NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

Shout! Factory Blu-ray offers both the 2.0 Superscope ratio and a 1.85:1 aspect ratio. It seems pretty silly as there is little difference but there is the option (we've compared a few captures below). Both transfers are the same technical robustness. It's on a dual-layered Blu-ray in 1080P with a high bitrate. It looks pretty similar to the Anolis out of Germany with maybe a shade more grain. There are still light surface scratches and a very few speckles - and they seem to match the Anolis - so, we will assume it is the same Universal source material.  

The audio transfer is in a DTS-HD Master track (24-bit) - richer and deeper than the 16-bit Anolis. Audio effects are strangely limited but there is a score - by uncredited combination of Heinz Roemheld (The Invisible Man), Herman Stein (This Island Earth) and Hans J. Salter (The Wolfman). Unfortunately, it is fairly generic but adds some flavor to the adventure aspects of The Mole People. There are optional English (SDH) subtitles on this Region 'A' Blu-ray.

Shout! Factory add quite a bit with a new audio commentary from Film Historians Tom Weaver And David Schecter - there is some value here as well as fun - and a new 20-minute piece entitled Of Mushrooms and Madmen - The Making of Mole People with enthusiastic C. Courtney Joyner. Some may enjoy the feature-length Mystery Science Theatre 3000 satiric look at "The Mole People" from 2007 - it is in SD. There are extensive posters, photo and lobby still galleries as well as a theatrical trailer.

While I don't rate the dual-ratio option, I am appreciative of the commentary and C. Courtney Joyner piece. Yes, The Mole People is often weak and cheesy - but it is those reasons that many love it! It hold a ton of nostalgia and remains a delightful revisit for fans. I was very pleased to see it again with the new supplements. Recommended!

***

ON THE ANOLIS GERMAN Blu-ray: Like The Monolith Monsters this is another Blu-ray from Anolis out of Germany. I'll be duplicating some of the comments from there. Duplicating that release this Blu-ray of The Mole People has the aspect ratio alteration from the 1.33:1 transfer in the The 6-disc Classic Sci-Fi Ultimate Collection to SuperScope 2.0:1 widescreen (as was 1956's Invasion of the Body Snatchers Blu-ray). We've added a couple of capture comparisons below. You can see you are losing and gaining information (mostly losing top and bottom). This was the time of the ambiguous ratios - some theatres equipped for widescreen - others not. The 2.0:1 was considered an 'in-house' ratio used by Universal and although filmed 'full' was matted depending on each individual theater's projectionist. The 2.0:1 looks okay - well, I'm not going to quibble about composition in this film. The image quality shows a thick layer of textured grain and looks pretty good aside from some damage) scratches and occasional speckles) that are mostly frame-specific. This is single-layered but has a very high bitrate for the 1 1/4 hour film. Contrast is solid and I see no digital noise. The film's effects are pretty weak and they can look even more transparent in the higher resolution. I was appreciative of both the widescreen and the grain textures.

Audio is transferred via a DTS-HD Master 2.0 channel at 1564 kbps in original English and a similarly robust German DUB.  There are fully optional German subtitles and my Oppo has identified it as being a region 'B'-locked.

Not much - a slideshow gallery and two trailers (German and English). I'm sure there is something to be said about the heavy 'camp' quality of the film - but there is no discussion.

Yes, I'm a huge fan of the 50's science-fiction films - notably the Universal International Pictures efforts. This is one of the weaker ones - and I think it has more to do with pace. A lot happens on the film but it still seems to drag. But I accept the limited effects budget. I enjoyed the widescreen ratio on the Blu-ray, and I got a kick out of seeing the film again. And I like Hugh Beaumont! It remains part of one of my favorite genre-periods and I will, undoubtedly, revisit it in this higher resolution.

Gary Tooze