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

NOTE: Shout! Factory statement: "Some of you helpfully pointed out that there were frames missing from our Lost Continent disc. We have fixed the problem and are offering replacement discs. Please email info@shoutfactory.com with any questions regarding Lost Continent."

ADDITION: Shout! Factory Blu-ray (May 2020): Shout! Factory have transferred the 'Theatrical Cut' (same as the Studio Canal DVD) and the 10-minute longer 'Extended' cut of The Lost Continent to Blu-ray. Both are from a 2K Scan of the original film elements via the 20th Century-Fox Vault - but the extended cut has the extra 10-minutes as 'Standard Definition Inserts'. Firstly Shout! Factory don't utilize seamless-branching and the theatrical and extended cuts are in separate 1080P transfers - but they look almost identical.  Compared to the Studio Canal (was originally released under the 'Optimum' label) DVD the US HD transfer is darker with warmer skin tones. There is pleasing detail in the many close-ups but the disparity of the clumsy SD inserts (see six samples below) is obvious with Chroma showing at times. This is where missing frames may be evident as well as a gruesome blood shot. Not that you need a lot to knock you out of his uneven film experience anyway. Again, I would prefer that Shout! Factory either adopt seamless-branching or choose just one version (this includes their wishy-washy multiple ratio Blu-ray releases) as opposed to diluting their transfer size resulting in limitations in the overall bitrate. 

NOTE: We have added 59 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Shout! Factory use a DTS-HD Master 2.0 channel track (24-bit) in the original English language. It is another advancement in the film's effects  from strange monster noises to unusual ritualistic behaviors b y the Sargasso tribe. The score is by Gerard Schurmann (Konga, The Camp on Blood Island, Dr. Syn: The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh) and Carlo Martelli (Do You Know This Voice, The Curse of the Mummy's Tomb, Dr. Syn, Alias the Scarecrow) sounding reasonably deep at times. Shout! Factory offer optional English subtitles on their Region 'A' Blu-ray.

The Shout! Factory Blu-ray have stacked this package even beyond the inclusion of the two versions. On the 'Extended version' is an audio commentary by Richard Klemensen (author of the Little Shoppe of Horrors magazines including Hammer's Karstein Trilogy issue). He mentions some clips used from One Million Years B.C., Dennis Wheatley's novel "Unchartered Seas" - not-coincidently being read onscreen by Nigel Stock (playing Dr. Webster) -, director Michael Carreras, the budget and much more. He really knows his stuff and is a pleasure to hear him rhyme off details at a rapid pace. Shout! include a 22-minute video piece entitled The Men Who Made Hammer: Michael Carreras focusing on the directors contributions to the studio (Maniac, Passport to China, The Curse of the Mummy's Tomb). I always enjoy Kim Newman and his own unique brand of appreciation - here we get over 20-minutes of him called "Uncharted Seas: Kim Newman on The Lost Continent" where he discusses Dennis Wheatley's genre of novels and much more. We get a 17-minute conversation with Dana Gillespie, voluminously breasted Sarah from The Lost Continent and hear a bit about her career. There are also shorter interviews with actor Norman Eshley, Special Effects artist John Richardson and music arranger Howard Blake. There is another episode of World of Hammer Episode focusing on "Lands Before Time" for 25-minutes, a theatrical trailer and three TV Spots. 

We get one of the goofiest Hammer adventures with surreal plastic monsters coming from all angles, screaming Brit honey Suzanna Leigh (goddaughter of actress Vivien Leigh) battling living seaweed (think Day of the Triffids), a pair of oversized Hammer boobs, giant prehistoric crab + octopi, a lost race of Spanish conquistadors while stranded in the Sargasso Sea. So let me ask you; What's not to love?

Shout's Blu-ray authoring choices leave much to be desired, but the film is such a wild disconnected hoot that it's hard to say no. The commentary and supplements add enough significant value to indulge. Have a ball on a rainy Sunday afternoon!

Gary Tooze

Optimum's bare bones, single-layered DVD looks remarkably good utilizing a source from Studio Canal. It's exceptionally clean with strong detail and good colors. The bitrate is high. Audio is likewise consistent but there are no subtitles and only a trailer as an extra.

Sure, it's not Harryhausen but it retains that Hammer charm and is a gripping juvenile adventure. I, admit, to having some fun with The Lost Continent - far more than I anticipated. This is a solid rainy Sunday afternoon gem.