Tuesday, June 26, 2007

New on DVD: Cult Camp Classics

Today sees the release of four unusual boxed sets under the umbrella "Cult Camp Classics."

I couldn't resist bringing home Volume 3, "Terrorized Travelers," from Costco tonight. Hard to pass up four of my all-time favorites, Dana Andrews, Linda Darnell, Charlton Heston, and Jeanne Crain, in films with melodramatic titles like ZERO HOUR!, HOT RODS TO HELL, and SKYJACKED.

I've already watched the trailer for ZERO HOUR! and it looks like a hokey good time. ZERO HOUR!, along with THE HIGH AND THE MIGHTY, was one of the chief inspirations for the airplane disaster spoof AIRPLANE!

The other sets are Sci-Fi Thrillers, Women in Peril, and Historical Epics.

For more on these sets, visit The Shelf.

Digitally Obsessed has thus far reviewed Volume 1 and Volume 2.

More reviews from DVD Savant here, here, and here. The only one he hasn't reviewed yet is the one I bought!

4 Comments:

Blogger J.C. Loophole said...

Glenn does a fantastic job on is reviews. I know he has been doing it forever, but I still don't know how he gets it all done!
I suspect he may not have gotten VOl.3 because WHV has been pushing this series release out the wazoo. It is the equivilant of a DVD summertime blockbuster push. They have blanketed DVD reviewers all over with them. They really expect to do gangbuster business with this one. The interesting thing is that only a few of the titles appeal to me anyway, so thankfully they will be individually released.
Zero Hour is a great film, and what is so funny is that Airplane not only lifted the plot, but lifted lines, wholesale, from the film. Seeing the Doctor on Zero Hour deliver the line about finding someone to fly the plane and then seeing Leslie Nielson do the same makes Airplane even funnier. It also demonstrates the brilliant casting choice of Nielson.
(Look for a review of the recent Lucille Ball set today or tomorrow! I suspect you would enjoy Dubarry Was a Lady, and suspect that you've already seen it.)

6:20 AM  
Blogger Laura said...

I completely agree about Glenn Erickson -- his reviews are detailed and filled with interesting insights. I have become a real fan. Two of my favorite Erickson reviews were for THE NAKED JUNGLE and HELL AND HIGH WATER -- I enjoy his appreciation for the pleasures of somewhat goofy movies. I got THE NAKED JUNGLE on the strength of his review and loved it, and look forward to HELL AND HIGH WATER.

I appreciate the background on Warners' publicity on these sets -- very interesting. I don't believe I've seen any of the movies in these sets -- are there titles you especially recommend checking out?

We picked up AIRPLANE! last Christmas but haven't seen it yet. We will most definitely watch ZERO HOUR! before we watch the spoof. Thanks for the insight!

DUBARRY WAS A LADY is one of a tiny number of MGM musicals I've never seen. (MGM musicals were my first big movie love...) I'll be borrowing my dad's copy soon, I'm sure! (We're each going to buy our own copies of the big MGM set this summer!) Looking forward to your thoughts on it.

Best wishes,
Laura

1:43 PM  
Blogger J.C. Loophole said...

Du Barry was a Lady is a real treat, especially if you remember several things: It was the first MGM musical filmed in Technicolor and the first time that Lucy died her hair flaming red.It was also Zero Mostel's film debut (he is hilarious) and only Gene Kelley's second musical film and first in color.
Several highlights for me: Virginia O'Brien and her song Salome. (She's great in The Big Store also) and Tommy Dorsey's Music. Look for an appearence of The Three Oxford Boys (3 guys/1 with guitar)
BTW- I definitely recommend Land of the Pharaohs and Zero Hour

5:00 PM  
Blogger Laura said...

Thanks for the feedback on both DUBARRY WAS A LADY and the Cult Camp movies. LAND OF THE PHAROAHS sounds like fun --

Laura

7:21 PM  

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