Unknown World

Director - Terry O. Morse (Godzilla, Godzilla: King of the Monsters)

Starring - Bruce Kellogg (They Were Expendable, The Golden Eye), Otto Waldis (Gomer Pyle: USMC, Hogan's Heroes), and Jim Bannon (Good Neighbor Sam, Wagon Train)

Release Date - 1951

Genre - Sci-Fi/Adventure

Tagline - "Adventure into the unknown!"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I say this all the time and I absolutely mean it.  I wish I lived during the golden age of drive-in cinema.  I could see myself basically living at the drive-in watching every campy double feature and cheesy sci-fi and horror flick they had to offer.  While I was born decades after the fall of the drive-in, I still like to fantasize about what it was like as I watch these older films sent to me for  review.  A few weeks back my friends over at Severin Films sent me a few flicks to check out and among them was the 1951 sci-fi adventure flick Unknown World.  Like always, I want to thank Severin for sending this one over!

     The film follows an expedition team as they seek out a place inside the Earth for mankind to live if a nuclear war happened to occur.  During their voyage they do discover a vast land that could potentially be home to the human race along with a vast ocean network.  However, they soon learn that something is making those there sterile but before they could uncover the cause they are forced to flee when a volcano erupts.

    I went into Unknown World knowing absolutely nothing about it and it was nothing like I was expecting.  I liked it's unique set up and how the story got to where it was going but the ride itself was painfully dull and boring.  I seriously wanted to like it but it just wasn't for me.  The acting in this one is extremely cheesy but that is what makes these drive-in classics so much fun and enjoyable.  The over-reacting in some scenes and the underwhelming reactions in others is exactly what I was expecting.  The acting in films like this is my favorite part and this one did not disappoint.  The story for this one starts out in a fun way that really captures the time in which the film was made.  We are in the beginning years of the Cold War and the film starts out like a film meant to prepare you for the "big one."  We then move on to a cheesy sci-fi adventure to the middle of the Earth with generic characters, a little romance, and a lot of boring dialogue that doesn't help the movie out at all.  It's almost as if the film was being pulled in too many direction resulting in a finished film that fails to gain traction.  Finally, the film has some miniatures and some campy sets but that is about the extent of it.  Those with a eye for the red stuff will be very disappointed in that regard.  Overall, Unknown World is an interesting idea and one I could normally see myself enjoying but the execution here leaves us with a bit of a dull flick.  Fans of Cold War era sci-fi flicks might enjoy this one but I couldn't.  

Flight to Mars

Director - Lesley Selander (Left Handed Law, The Tall Man)

Starring - Marguerite Chapman (Coroner Creek, Frontier Circus), Cameron Mitchell (Crossing the Line, Easy Kill), and Arthur Franz (Monster on the Campus, Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet the Invisible Man)

Release Date - 1951

Genre - Sci-Fi

Tagline - "The most fantastic expedition ever conceived by man!"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     The sci-fi films of the 50s and 60s are legendary.  A lot of them get mocked and made fun of but, honestly, so many modern day sci-fi and horror titles owe these films a lot.  Without these films a lot of the movies and television shows wouldn't exist.  Getting old sucks but I would have loved to live through the drive-in era when all these classic sci-fi and atom age titles were hitting the big screen.  When I saw that Film Detective was releasing the 1951 sci-fi classic Flight to Mars I had to see it.  This is one I had never seen before but I was very familiar with the title after watching the trailer some years back.  I want to thank MVD and Film Detective for sending a review copy of the film on blu my way.  I really appreciate it.

     The film follows the first manned flight to Mars.  When the ship crash lands they find themselves created by what appears to be humans that live under the surface of Mars.  The astronauts and the Martians work together to repair the ship but the Martians have other plans.  Their planet is dying but they are unable to create a ship capable of space travel.  They want to steal the ship from the astronauts once it's completed but the astronauts are soon able to realize what is happening and trick the Martians before leaving the planet to return to Earth.

     Flight to Mars is a fantastic mid-century sci-fi story that doesn't really feel like a movie.  I enjoyed it so don't take that the wrong way.  It's a lot of fun with some beautiful sets but it felt more like an hour long television episode rather than a movie.  Regardless, I enjoyed it and would recommend it to any sci-fi fan.  The acting in this one is enjoyable.  The characters are very stiff and cliched but they fit the film nicely.  With that being said, there was a few occasions where the flat characters with similar wardrobe would blend together creating some confusion.  The film would have benefited from different wardrobes and characters with defining features or personality traits.  The story is barely an hourly long but we get a great science fiction based drama that works. I really enjoyed the dramatic twist we get from the Martians and the entire plot of the film works but it feels like an episode of a much bigger project.  Finally, no blood and gore here.  Instead we get gorgeous painted backdrops and scale models.  It's a lot of old movie magic showcased and I thoroughly enjoyed that.  Overall, Flight to Mars is a great release from Film Detective.  Fans of classic sci-fi will not want to sleep on this one.  It was a great time.  

