VHS Opening/Closing: CRUISING (MGM-CBS, 1980) · 2:05am Jun 16th, 2016
Opening and closing to the original home video release of Cruising, a UA release that was produced by Lorimar. The opening contains the warning scroll, and is followed by the 1980 MGM/CBS Home Video logo and the 1976 United Artists logo (this is the same variation as used on the original theatrical prints of Being There and Roadie, and on many UA film posters from the time frame). It ends with a copyright screen, the 1980 CBS Video logo, and previews for (in reverse chronological order): Fame, 2001: A Space Odyssey, and one of my favourites, The Wizard of Oz.
Cruising, a Lorimar-produced UA film (Lorimar was the basic reason why this was released on MGM-CBS, since Lorimar had a home video deal with them prior to getting the Karl-Lorimar Home Video company off the ground in 1983) was based on the novel of the same name, by The New York Times reporter Gerald Walker, about a serial killer targeting gay men, in particular those associated with the leather scene.
The film received bad reviews and was the target of particular loathing from what is presently known as the LGBT community. The LGBT community interfered with the filming and promotion of this film because they believed that they were being harmed by it. The film is also notable for its open-ended finale, further complicated by the director's incoherent changes in the rough cut and synopsis, as well as due to other production issues. Although it is available for viewing on YouTube, the video on the website is age-restricted.
On the plus side though, it's now a coincidence as to why Al Pacino's character in the film is named Steve Burns. According to this site (http://web.archive.org/web/19990418035041/nickjr.com/bluesclues/steve_blue.tin) Pacino happens to be a favourite actor of the Blue's Clues host of that name.
