castle Rock Entertainment Columbia Pictures
July 19, 1991Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey Interscope Communications Orion Pictures
October 11, 1991The Taking of Beverly Hills Columbia Pictures
April 29, 1994The Favor Orion Pictures
September 23, 1994There Goes My Baby Orion Pictures

References

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