50s Sci-Fi Double Feature (VCI, King
Dinosaur/The Jungle)
Picture:
C+ Sound: C+ Extras: C- Films: B-
VCI has
issued two old Science Fiction B-movies under the title 50s Sci-Fi Double Feature and for all the similar double features
several DVD companies are issuing, this is one of the most memorable pairings
in a while.
William
Berke’s The Jungle (1952) stars Rod
Cameron and Marie Windsor as travelers to India, when they are suddenly
confronted with killer Wooly Mammoths.
Yes, it is essentially a giant monster film, singular or plural. Cesar Romero is also a highlight as Rama
Singh, stealing scenes with his stature, though not as large as the killer
beasts from a few million years (give or take) ago.
King Dinosaur (1955) plays like a documentary
(the great Marvin Miller even narrates) as a group of astronauts discover an
alternate earth. Faster than you can say
DC Comics, giant lobster-like creatures are on the kill and all directed by the
legendary Sci-Fi/Horror genre director Bert I. Gordon. This has actually never been on DVD before
and apparently never widescreen ever, so Gordon fans will be particularly happy
and it is very entertaining.
The 1.33
X 1 image on The Jungle was
processed in sepia-tone wash to approximate the idea of being in another
“exotic” part of the world and has better detail than expected. Cinematographer Clyde De Vinna offers some
nice compositions at times worth checking out.
King Dinosaur is
anamorphically enhanced 1.85 X 1 that offers various stock footage added to the
newly shot materials to tell its story.
It too looks better than expected, making this one of VCI’s better genre
double features for picture of late. Cinematographer
Gordon Avil (later of Hogan’s Heroes,
whose impressive work there is reviewed elsewhere on this site) integrates his
new black and white footage with the other footage as well as possible. It is more watchable and amusing than
expected. Detail can be an issue, but it
is very watchable.
The Dolby
Digital 2.0 Mono is better than expected for its age, cleaner and clearer than
older B-material tends to sound. Extras
include notes from Gordon’s shooting script, Windsor remembering her film, and
trailers, bios, stills & trivia for each film.
- Nicholas Sheffo
