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S E A R C H    D V D B e a v e r

directed by Jack Arnold

USA 1958

 

Monsters on Campus from Eureka's 'Three Monster Tales of Sci-Fi Terror' is compared on Blu-ray HERE

 

In this sci-fi film, a college professor must deal with the cataclysmic consequences that ensue when a transmogrifying dragonfly bites a prehistoric fish from Madagascar. Soon after the bite, the strange fish becomes gigantic and begins passing on its new ability to morph all it comes in contact with back into their primal forms. When it bites a dog, the dog becomes a wolf. When some fish slime ends up in the professor's pipe, the professor put it to his lips, and he turns into a rampaging Neanderthal with a very large stone-axe that he freely wields around the terrified college campus. Bloody mayhem ensues.

Posters

Theatrical Release Date: December 17th, 1958

Reviews                                                                    More Reviews                                                               DVD Reviews

 

Comparison:

Universal - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Screenbound Pictures - Region 0 - PAL vs. Koch - Region 'B' - Blu-ray

 

1) Universal - Region 1 - NTSC LEFT
2) Screenbound Pictures - Region 0 - PAL MIDDLE

3) Koch Media - Region 'B' - Blu-ray RIGHT

 

Box Covers

 

as part of both Universal's The Classic Sci-Fi Ultimate Collection Vol. 1 and The Classic Sci-Fi Ultimate Collection Vol.1 + 2 packages:

         

 

 

 

Also coming to Blu-ray in the US in June 2019:

 

Distribution Universal Collections - Region 1 - NTSC

Screenbound Pictures

Region 0 - PAL

Koch (DE) - Region 'B' - Blu-ray
Time: 1:16:27 1:13:24 (4% PAL Speedup) 1:16:33.589
Video 1.33:1 Original Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: 7.49 mb/s
NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s
1.33:1 Original Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: 6.97 mb/s
PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s

1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc One Size: 49,265,873,388 bytes

Feature: 22,499,632,512 bytes

Video Bitrate:  33.91 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video 1080P

Bitrate:

Universal

Bitrate:

Screenbound Pictures

Bitrate:

Blu-ray

Audio English (original mono)  English 2.0 Dolby

LPCM Audio English 1536 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1536 kbps / 16-bit

DUB: LPCM Audio German 1536 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1536 kbps / 16-bit

Subtitles English, French, None None English, German, None
Features

Release Information:
Studio: Universal

Aspect Ratio:
- 1.33 

Edition Details:  
• Trailer (1:47)


DVD Release Date: May 13th, 2008

Custom case (Classic Sci-fi Ultimate)
Chapters: 12

Release Information:
Studio: Screenbound Pictures

Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1

Edition Details:
• Trailer (1:46)

• Gallery

DVD Release Date:
February 29th, 2016
Amaray

Chapters 10

Release Information:
Studio:
Koch

1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc One Size: 49,265,873,388 bytes

Feature: 22,499,632,512 bytes

Video Bitrate:  33.91 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video 1080P

Edition Details:

• Jack Arnold interviews (15:57 + 14:00)
• German Trailer (1:45)
• English Trailer (1:46)

• Image Gallery

Blu-ray Release Date: January 24th, 2019
Standard
Blu-ray Case
Chapters: 16

 

 

 

Comments:

Monsters on Campus from Eureka's 'Three Monster Tales of Sci-Fi Terror' is compared on Blu-ray HERE

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

ADDITION: (February 2019) Koch - Region 'B' - Blu-ray: This Koch is a good release! It initially offers either the 1.33:1 version or the 1.85:1 widescreen. These are separate transfer on the dual-layered disc and they are technically very similar in that they have the same high bitrate. The image quality looks quite good - no blemishes and nicely layered contrast. Detail significantly rises - especially over the Screenbound DVD. There is depth and overall the Russell Metty shadows and light usage looked very impressive on my system.   

Koch offer both the original English-language track and a German DUB both in 16-bit linear PCM tracks. Effects are not abundant considering the sci-fi nature but the score is often dominant in establishing moods. It in itself is quite aggressive. I couldn't find a credit for the score but it may have been Universal music director Joseph Gershenson who had received executive producer credit on some films of the 1940s, but Monster on the Campus marked the first film for which he received sole credit as producer.  The BD includes optional English or German subtitles and th Blu-ray package is Region 'B'-locked.

