INVASION U.S.A. and the Propaganda Machine

INVASION U.S.A. and ROCKET ATTACK U.S.A. (Blu-ray)

1952-1960 / 136 min (2 movies)

Film Masters

Available at www.MovieZyng.com

Review by Mr. Paws😼

With this release, Film Masters unearths a big batch of Cold War propaganda with two silly slabs of budget-conscious buffoonery and some great bonus material for historical context. The overall quality of both films is kinda chuckleworthy, but considering today’s polarizing political climate, the blatant nationalism on display doesn’t feel quite as archaic as it should.

Of the two, 1952’s Invasion USA features better performances and production values. Still, it’s mostly a paranoid patchwork of stock footage and isolated scenes of its main characters’ reactions to a full scale attack by an unnamed communist enemy (though obviously the Soviet Union). America is getting her ass handed to her for most of the running time, at least until a final scene reveals the entire film to be a cautionary (and heavy-handed) call to action. But despite the dumb denouement, it’s still better than Chuck Norris’ braindead debacle with the same title and premise.

"We're here to stop you from decorating any more rooms."

Invasion USA is a Palme d’or contender compared to 1960’s Rocket Attack USA, depicting an American spy’s attempt to thwart Russia’s plans to nuke New York City. Hampered by shoddy production design, amateur-night performances and muddy camerawork, this is an interminable endurance test that feels much longer than its hour-long running time. On the plus side, the movie is made more watchable with the Mystery Science Theater 3000 episode included as a bonus feature. It ain’t Joel and the robots at their best, but it sure beats enduring the film without them.

Speaking of which…as with many Film Masters Blu-ray releases, the additional supplemental material might be the real treasure here. Not only do they provide historical context, they are generally more interesting than the movies themselves. Jf nothing else, this two-disc set serves up a look back at an era of American propaganda that, if we’re lucky, will remain history.

EXTRA KIBBLES

FEATURETTES - Better Dead Than Red: Hollywood vs. Communism in the 1950s looks back at how the “Red Scare” affected people in the movie business; A Matter of Minutes: Remembering Gerald Mohr is an interview his the actor’s son.

AND A VOICE SHALL BE HEARD - A short film that was shown with Invasion USA.

8 ATOMIC ERA PROPAGANDA SHORTS - Spread out over both discs, these are fascinating.

MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER 3000 EPISODE - Rocket Attack USA and the short, The Phantom Creeps.

AUDIO COMMENTARY - Invasion USA, by Jason A. Ney; Rocket Attack USA, by C. Cortney Joyner and Mark Jordan Legan.

SUPPLEMENTAL BOOKLET - Features a couple of essays by Don Stradley and Toby Roan.

TRAILERS

STILL GALLERY

GRAND PRIX: The Next Best Thing To Being There

GRAND PRIX (Blu-ray)

1966 / 176 min

From Warner Bros

Available at www.MovieZyng.com

Review by Mr. Paws😺

Of all the classic films I truly wish I could experience in a theater, 1966’s Grand Prix ranks very high on the list. It’s not a masterpiece or a personal favorite, and with the exception of a specific faction of fans, maybe even calling it a classic is a stretch.

But from a purely cinematic standpoint, seeing it on the big screen would be a blast. More specifically, seeing it in 65mm Cinerama on a curved screen, the way audiences enjoyed it nearly 60 years ago. Fat chance of that today. 

Grand Prix is an epic melodrama about the lives and loves of four Formula 1 drivers during a single season, but these days, almost no ongoing discussion or appreciation of the film involves the actual plot. What makes the film memorable are the racing sequences, which thankfully, comprise about a third of its three hour running time. That's why it continues to be held in very high regard by motorporn enthusiasts.

Director John Frankenheimer has made better movies, especially during the ‘60s, but as far as technical achievements go, Grand Prix is his magnum opus. Not only are the groundbreaking racing sequences brilliantly shot & edited to create an immersive experience, they really haven’t been topped since (though 1971’s Le Mans came close). And don’t you dare counter with Days of Thunder.

