Starring
The Voices Of: Boris Karloff, Ethel Ennis, Gale Garnett, Allen Swift, and
Phyllis Diller
Writers:
Len Korobkin, Harvey Kurtzmn, and Forrest J. Ackerman
Music
And Lyrics By: Maury Laws and Jules Bass
Director:
Jules Bass
Feature
length: 95 minutes
Extras:
Production Art Gallery, Poster and Still Gallery, and Theatrical Trailer
Languages:
English Monaural
Subtitles:
English Closed Captions
Packaging:
Amaray Keep Case
Chapter
Stops: 28
Sound:
Monaural Sound
Year
of Theatrical Release: 1967/DVD Release: 2002
Theatrical
Distributor: AVCO Embassy Pictures
Home
Video Distributor: Anchor Bay Entertainment
MPAA
Rating: Not Rated
Reviewer:
Mark A. Rivera
So
far this has simply been an amazing year for the DVD-Video format. There have
been so many excellent releases and more coming before the year will be out, I
have found that some of this year’s best discs have surfaced where I would
have never expected. I think “Mad Monster Party” is one of those surprise
DVD gems that Anchor Bay has resurrected into what is perhaps the definitive
home video presentation complete with an all new digitally mastered transfer
made from the original 35mm negatives and presented in the film’s (1.33:1)
aspect ratio. The transfer is breathtaking and makes one almost feel as if they
can reach into the TV screen and pull out the stop motion animated characters.
If you liked Tim Burton’s “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” which was
inspired by this film, you will love “Mad Monster Party.”
The
premise has Dr. Frankenstein calling all of the famous monsters as one would
imagine them from the classic Universal features to come to his island where he
plans to announce his retirement, reveal his latest creation to end all of his
other creations, and pass on his wealth and knowledge to his only living
relative, the nerdy nephew Felix. When the monsters, who include The Bride of
Frankenstein’s Monster (Phyllis Diller) Count Dracula, The Wolf Man, The
Mummy, The Invisible Man, Dr. Jeckyll & Mr. Hyde, find out about Felix, they
scheme to betray the evil, but lovable Doctor Frankenstein (Voiced By Boris
Karloff). The stop motion animation is in the same tradition as other
Rankin-Bass animated productions such as Rudolph The Red-Nose Reindeer, but with
a sharper wit that will satisfy audiences of all ages.
In
addition to the excellent picture quality, “Mad Monster Party” features a
very full and clear Two-Channel English Monaural Soundtrack with English Closed
Captions for the hearing impaired on to the DVD as options. Extra features
include a wonderful 24-page booklet that covers the entire history of the making
of this cult classic as well as two still galleries featuring production art,
lobby cards, sketches, merchandise, posters, and more and the theatrical trailer
for the film is also included.
This
is another example where the film presentation and love and care given by the
DVD producers outshines many of these mediocre film put into deluxe sets with
lots of bells and whistles, but little substance. “Mad Monster Party” is
available on DVD-Video now and is not to be missed. Simply put, this is Anchor
Bay at it’s finest!
©
Copyright 2002 By Mark A. Rivera
All Rights Reserved.