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Dr. Goldfoot and the Bikini Machine [Blu-ray]
(Norman Taurog, 1965)
Review by Gary Tooze
Production: Theatrical: American International Pictures (AIP) Video: Kino Lorber
Disc: Region: 'A' (as verified by the Oppo Blu-ray player) Runtime: 1:28:39.314 Disc Size: 20,210,507,877 bytes Feature Size: 18,907,711,488 bytes Video Bitrate: 24.93 Mbps Chapters: 9 Case: Standard Blu-ray case Release date: November 10th, 2015
Video: Aspect ratio: 2.35:1 Resolution: 1080p / 23.976 fps Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video
Audio: DTS-HD Master Audio English 1668 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1668 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 16-bit) Commentary: Dolby Digital Audio English 256 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 256 kbps
Subtitles: None
Extras:
• Audio Commentary by Film Historian David Del Valle and Filmmaker
David DeCoteau
Bitrate:
Description: Beware! This band of bikini-clad cuties are licensed to kill... with comedy! Featuring screen icon Vincent Price (The Oblong Box) in his most unusual and amusing role of his career and Frankie Avalon (The Million Eyes of Su-Muru), with cameo appearances by Annette Funicello and Harvey Lembeck, this sex-ational spy spoof is thrill-packed fun. Deranged Dr. Goldfoot (Price) has a dream... of taking over the universe! So the mad scientist invents a machine that builds sultry, bikini-clad sex sirens, whom he programs to seduce the world's wealthiest men into signing over their fortunes. But when Secret Agent Craig Gamble (Avalon) learns of Goldfoot's evil plot, he knows he must destroy these gorgeous gold diggers before losing his heart and quite possibly his life to the hottest assassins ever built! Norman Taurog (Blue Hawaii) directs the fun-filled sci-fi comedy co-starring Susan Hart (War-Gods of the Deep), Dwayne Hickman (Cat Ballou) and Fred Clark (Sunset Blvd.).
The Film:
The great Vincent Price obviously had fun with his characterization of Dr. Goldfoot in this campy spy spoof directed by Norman Taurog. With his henchman Igor (Jack Mullaney), the demented doctor builds a machine that mass-produces an army bikini-clad babes. Goldfoot programs his vixens to seduce the wealthiest men alive and convince them to sign their fortunes over to him - thus enabling the fiendish doctor to amass tremendous wealth and take over the world. Frankie Avalon co-stars as Secret Agent Craig Gamble, who sets out to destroy the women and bring Goldfoot's plan to a screeching halt. Annette Funicello and Harvey Lembeck provide cameo appearances. Strictly for fans who loved those 1960s drive-in quickies. Excerpt from MRQE located HERE
Frankie Avalon is Craig Gamble, our hero, a hapless loser employed for some reason by Secret Intelligence Command (“You’re a SIC man!”) who, through a complete accident, meets and is instantly smitten by a brunette with a thick southern accent. Never mind that the first time he meets the charming woman, Diane, she spurts out the milk she drinks, fountain-like, from all over her body. This is love, and even when Diane suddenly adopts a Russian accent and storms out of his bachelor pad, Craig is bound and determined to find her again. Little does he know that Diane is actually an extremely realistic gold-bikini-clad cyborg, only one of the mad Dr. Goldfoot’s veritable army of robot sexpots—sexbots! You see, Dr. Goldfoot has plans for his sexbots; he’s built them to seduce very specific rich and famous husbands-to-be. All the sexbots have to do is show up in gold bikinis, get the stupid rich guys to marry them, and have them sign over their stock options, real estate, power of attorney, et cetera, all of which will make Dr. Goldfoot rich enough to TAKE OVER THE WORLD. That is, unless lovelorn Craig and disheartened newlywed Todd Armstrong can defeat them! Excerpt from NotComing located HERE
Image : NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc. The single-layered Kino Lorber Blu-ray of Dr. Goldfoot and the Bikini Machine looks to be a shade vertically stretched (slimmer faces). It doesn't seem to noticeable in-motion but the screen caps do identify this 'reverse Cinemascope Mumps'. Other than that the transfer is typically adept Kino Lorber - no manipulation, a good source, tight, bright with some depth. This Blu-ray appearance is of a lesser concern than the un-funniness of the film itself, IMO.
CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION
Audio :Kino Lorber use a DTS-HD Master 2.0 channel track at 1668 kbps (16-bit) in the original English language. There are plenty of bouncy effects in the film - but the light tone doesn't export much depth. The score is by AIP go-to guy Les Baxter (X: The Man with the X-Ray Eyes, Panic in the Year Zero, US version of Baron Blood, The Beast Within) and sounds solid if flat and lacking range via the lossless. There are no subtitles offered and my Oppo has identified it as being a region 'A'-locked.
Extras : Kino include an audio commentary by film historian David Del Valle and filmmaker David DeCoteau having some fun with the production details. It's probably the best thing about the entire package - and that includes the film! There is, also, an animated "Bikini Bots" Image Gallery and trailers Dr. Goldfoot and the Bikini Machine, Dr. Goldfoot and the Girl Bombs, and House of the Long Shadows.
BOTTOM LINE: Gary Tooze October 21st, 2015
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About the Reviewer: Hello, fellow Beavers! I have been interested in film since I viewed a Chaplin festival on PBS when I was around 9 years old. I credit DVD with expanding my horizons to fill an almost ravenous desire to seek out new film experiences. I currently own approximately 9500 DVDs and have reviewed over 5000 myself. I appreciate my discussion Listserv for furthering my film education and inspiring me to continue running DVDBeaver. Plus a healthy thanks to those who donate and use our Amazon links.
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