The Thing from Another World

Director(s) - Christian Nyby (The Twilight Zone, The Six Million Dollar Man) and Howard Hawks (Land of the Pharaohs, Monkey Business)
Starring - Margaret Sheridan (Pride of the Bluegrass, City Detective), Kenneth Tobey (Innerspace, Airplane!), and Robert Cornthwaite (The Ghost and Mr. Chicken, The War of the Worlds)
Release Date - 1951
Genre - Horror/Sci-Fi
Tagline - "It creeps... it crawls... it strikes without warning!"
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Some movies get released and go on to become classic among the genres.  Over the years you can count hundreds, if not thousands, of movies that would considered essential viewing for horror fans.  However, not all of those films has shaped movie history.  In 1951 the horror sci-fi mash up The Thing from Another World was released.  The movie was your typical b-movie hit but the horror and sci-fi melting together created something very unique.  Though it was not the first to combine both genres it was still wildly popular and gained momentum for others to follow.  The film, along with the John Carpenter helmed remake, is still considered two of the best sci-fi horror films to be released.  Sometime ago Warner Brothers released the original classic on blu as part of their Archive Collection series and was kind enough to send one my way.  

     The film follows a military outpost in the artic conducting research uncovers a extraterrestrial ship submerged in the ice.  When they try to free it they accidentally destroy it but soon find a being from another world trapped under the ice nearby.  They cut the ice out and take the frozen being back to their compound to await further orders.  While there they don't realize it but the ice is melting the beast within is soon about to break free and wreak havoc on every living creature there before moving on to somewhere else on Earth.
     I had watched this one several times during my teen years but it has been sometime since I last tossed it in.  Hell, almost 20 years if I'm being honest and I still enjoy it today just as much as I did then.  Sure, it is a product of it's time but it is still a charming and bleak horror tale with sci-fi ties.  The acting in this one is decent but by today's standards it is a little cheesy.  Hell, several of the scenes leave me in stitches from laughing.  The unintentional humor and cheesy dialogue is funny but that doesn't take away from the atmosphere and tone the film establishes.  The story for this one is a little wore out by the 2020 but in 1951 it was something rather new and exciting.  I really enjoy the story even though there is some parts that is a little far fetched and goofy.  Regardless, fans of classic horror and sci-fi will love the story it brings to the table.  Finally, those of you looking for the fun and cheesy sci-fi effects from the drive-in era will be rather disappointed.  No blood and gore here either.  We do get some make-up effects that are cool and rather legendary in terms of what they are but nothing memorable aside from the creature.  Overall, The Thing from Another World blu looks decent but has room for some improvement.  The features are extremely underwhelming as well considering how much of an impact this had on the genre.  However, collectors will still want to grab this one for their collection.  

The Exotic Dances of Bettie Page

Director - Irving Klaw (Teaserama, Betty's Hat Dance)
Starring - Bettie Page (Betty Page: Pin Up Queen)
Release Date - 1951 - 1956
Genre - Erotic
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Its weird how if you have an interest in or thing or a fan of something you quickly find others that share the same interests are obsessed with other random things.  Give me a moment to explain what I mean.  When I was in middle school I started to find myself obsessed with horror.  I loved it and it ruled my life.  When I went into high school I made a new friend who loved horror and exploitation just as much as I do.  He also had an obsession with Bettie Page the world famous pin up model.  He had several books, VHS, posters, and other items of hers and even made a little shrine for her.  As I got older and met more horror fans I also learned that they had a soft spot for Page as well.  Sometime ago my friends over at Cult Epics sent me the blu release of The Exotic Dances of Bettie Page.  I thought it was finally time to see what all the fuss was about.  Thanks Cult Epics for letting me check this out.

     The film is simply - we watch Bettie Page dance for 30 minutes. The film consists of 4 to 5 minute segments where Page dances different dances.  That's it. 

   






      I had no idea what to expect.  I knew Bettie was a famous pin up model but I also got the light bondage vibe from her so I assumed this was going to be a sleazy watch which is why I tossed it in after Bad, Bad, Gang.  Surprisingly the film was not and I actually enjoyed myself if you believe it or not.  There is no acting in this.   The entire film is Page dancing different dances.  Some of the dances were a little more provocative than others.  The story for this one is non-existent.  The film literally only exists to showcase Page and her influence.  Finally, as you suspected, there is no blood and gore.  Instead, we get 30 minutes of Page shaking her hips. Overall, The Exotic Dances of Bettie Page is surprisingly entertaining.  The film is so fucking simple and so effective.  It didn't make me a fan but I can respect those infatuated with her.  Check it out.