Supplements include two Jack Arnold interviews - of about 1/4 hour each where he discusses his career. He seemed quite soft-spoken. There is also a German and English Trailer plus an image gallery.

Monster on the Campus is another of those quintessential 50's creature features. I love them. The Blu-ray is a very pleasant surprise as the image quality is so strong, has the option of widescreen and has decent audio and Arnold interviews. Heck yeah! - I am glad to own this.    

***

ON THE DVDs: Unfortunately, the Screenbound Entertainment source is inferior. It's single-layered, as is the Universal, but looks quite soft beside the US edition (as found on both Classic Sci-Fi Ultimate Collections.) Not much more to add. It has PAL speedup and looks less-sharp beside the US transfer. On the positive it is consistent in-motion but may be marginally boosted. I always wondered if this was widescreen theatrically...

Audio is consistent without major flaws. There are only optional subtitles on the Universal. Extras consistent of a trailer (both) but the UK includes a superfluous gallery.

So it's drawbacks against the Universal are the PAL speedup, no subtitles and the, essential in my mind, US set offers so much value. Those less concerned about image quality, subtitle requirements or the 4% PAL speedup, and who may not already own the Classic Sci-Fi Ultimate Collections (or find it too pricey) have an option in the new Screenbound release.

Gary W. Tooze


Universal DVD Menus


 

Koch Media - Region 'B' - Blu-ray

 


CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION

 

Subtitle Samples

 

1) Universal - Region 1 - NTSC TOP
2) Koch Media (1.33:1) - Region 'B' - Blu-ray MIDDLE

3) Koch Media (1.85:1) - Region 'B' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 

1) Universal - Region 1 - NTSC TOP

2) Screenbound Pictures - Region 0 - PAL SECOND
3) Koch Media (1.33:1) - Region 'B' - Blu-ray THIRD

4) Koch Media (1.85:1) - Region 'B' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 

1) Universal - Region 1 - NTSC TOP

2) Screenbound Pictures - Region 0 - PAL SECOND
3) Koch Media (1.33:1) - Region 'B' - Blu-ray THIRD

4) Koch Media (1.85:1) - Region 'B' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 

1) Universal - Region 1 - NTSC TOP

2) Screenbound Pictures - Region 0 - PAL SECOND
3) Koch Media (1.33:1) - Region 'B' - Blu-ray THIRD

4) Koch Media (1.85:1) - Region 'B' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 

1) Universal - Region 1 - NTSC TOP

2) Screenbound Pictures - Region 0 - PAL SECOND
3) Koch Media (1.33:1) - Region 'B' - Blu-ray THIRD

4) Koch Media (1.85:1) - Region 'B' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 

1) Universal - Region 1 - NTSC TOP

2) Screenbound Pictures - Region 0 - PAL SECOND
3) Koch Media (1.85:1) - Region 'B' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 

1) Universal - Region 1 - NTSC TOP

2) Screenbound Pictures - Region 0 - PAL SECOND
3) Koch Media (1.85:1) - Region 'B' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 

1) Universal - Region 1 - NTSC TOP

2) Screenbound Pictures - Region 0 - PAL SECOND
3) Koch Media (1.85:1) - Region 'B' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 

1) Universal - Region 1 - NTSC TOP

2) Screenbound Pictures - Region 0 - PAL SECOND
3) Koch Media (1.85:1) - Region 'B' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 

1) Universal - Region 1 - NTSC TOP

2) Screenbound Pictures - Region 0 - PAL SECOND
3) Koch Media (1.85:1) - Region 'B' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

Box Covers

 

as part of both Universal's The Classic Sci-Fi Ultimate Collection Vol. 1 and The Classic Sci-Fi Ultimate Collection Vol.1 + 2 packages:

         

 

 

 

Distribution Universal Collections - Region 1 - NTSC

Screenbound Pictures

Region 0 - PAL

Koch (DE) - Region 'B' - Blu-ray




 

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