Blu-Ray News #321: Curucu, Beast Of The Amazon (1956).

Written & Directed by Curt Siodmak
Starring John Bromfield, Beverly Garland, Tom Payne

Wow, here’s one I never thought I’d see. Vinegar Syndrome Labs is bringing Curt Siodmak’s Curucu, Beast Of The Amazon (1956) to Blu-Ray — from the 35mm dupe negative.

It’s got a great cast of 50s sci-fi/horror veterans (I’d watch Beverly Garland in anything). Writer-director Siodmak had already written The Wolf Man (1941), Frankenstein Meets The Wolf Man (1943) and I Walked With A Zombie (1943) — and the novel Donovan’s Brain.

So, there’s a bird monster in the jungle and it gets ahold of an expedition looking for a drug used by natives to shrink heads. It’s sort of like a Jungle Jim movie in color, with the added benefit of a bird monster. In other words, it’s perfect.

Curucu, Beast Of The Amazon was shot in Brazil in Eastmancolor for about $150,000. Universal International distributed it, pairing it with The Mole People (1956) — what a night at the movies! And it got a glorious poster from Reynold Brown.

Since U-I had it in 1956, it played at 2.00:1, which is how Vinegar Syndrome is presenting it. There will be a commentary and other supplemental things. Recommended!

Thanks to Dick Vincent for the news!

Blu-Ray News #313: Sci-Fi From The Vault: 4 Classic Films (1955-59).

Mill Creek Entertainment has two new Blu-ray sets coming in December: Sci-Fi From The Vault: 4 Classic Films and Thrillers From The Vault: 8 Classic Horror Films. Here’s a look at the Sci-Fi Vault.

Creature With The Atom Brain (1955)
Directed by Edward L. Cahn
Starring Richard Denning, Angela Stevens, S. John Launer, Michael Granger

A scientist has figured out how to reanimate dead people and make them obey his commands. A gangster finds out about the discovery and decides he’ll use the dead for his own purposes. Produced by Sam Katzman.

It Came From Beneath The Sea (1955)
Directed by Robert Gordon
Starring Kenneth Tobey, Faith Domergue, Donald Curtis

Kenneth Tobey commands a submarine that is attacked by a giant octopus, cooked up by Ray Harryheusen. Before long, Tobey and Faith Domergue are battling it along the Pacific Coast. Produced by Sam Katzman.

The Ymir and Ray Harryheusen. Ray’s the one on the right.

20 Million Miles To Earth (1957)
Directed by Nathan Juran
Starring William Hopper, Joan Taylor, Frank Puglia

When a spaceship crashes on its way back from Venus, some eggs brought back as a souvenir get lost. Soon a really cool, quickly-growing monster from Ray Harryheusen is running loose.

The 30 Foot Bride Of Candy Rock (1959)
Directed by Sidney Miller
Starring Lou Costello, Dorothy Provine, Gale Gordon

Lou Costello’s fiancé Dorothy Provine is exposed to radiation and grows really big. This was Costello’s only solo film after he and Bud Abbott parted ways. Lou died before it was released.

Columbia’s transfers are always top-notch, so expect these pictures to look fabulous. 

Blu-Ray News #362: Love-Slaves Of The Amazons (1957).

Written & Directed by Curt Siodmak
Starring Don Taylor, Gianna Segale, Eduardo Ciannelli, Harvey Chalk, Wilson Vianna

Kino Lorber has announced an upcoming Blu-Ray release for Curt Siodmak’s Love-Slaves Of The Amazons (1957). It’s a little over 80 minutes of the usual “guys end up someplace (planet/island/jungle) populated entirely by women” thing. Of course, the women want to enslave the men for their own vile purposes.

It’s got some shooting in Brazil, in Eastmancolor, and a poster by the great Reynold Brown (the art’s up top). Is Love-Slaves Of The Amazons terrible? Maybe. Is it wonderful? Absolutely. Coming sometime in early 2022.

Blu-Ray News #188: Universal Classic Monsters – Complete 30-Film Collection (1931-1956).

If in its glory days, Universal made a movie about Frankenstein, Dracula, The Mummy, The Wolf Man, The Invisible Man or The Creature From The Black Lagoon, it’s in this box — in high definition. What more do I have to tell you?

Here’s what you get: Dracula / Drácula (Spanish version) / Frankenstein / The Mummy / The Invisible Man / Werewolf Of London / Bride Of Frankenstein / Dracula’s Daughter / Son Of Frankenstein / The Invisible Man Returns / The Mummy’s Hand / The Invisible Woman / The Wolf Man / The Mummy’s Tomb / Ghost Of Frankenstein / Invisible Agent / Son Of Dracula / Phantom Of The Opera / Frankenstein Meets The Wolf Man / The Mummy’s Ghost / House Of Frankenstein / The Mummy’s Curse / The Invisible Man’s Revenge / House Of Dracula / She-Wolf Of London / Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein / Abbott & Costello Meet The Invisible Man / Creature From The Black Lagoon / Abbott & Costello Meet The Mummy / Revenge Of The Creature / The Creature Walks Among Us

Thirty movies in all, and only one in color (Phantom Of The Opera). The Creature movies and Abbott & Costello Meet The Mummy are 1.85.

Just wondering: where’s Abbott & Costello Meet Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde (1953)? Guess Jekyll/Hyde’s outside their normal monster cycle.

This is a great thing, and it’s coming next week.

Blu-ray News #58: The Magnetic Monster (1953).

Directed by Curt Siodmak
Starring Richard Carlson, King Donovan, Jean Byron, Harry Ellerbe, Leo Britt

Kino Lorber has announced a June Blu-ray release for The Magnetic Monster (1953), a low-budget, high-quality (as I see it) sci-fi picture from Curt Siodmak. It stars the great Richard Carlson as a scientist warning us about the dangers of radiation. Nobody handles 50s pseudo-scientific dialogue as well as Carlson. Recommended.