ADDITION: Shout! Factory (Roger Corman's Cult Classics Triple Feature) - Region 0 - NTSC - Well, that didn't take too long (a little over than 6 months!) - we now have the Corman-a-holics at Shout! Factory to thank for this Roger Corman's Cult Classics Triple Feature which includes Attack of the Crab Monsters, War of the Satellites and Not of This Earth. For the latter film, it is a dramatic improvement - it is widescreen, anamorphic but, shamefully, interlaced (see sample at bottom) and shows a few damaged frames. This is a 2-disc set with Not of This Earth sharing the first DVD with Attack of the Crab Monsters. The second disc has War of the Satellites and a 25-minute tribute to Corman with Peter Fonda, Peter Bogdanovich, Joe Dante and others giving input. Unfortunately all three features are interlaced transfers.

Even with its flaws the NTSC transfer is vastly superior - most notable in detail and contrast. Audio seems cleaner as well and there is no PAL speedup. No subtitles are offered on the region free disc(s).

Both Not of This Earth and Attack of the Crab Monsters have commentaries by the triptich of Tom Weaver and John + Mike Brunas (authors of Universal Horrors) plus a 12-minute interview with Roger Corman and the 'TV Syndication Prologues' for both films. On the second disc you get War of the Satellites and the aforementioned Salute to Roger Corman piece on another dual-layered disc.

I don't think there is much that would dissuade Corman fans to avoid this Triple Feature. It's great fun despite the imperfections. Those keen on these sci-fi vintage popcorn entries should nab this package. Great for insomniacs!

***

ON THE UK DVD: I recently reviewed the 1988 version of Not of This Earth HERE and I am definitely not as big a fan of that remake - which, by the way, doesn't deviate much at all from the original script - just interspersed with Traci Lords T + A. But this 1957 film is more to my tastes. I'd have to say Beverly Garland's sexuality is far more erotic...and her acting a healthy notch higher too.

The stingy In2Film DVD from the UK exports a weak single-layered, progressive, transfer. It takes up about 4 Gig on the disc and has a few light speckles and marks but pleasantly grainy and gritty. While definitely hazy, and probably minor-ly contrast boosted, we are hoping a superior NTSC edition will surface soon. This should probably be widescreen and we can occasionally see a rounded corner. Audio is unremarkable and a bit scattered but I doubt it was very dynamic originally. There are no menus and no subtitles.

There are no extras at all but it has some attributes even beyond the innocence of the film - for example the price! This is currently less than $6.50 USD. This 50's sci-fi gem has nostalgic innocence and endlessly enjoyable charm. For those keen this is an easy recommendation. I see this was released right before Valentine's Day and I wonder how many sweethearts had a date at the theater to see 'Not of This Earth'! 

Gary W. Tooze