The Colossus of New York

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

Directed by Eugène Lourié
USA 1958

After the accidental death of a brilliant scientist… his lunatic father and brother transplant the dead man’s brain into the body of a giant robot. The operation is successful, but the Colossus Robot mourns for his wife and child and doesn’t want to be the guinea pig in his father’s psychotic project and starts displaying homicidal behaviors. Sci-Fi specialist Eugène Lourié (Gorgo) directs this Frankenstein-flavored feature.

***

To summarize The Colossus (scripted by Thelma Schnee from a story by Willis Goldbeck) may reveal more of its implausibilities than its achievements. Briefly, prodigiously gifted scientist Jeremy Spensser (Ross Martin) is awarded the “International Peace Prize” for his work to end hunger. At the airport upon his return, he attempts to retrieve his son Billy’s (Charles Herbert) toy airplane from a gust of wind, and is hit by a truck and killed. Jeremy’s father, a great brain surgeon (Otto Kruger), orders the body brought to his laboratory; after several hours, he emerges, apparently defeated. Jeremy is buried, and a heated exchange ensues between Dr. Spensser and Jeremy’s friend Dr. Carrington (Robert Hutton). Carrington claims that the mind must be connected to the body via the soul if it is not to become monstrous; Dr. Spensser dismisses him, announcing that in the brain alone is all human greatness. Shortly thereafter, Dr. Spensser reveals to his weaker son Henry (John Baragrey) that he has preserved Jeremy’s brain, and compels Henry’s aid in building a giant robot to house it. Horrified by his new life, “Jeremy” at first demands death, but agrees to live when his father reminds him that his unfinished work can benefit mankind.

~ Erik Ulman at Senses of Cinema located HERE

Poster + Lobbycards

Television Premiere: June 1958

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DVD Review: Olive Films - Region 1 - NTSC

DVD Box Cover		CLICK to order from:
Distribution	Olive Films - Region 1 - NTSC
Runtime	1:10:09
Video	1.78:1 Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 7.1 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate:
Audio	English (Dolby Digital 2.0)
Subtitles	None
Features	Release Information: Studio: Olive Films Aspect Ratio: DVD Aspect Ratio 1.78:1 Original Aspect Ratio 1.85:1 Edition Details: • None DVD Release Date: August 16th, 2011 Keep Case Chapters: 8

Comments:

Now we're talking. Ohh yeah. Olive Films is expanding their DVD production of older Paramount releases. Unlike 'dramas' or 'comedies' like Hurry Sundown, Such Good Friends or Escape From Zahrain to comedies My Favorite Spy , Where Love Has Gone, Knock on Wood, as well as Noirs Appointment With Danger, William Dieterle's Dark City and Rudolph Mate's Union Station - the closest we get to this is the science fiction Crack in the World which is also available in Blu-ray now.

The Colossus of New York is reminiscent of the iconic Donovan's Brain and/or The Brain that Wouldn't Die (dark labs with living brains in jars) but adds the Klaatu-like robot from The Day the Earth Stood Still. It's weaknesses are its charisma. I am right in my element with film of this genre and period.

Like all Olive Film DVDs to date this is dual-layered and progressive. It is anamorphic in the slightly bastardized 1.78:1 ratio aspect ratio. The image quality is par excellent. Detail and contrast are at the impressive end for the medium. There is no damage and the transfer gave me a very consistent and flaw-free presentation. Bravo!

The unremarkable audio is mostly dialogue with a few effects coming mostly in the conclusion aside from our Colossus' booming walk and odd piano score. It's flat but supports The Colossus of New York well enough. There are no subtitles on the region 1 - NTSC DVD.

Personally, I can't get enough of decent 50's science fiction films. I always hold This Island Earth up as the quintessential poster-child for that keen sense of theatrical innocence that invaded by adolescent brain - never fully letting go. Colossus fits the mold with perfect precision - looking and sounding great on DVD - I'm thrilled. Absolutely recommended!