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Category:    Home > Reviews > Science Fiction > Monster > Horror > 50s Sci-Fi Double Feature (VCI, King Dinosaur/The Jungle)

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


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