Search - Mad Monster Party on DVD

MPAA Rating: NR Content Advisory: Excellent For Children Movie Release: 1968 DVD Release: 08/19/2003 Format: DVD - Closed Captioned Audio Tracks: English SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 35 mins Studio: Anchor Bay Members Wishing: 1 Genres: Horror, Children's/Family, Parody/Spoof, Satire, Creature Film See Also: Mad Monster Party, Mad Monster Party [Special Edition], Mad Monster Party [Special Edition]

The only theatrical feature from Rankin/Bass -- the outfit behind countless animated holiday TV specials including Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and Frosty the Snowman -- this quaint and colorful production pays amusing homage to nearly every movie monster in Universal's catalog, even to the extent of recruiting Boris Karloff to supply the voice of Baron Von Frankenstein. The story begins as the aged Baron invites all members of the Worldwide Organization of Monsters to attend the unveiling of his ultimate creation, a potion capable of destroying all matter. Before the assembled guests -- including Count Dracula, The Wolf Man, The Mummy, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, The Invisible Man, and The Creature from the Black Lagoon -- Frankenstein announces his retirement as the group's leader and the selection of his successor: his bookish, allergy-ridden nephew Felix. Chaos ensues, as nearly every creep and creature on the list begins conspiring against each other in a bid for the coveted office, including the Baron's outrageously voluptuous assistant Francesca (whose very presence stretches the film's "G" rating). The "Animagic" technique of stop-motion puppets is a refreshing medium for the larger-than-life monsters, and the parade of horror movie put-ons should delight viewers of all ages. Though the original negative was believed lost to neglect after the film's poor box-office performance, a pristine print has resurfaced, much to the delight of devoted fans who first discovered this gem via Halloween TV airings. ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide

A cult classic if there ever was one is Rankin and Bass' animated Halloween hit Mad Monster Party. Anchor Bay's work on this 1.33:1 full frame transfer is very nice. Making sure that the colors appear bold and the black levels solid, the studio has put forth much effort into producing the best-looking transfer available of Mad Monster Party. The soundtrack is presented in Dolby Digital 1.0 Mono and is not nearly has exciting as the video portions of this disc. While the audio is generally free of any defects or imperfections, overall the mix is confined only the front center speaker and nowhere else. No alternate subtitles are available on this disc. The extra features are thin enough to wake the dead; the only supplements to peruse though are two still galleries (one for production art and another for posters and stills) and a theatrical trailer for the film. ~ Patrick Naugle, All Movie Guide