Search - The Monster That Challenged the World on DVD

MPAA Rating: G Content Advisory: Suitable for Children Movie Release: 1957 DVD Release: 08/28/2001 Format: DVD - Black and White,Pan and Scan Edition: Special Collection Audio Tracks: English Subtitles: English, French, Spanish SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 24 mins Studio: MGM Members Wishing: 2 Genres: Horror, Creature Film

The Monster That Challenged the World is the misleadingly title for one of the more well-regarded second-echelon horror films of the 1950s. An underwater earthquake in the Sargasso sea yields up the eggs of a long-extinct sea monster. Once hatched, the monster's offspring (which resemble huge snails) sustain themselves by sucking the life forces of various unlucky human land dwellers. Even worse, these horrendous creatures procreate at an incredible rate, laying 3000 eggs per sitting. Eventually, the monsters are neutralized by Modern Science, save for one stray snail that very nearly lunches on a little girl.. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Tim Holt - Lt. Cmdr. John Twillinger
Audrey Dalton - Gail MacKenzie
Hans Conried - Dr. Jess Rogers
Harlan Warde - Lt. Bob Clemens
Casey Adams - Tad Jones

Arnold Laven's The Monster That Challenged the World has proved one of the more durable horror/sci-fi movies in the United Artists catalog -- not that the film is that inventive, but the script is based on a surprisingly sensible idea (inspired by fact) and is intelligent in the way it develops the tension in the story. The casting is ever so slightly offbeat (Hans Conreid plays a straight dramatic role, but some other cast members, most notably Milton Parsons, have some funny scenes), and the monsters are quietly memorable in their low-key, low-tech way. Previously available as part of an MGM/UA laserdisc box, the movie makes its debut on DVD in a beautiful full-screen digital transfer.
The movie looks great -- one brief scene (alas, one of Milton Parsons' scenes as the museum curator) has a minor flaw in the film source -- and the sound is clean as well, though mastered at a fairly low level that will require doubling the volume setting. The chapters are generous as well although, as part of MGM's Midnite Movie series, there is no insert to list them. The menu opens automatically on start-up and is easy to maneuver, not surprising since there aren't any real "extras," just the movie, chapters, and a choice of French and Spanish subtitles. But for a $15 list price it's difficult to complain. The film has been mastered full-screen, ever so slightly compromising the suspense in one chilling suspense sequence, but the 1.33:1 aspect ratio generally works perfectly. ~ Bruce Eder, All Movie Guide