IT! the Terror From Beyond Space (1958)
Blu-Ray Company: Olive Films
Starring: Marshall Thompson, Shirley Patterson, Kim
Spalding, Ray Corrigan
Plot: Product Description: Following a rescue mission to
Mars, the survivor of a space expedition claims that his crew was hunted down
and killed by an alien creature. Skeptical and believing that the survivor may
have killed the crew in order to survive the rescue Captain misses the
explanation. But soon the real truth and terror begins.
My Review and Thoughts:
Classic old-school black and white Sci-fi. This is what it's
all about. A perfect, and I mean perfect, Blu-Ray for this vintage Drive-in,
terror. This is one of the greatest B-grade, 50's sci-fi, and now it's got
perfection, in an outlet that it deserves. Olive Films did a beautiful crystal
clear job, stunning in its black and white form. Equally stunning in the sound.
This is a must own for fans of old B-grade, Drive-in sci-fi.
I think one of the greatest realities to this this film is
who is starring in it as the creature. The alien is played, by the one of a
kind, and extraordinary, Ray "Crash" Corrigan. He was a perfect
example of creating a creature, with his massive size, and height. He fit the
creature in every way. He caused old school frights, and is truly a legendary
creature in this space horror.
All the hair raising mayhem. Spine tingling horror. A
creature from the dark recesses of space. Olive Films, gives home to the classic
sci-fi terror. Equal parts Drive-in flare, and equal parts midnight B-Grade
horror. Simply put, a perfect example of retro-sci-fi.
What can stop this unfathomable beast? Explosions, gas,
electrocution, bullets. Humans must strive to destroy the monster that wants to
crush them.
Lovely transfer. Beautiful in its clarity. This is
everything an old black and white should be honored, and graced with, an
excellent product.
Now it has to be mentioned, that this film was the
inspiration and landmark to the idea of the 1979 Sci-fi classic, and in my
viewpoint point, Sci-fi masterpiece, Alien. Dan O’Bannon who wrote the screenplay
for Ridley Scott’s Alien, took the inspiration of, IT Terror from Beyond Space, and molded it into his story of an alien hunting the crew on a spaceship. So
sci-fi and film lovers must respect, and pay homage to this old-school black and
white sci-fi.
A wonderful all-star cast. The one and only Marshall
Thompson as Col. Edward Carruthers. Thompson had starred in one of my favorite
sci-fi films in movie history, the same year, IT came out. He played the part of
Major Cummings in the 1958 Sci-fi Drive-in Masterpiece Fiend without a Face. If
you have not seen that movie, do so, it’s a must see. In IT he graces the
cinema world as he always did, stardom and mastery. Started acting in 1944 and
went on to act all the way up until his death in 1992. He was the golden ticket
of acting perfection, old-school style, and B-grade perfection.
Who can forget
the beautiful stunning Shirley Jackson, as the character Ann Anderson? Shirley
was in many films before IT, gracing cinema with her beauty and wonder of
performing. Sadly after 1959, she no longer acted, but thankfully we have films
such as IT to remember her beauty. Also starring the utterly amazing Ann
Doran. She was a goddess of cinema. Her skill was perfection. In IT she plays
the character of Mary Royce. She acted in a huge amount of cinema both small
and great. A total of over 360 performances in her vast career. Starting in
1922, and worked all the way until 1988. A career that is unbelievable and
utterly amazing in all its glory. She was in one of my Top 10 films of all
time, Frank Capra’s 1938 Masterpiece of cinema, You Can’t Take it With You. She
acted in many films in uncredited roles, and many short films, and television
roles. No matter how small the part was, she gave the part what it needed. She
worked alongside some of the legends of Hollywood, such as Boris Karloff, Cary
Grant, Rosalind Russell, Gary Cooper, and James Dean. She never really got the
stardom she deserved, but as long as there are films like IT to look back on,
one can see the wonderment in her performances.
Now I have mentioned this stars the wonderful Ray Corrigan
as the creature. A true star if there ever was one. A pioneer in stunt man and
creature acting. Often cast as a bad guy or creature in a suit. His size, and bulk, and
ability to entertain through action, and frights is truly what the old and
golden era of Drive-in cinema was all about. From B-grade westerns, to hokey
late night sci-fi, and horror. He was the pivotal performer in so many greats.
Started his career in 1932’s Tarzan the Ape Man as an ape, and worked to his last
film, this one, I am reviewing, IT Terror from beyond Space. Starring in one of
the great classic B-grade Serials of all time, 1936’s Undersea Kingdom as the
main star of the film, simply know as Crash Corrigan. Constant stunt performer
and actor in many upon many, westerns of the 30’s and 40’s. He was the B-movie
star of so many pieces of cinema. Working his craft in many Ape suits, and
alongside so many greats, such as Bela Lugosi. From 1932 to 1958 he graced the
cinema world with action, adventure and terror. IT was his last film, and it
was a perfect send off. He created the creature in all its late night Drive-in
glory.
Audio/Video:
Aspect Ratio: 1.37:1
Audio: Mono
Overall:
Olive Films did a fantastic job in bringing this B-grade
Sci-fi perfection to Blu-ray. This Blu-ray is perfection in both audio and
video. It's never looked any better. Olive Films has paid respect to this old
sci-fi gem. This is a must own, and must watch, Drive-in, Late Night perfection at
its best. The wrap around art work for the Blu-ray case is amazing. Vibrant in
color, the picture I have posted, does not do the art justice, the audio and video is crisp
and clear, and looks like a modern film with its crystal clear clarity. I love
this blu-ray, and highly recommended it.
INFO:
It will be released on May 19th 2015.
Visit Olive Films at www.olivefilms.com
A place to buy extraordinary cinema.
Link for IT on Blu-ray: To Buy from Olive Films
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