Hopelessly lost.

Not only that, these sequences are authentic. Over the years, countless motorsports authorities - from drivers to historians - have concurred that Grand Prix’s racing scenes are among the most accurate and realistic ever created. Some of those same experts attest to this in the disc’s bonus features…all of which are about the movie’s action or Formula 1 history itself. Nobody interviewed - not even co-stars James Garner and Eva Marie Saint - discusses the fluff in between.

Well, maybe fluff is too strong a word. I guess those subplots are necessary for us to invest in these characters (however slightly). And admittedly, it’s pretty fun seeing Garner play a guy who isn’t particularly likable. The soapier aspects (such as Saint & Yves Montand’s romantic affair) are sometimes an endurance test, but our patience is more than rewarded when the drama takes a backseat to the driving.

But alas, I’ll probably never get to experience Grand Prix they way God intended. The next best thing is this Blu-ray, which features a nice digital transfer, with better overall video quality and sound (DTS-HD Master Audio) than the original DVD. The aforementioned bonus features are also very interesting, though none were created specifically for this particular release. Since the movie is unlikely to ever be a Fathom event or show up at your local revival house, this’ll have to do. 

This is a re-issue of a Blu-ray first released in 2011.

EXTRA KIBBLES

FEATURETTES - Pushing the Limit: The Making of Grand Prix; Flat Out: Formula 1 in the Sixties; The Style and Sound of Speed; Brands Hatch: Behind the Checkered Flag; Grand Prix: Challenge of the Champions. 

TRAILER

EXPERIMENT IN TERROR: Ross the Boss

EXPERIMENT IN TERROR (Blu-ray)

1962 / 123 min

Sony

Available at www.MovieZyng.com

Review by Mr. Paws😺

Blake Edwards’ legacy has him largely associated with comedies, probably for good reason since some of them rank among his best. But he directed plenty of films in other genres to varying degrees of success. One of them was 1962’s Experiment in Terror, a nifty piece of neo-noir starring Glenn Ford and Lee Remick.

Remick plays Kelly Sherwood, a bank teller who’s threatened at home with an ultimatum by a shadowy figure: Steal $100,000 from the bank where she works. If Kelly fails, refuses or calls the police, not only will he kill her, but kid sister Toby (a very young Stephanie Powers). Still, she does manage to alert FBI agent John Ripley (Glenn Ford), who immediately puts both sisters under constant surveillance while trying to ID and locate the man before Kelly’s forced to commit the robbery.

The suspect turns out to be a man named Garland “Red” Lynch, who has not-only committed previous robberies in the same manner, he’s a dangerous, sadistic killer who also appears to be sort of a pedophile. For me, the big surprise of the film is that Red is played by none other than Ross Martin. I’m used to seeing him in such lighter TV fare as The Wild, Wild West and The Twilight Zone. But not only is Martin wonderfully disturbing as Red, he manages to steal the film from his bigger co-stars (and was nominated for a Golden Globe).

Waiting for the next available agent.

Elsewhere, Ford is his reliable solid self, giving his no-nonsense character quiet intensity. I’ll be upfront and confess I’ve never been a huge fan of Remick, and here, she’s required to do little outside of her wheelhouse, which is to look terrified. It doesn’t help that her character isn’t particularly interesting to begin with. But hey, somebody has to be put in peril…otherwise we wouldn’t get the tension filled climax set at a crowded ballpark.

Experiment in Terror is a little overlong, and I can’t help but feel that a director who specializes in crime thrillers could have tidied up the story to a brisk 90 minutes. Still, the film is stylishly directed by Edwards, who deftly incorporates a film noir aesthetic to the largely police procedural story. The result is one his better films outside of the comedy genre.

JAMES BOND: SEAN CONNERY 6-FILM COLLECTION (4K): One For The Purists

JAMES BOND: SEAN CONNERY 6-FILM COLLECTION (4K UHD)

1962-1971 / 702 min (6 movies)

Warner Bros

#InPartnershipwithWB

Review by Mr. Paws😸

Some of us physical media collectors are completists who need to own every movie of a particular franchise, even if one or two are bad enough that we probably wouldn't feel compelled to watch them ever again. For this guy, Mission: Impossible 2 comes immediately to mind. 

