Queen of the Universe Blu-ray

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S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r

(aka "Queen of the Universe")

Directed by Edward Bernds
USA 1958

Breaking news from space! The bad: An intrepid captain and his men have landed on a planet where males are outlawed. The good: Some women there are eager to break the law! Queen of Outer Space is a milestone of movie camp. Eric Fleming plays the granite-jawed leader who shares with his crew the crime of maleness. That's just the start of their troubles. The man-hating Venusian Queen (Laurie Mitchell) aims to destroy Earth once a Beta Disintegrator is operational. But a gossamer-gowned scientist (Zsa Zsa Gabor) and her curvy cohorts eye the men, and they like what they see.

***

This legendarily campy sci-fi epic (shot in color and CinemaScope, and rather lavish for a sci-fi film of this period) concerns a team of astronauts (all men -- this was 1958, you know) who are drawn off course and land on the planet Venus, only to discover it's populated entirely by beautiful women! The space travelers spend a lot of time drooling over their new hosts, dressed in highly practical mini-skirts, but the Venusian queen (Laurie Mitchell) does not much care for her visitors and wants to see them executed. However, not everyone on the planet takes such a hard line against the male gender. One of the Venusians is played by Zsa Zsa Gabor in what is probably the highlight of her film career; the original story was written by Ben Hecht. The producers helped stretch their budget by borrowing costumes and props from a number of other films, including spacesuits from Forbidden Planet, a spaceship from Flight To Mars and sets from World Without End (which was set on Mars, not Venus, though the differences must have escaped the film's scientific advisors).

Excerpt from B+N located HERE

Posters, Comic Book, Lobby Cards etc.

Theatrical Release: September 8th, 1958

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Comparison:

Warner Home Video (3-disc) - Region 1,2,3,4 - NTSC vs. Warner Archive - Region FREE - Blu-ray

1) Warner - Region 1,2,3,4 - NTSC - LEFT

2) Warner Archive - Region FREE - Blu-ray - RIGHT

Box Covers
	Also available individually here:
Distribution	Warner - Region 1,2,3,4 - NTSC	Warner Archive - Region FREE - Blu-ray
Runtime	1:19:54	1:19:45.947
Video	1.33:1 Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 4.85 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s	2.35:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 26,925,326,045 bytes Feature: 24,729,311,232 bytes Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video Total Video Bitrate: 34.98 Mbps
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate:
Bitrate: Blu-ray
Audio	English (2.0)	DTS-HD Master Audio English 1984 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1984 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit) Commentary: DTS-HD Master Audio English 2015 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 2015 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)
Subtitles	English, English (HOH), French and none	English, None
Features	Release Information: Studio: Warner Home Video Aspect Ratio: All Original Aspect Ratios - 1.85:1 for Attack and Behemoth - 2.35:1 for Queen Edition Details: • Commentary track on by Yvette Vickers and Tom Weaver on Attack • Commentary track on by Dennis Muren and Phil Tippett on Behemoth • Commentary track on by Laurie Mitchell and Tom Weaver on Queen DVD Release Date: June 26th, 2007 3 Standard Keep Cases in cardboard box Chapters: various	Release Information: Studio: Warner Archive 2.35:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 33,473,550,435 bytes Feature: 25,330,231,296 bytes Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video Total Video Bitrate: 30.99 Mbps Edition Details: • Audio commentary with Laurie Mitchell and Tom Weaver • Trailer (2:16) Blu-ray Release Date: September 25th, 2018 Standard Blu-ray Case Chapters 16

Comments:

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

ADDITION: Warner Archive - Region FREE - Blu-ray - September 2018': The new Warner Archive release of one of the schlock sci-fi icons of the 50's, Queen of Outer Space, looks a shade thick with very bright colors and a tinge of teal in the 1080P transfer that sports a high bitrate. It is in the 2.35:1 aspect ratio and shows some minor Cinemascope mumps. Everything seems to tighten in the higher resolution. The colors - as in the gals costumes etc - seems to be the most notable attribute of the Blu-ray. The effects remain transparent and still hold their kitsch value. It looks very stable in-motion.

Warner Archive use a DTS-HD Master 2.0 channel mono (24-bit) track in the original English language. There are a few audio effects with explosions, rockets etc. but enjoyable to the film experience is the score by composer Marlin Skiles (Flat Top, The Maze, My Gun is Quick, Dead Reckoning) that keeps a subtle, but futuristic sci-fi mood. There are optional English subtitles on the Region FREE Blu-ray.

There is an interesting audio commentary - repeated from the 2007 DVD package - with Laurie Mitchell (Queen Yllana) and Tom Weaver (who also did 50 ft Woman commentary) - he keeps things interesting with an occasional question or information on people involved in the production - like writer Ben Hecht. It's decent with some value and there is also a trailer.

Well, you can certainly say that they don't make them like this anymore. It's baaaadd but in an entertaining way - a pretty good B-effort to start a Friday night 50's film-fest in your home theatre - perhaps followed by This Island Earth? This Warner Archive Blu-ray has its loyal audience and I am pleased to be one of them. Recommended!

***

On The Cult Camp Classic DVD set: The big drawing card of this this boxset is Attack of the 50 Ft. Woman . Fans of the eclectic have anticipated its DVD release for years. Although it may be remembered (in adolescence) as being as inventive as The Incredible Shrinking Man - it is really a cheesy cousin not unlike The Amazing Colossal Man. Still its ridiculousness is part of its bizarre charm. Good news is that The Giant Behemoth is a decent entry into the genre - quite pleasing in fact and it gives superior value to the set although Queen of Outer Space certainly detracts from it.

This Warner boxset features 3 single-layered DVDs containing Attack of the 50 Ft Woman (1958) and The Giant Behemoth (1959) both in anamorphic 1.85 widescreen and Queen of Outer Space (1958) in an anamorphic 2.35:1 ratio. All three are progressive and have optional English (HOH and without) or French subtitles. They are coded for regions 1 thru 4 in the NTSC standard. All three have optional commentaries.

Attack of the 50 Ft Woman looks quite acceptable - clean and generally decent contrast. It is a notch above standard for sure but the film itself is more of amusing than serious. I've admitted numerous times how I love 50's sci-fi trash and this would seem to fit the category to a 'T'. The DVD offers an optional, kind of fittingly hokey, commentary, by Yvette Vickers and Tom Weaver. Kind of cute and all but it could stand to be given miss. Generally speaking the disc is no more or less than what you may expect.

The Giant Behemoth looks the best of the three in Camp #1. Shots (aside from the monster ones) are very detailed and it has super contrast. It deserved a standalone release with its supplements that include a humorously serious commentary with Dennis Muren and Phil Tippett. I liked this film - it is the best of the three and if you were considering only to buy individually - this would be my vote.

Queen of Outer Space - Wow - this is one bad film. I usually find something to enjoy about this type of kitsch but this really put me to the test. The transfer is not too bad though - decent colors (a bit dull) and fairly sharp. I was so not into this one I only got through the beginning of the commentary with Laurie Mitchell and Tom Weaver. It seemed okay but I just wasn't in the mood. It's a shame that Warner couldn't have chosen something superior for the boxset, but anyway it is a prime example of what this genre was about - cheap productions with limited performances and no real script.

Nice of Warner to include the commentaries although they are not at Criterion levels. My opinion was that 50 Ft. Woman was a let down after such high expectations (and original memories) - Behemoth is quite worth it and Queen is junk. Buy the Boxset at your peril - but really the value offered is exceptionally good. I'm glad its in my library for raining days or late Friday nights with a large scotch.