Then there are the purists. For them, the Star Wars saga ended with the original trilogy, there’s only one Jaws and Sean Connery will always be the one true James Bond (which I concurred with until Daniel Craig came along). Those people are perfectly content without George Lazenby or Timothy Dalton in their lives.

The Sean Connery 6-Film Collection is one for the purists. More specifically, it’s one for purists who want the best picture and sound quality possible. I think they’ll be very pleased with this set, which features excellent transfers of Dr. No, From Russia with Love, Goldfinger, Thunderball, You Only Live Twice and Diamonds Are Forever, all on 4K UHD for the first time. 

At first glance, one might be initially put-off by perceived inconsistencies in the sharpness, grain and colors, but that’s mainly due to varying film stock used in the original productions. This collection reflects an effort to present the films as they originally looked when first released. While I haven’t seen any of them on Blu-ray, they look a lot better than the crusty ol’ DVDs collecting dust in my garage. Purists will also appreciate the two audio options available for each. There’s a brand new Dolby Atmos track that gives the sound a modern update, as well as the original mono, which isn’t without its nostalgic charms, especially if you’re like me and grew up watching these films in the 70s.

007 gets stuck with the check.

As for the movies themselves…even though I’m not quite a 007 purist anymore, I still agree that some of the best Bond films hail from the Connery era. 1962’s Dr. No might seem a bit quaint today, but as the franchise grew exponentially bigger and gadget driven, I’ve grown to appreciate its comparative simplicity. From Russia with Love (1963) and Goldfinger (1964) are where Connery truly came into his own as James Bond. Not only is the latter among my personal favorites (as it is with a lot of fans), both films establish most of the most enduring elements we’ve come to associate with the franchise.

Thunderball (1965) was the biggest box office hit of Connery films, but also the most lumbering and takes a long time to get interesting. 1967's You Only Live Twice is often cited as the point where the series grew increasingly outlandish, but being the first Bond film I watched as a kid, I’ve always had a nostalgic soft spot for this one. Still, I’ll concede that certain thematic aspects have aged badly (especially regarding racial depictions and no-small-amount of misogyny). Finally, 1971’s Diamonds Are Forever is the goofiest of the lot. Though still entertaining, this one veers more toward the type of cartoon buffoonery that would sink some of the Roger Moore films. 

The Sean Connery 6-Film Collection is obviously a great batch of classic, influential films, which Bond fans probably don’t need to be reminded of. If you’re one of those Connery purists seeking technical upgrades (and a great looking package), this set is a must-own. But be advised that all of the bonus features, while substantial, are from previous home video releases (meaning you’ve probably seen them before).

EXTRA KIBBLES

All films are accompanied by the following similarly-titled collections of bonus features, each of varying quantity and length:

DECLASSIFIED: MI6 VAULT - These are collections of vintage promotional segments made during filming or around the time of each film’s initial release.

MISSION DOSSIER - Lengthy, multi-chapter docs covering the making of each film and their cultural significance. All are carried over from previous home video releases and most are narrated by Patrick Macnee.

MINISTRY OF PROPAGANDA - Collections of trailers, TV spots and radio ads for each film.

EXOTIC LOCATIONS - Brief segments on some of the shooting locations. Some are included as part of the Mission Dossier program.

AUDIO COMMENTARIES - Each film includes a commentary by the director, as well as various cast and crew. Goldfinger and Thunderball have two audio commentaries.

DIGITAL COPIES

Certain films include some of the following additional bonus features: 

SELLING BONDS (Thunderball) - Vintage commercials selling Bond-themed merch.

DELETED SCENES (Diamonds Are Forever)

ALTERNATE/EXPANDED ANGLES (Diamonds Are Forever) - Alternate versions of five different scenes.

WACKY RACES Speeds Down Memory Lane

WACKY RACES: THE COMPLETE SERIES (Blu-ray)

1968 / 408 min

From Warner Archive Collection

Available at www.MovieZyng.com

Review by Mr. Paws😺

While I wouldn’t bet my life on it, I’m pretty damn certain Wacky Races was the first Saturday morning cartoon I remember watching. I also seem to recall my sister and I eating enough Cheerios to collect all the boxtops required to get models of Dirk Dastardly and Penelope Pitstop’s cars. Of course, this makes me roughly 850 years old.

Back when Hanna-Barbara pretty much ruled Saturday mornings, they cranked out scores of shows that would never be mistaken for Disney, but were enough to placate undemanding kids sitting in front of the TV with a bowl of Cocoa Puffs. A few classics notwithstanding, most of them lasted only a season or two. In fact, only 17 episodes of Wacky Races were ever produced.

Originally airing in 1968, Wacky Races featured a variety of colorful characters and their crazy cars competing in a different location for each race. There were always two races per episode, and the winners earned the title of “World’s Wackiest Racer.” As a kid, the fun part was trying to predict who was going to win next because, other than Dirk Dastardly, it could have been anybody.

Dog is my co-pilot.

Looking back at it now, it’s pretty clear that Wacky Races was Hanna-Barbara’s answer to Road Runner/Wile E. Coyote cartoons, with Dastardly as the hapless coyote and everyone else taking turns being the Road Runner. Some episodes even copped a few of the same gags. And with such wild personalities behind the wheels of these cars, it’s amusing to think the show may have even been one of the inspirations for Death Race 2000.

For others in their mid-800s who might recall Wacky Races, this Blu-ray is a nifty slab of nostalgia. Though never as uproarious as we might remember, the show harks back to those bygone Saturday mornings when TV was created just for us. Adding to the fun is an assortment of bonus features that delve into the show's short history. Pour yourself a bowl of Cocoa Puffs and start your engines for a trip down memory lane.

EXTRA KIBBLES

FEATURETTES - Rearview Mirror: A Look Back at Wacky Races is an 18-minute retrospective of the show, including a few people who were involved in its production; Spin-Out Spin-Offs takes a look at various spin-offs featuring some of the characters from the original how.

AUDIO COMMENTARIES - For 4 individual races/segments.

TRIVIA TRACK - Episode #1 with pop-up text trivia.

McCARTNEY: NOW AND THEN: What Did He Just Say?

McCARTNEY: NOW AND THEN (Blu-ray)

2021 / 52 min

From Rising Sun Media

Available at www.MovieZyng.com

Review by Stinky the Destroyer😾

There’s certainly no shortage of documentaries, articles and books on the Fab Four, both as a band and as individuals. And why not? The Beatles continue to fascinate and entertain millions, so the backstories will probably keep coming long after all four of them are gone.

That being said, McCartney: Now and Then is short, superfluous and offers absolutely nothing any self-respecting Beatlemaniac doesn’t already know. It’s a Cliff’s Notes summary of McCartney’s career (mostly his time with The Beatles), jumping from one highlight to the next with less insight than a detailed Wikipedia article, accompanied by interviews with McCartney himself, as well as producer George Martin, sad sack Pete Best and other musicians of the era. However, I don’t believe the interviews were shot for this particular film.

"The one song I wish I'd written? Balls to the Wall, of course."

While Now and Then purports to be an authorized documentary, such authorization apparently doesn’t apply to Paul's or The Beatles' music. Instead, the soundtrack consists of generic instrumental rock & roll that plays over photos and archive footage. Worse yet, its so bloody loud in the mix that it drowns out most of what the interviewees are saying. Even if the viewer is fine with the same Beatles factoids over and over again, good luck hearing most of ‘em.

Additionally, the “Now” of the title should be taken with a grain of salt. This film was released in 2021, but unless Paul McCartney suddenly discovered the fountain of youth, it’s obvious all of the interview footage is at least 20 years old (and looks it). I doubt director Robin Bextor even met his subject before patching this thing together. If you really want to hear from the horse’s mouth, stick with The Beatles Anthology.