This Island Earth
by Joseph M. Newman
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Faith Domergue, Jeff Morrow, Lance Fuller, Rex Reason, Russell JohnsonDirector: Joseph M. Newman
Brand: NBC Universal
Cinematographer: Clifford Stine
Editor: Virgil W. Vogel
Producer: William Alland
Writer: Edward G. O'Callaghan
Writer: Franklin Coen
Writer: Raymond F. Jones
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown), Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono; English (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); French (Subtitled); English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
Format: Color, Dolby, DVD, Full Screen, NTSC, Subtitled
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 87 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2006-08-22
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Universal Studios
Movie Reviews of This Island Earth
Movie Review: "WHY NOW, JUST IN FULL FRAME AGAIN & NOT THE ORIGINAL WIDESCREEN FORMAT FOR THIS CLASSIC SCI-FI. "THIS ISLAND EARTH." ???"
Summary: 5 Stars
For those of us who love to collect Sci-Fi Movies. Which unfortunately missed the opportunity of purchasing this film on DVD the first time around when it was released only in "Full Frame." WE SAID: "THANK YOU VERY MUCH UNIVERSAL HOME VIDEO."
Since this second re-release by Universal is been greatly appreciated, it is long overdue and needed. BUT WHY JUST ONCE AGAIN, IN FULL FRAME AS BEFORE, WHEN THIS MOVIE DESERVED A FULL RESTORATION ON IT'S ORIGINAL FORM: "WIDESCREEN." A fully restored re-release is needed, but this time on "Anamorphic Widescreen DVD Format"
"THIS ISLAND EARTH" Directed by Joseph Newman, Starring: Jeff Morrow, Faith Domerque, Rex Reason have an screenplay by Franklin Coen and Edward G. O'Callaghan. It deals with the saga of a pair of rocket scientist, turned nuclear fission experts, that are taken from earth on a flying saucer by the mysterious allien, Exeter, to his planet "Metaluna" in order to help in the defence of their dying homeland, which is been destroyed by the nefarious Zahgons, in an inter-galactic war."
This film was theatrically released in Cinemascope/Ultrawide-Scope "Now Know As Widescreen" in 1955, just three years after the first movie of this type "The Robe," was released in 1952, using this new revolucionary theatrical screen format. So on account of that now, this newer release by Universal would make it "THE GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY OF THIS FILM OPENING."
What makes this movie feature so fenomenal are above all "THE INCREDIBLE SPECIAL EFFECTS CREATED AT THAT TIME IN 1955." (Featuring the likes of death rays, mutant bugs, and above all the battered but fabulous cities as well as the tattered landscapes of Exeter's dying planet Metaluna. AWESOME SETS TAKE MY WORD.
I have even wondered if George Lucas was not inspired by this sets, created here, to display the ruined remains of Metaluna's urban areas, in order to design on his own merit, the capital city for "Stars Wars."
Unfortunately, without a Cinematographic Anamorphic Widescreeen/Ultrawide-Scope Restoration, preserving the original aspect ratio on this film release; all the creative artistic elements of those Fifties Special Effects, would be, but just lost for the Sci-Fi archives of film history.
Just imagine that it took two and half years in the making, to produce all this 'Fabulous Special Effects" worth, I may said, of a two disk DVD 'Director's Cut,' so we can learn how it was done way back then, in pre-computer graphic's 'Hollywood Land.'
Add to this also, the fact that all those sets, created for this movie, were then filmed in "Out Of This Word Technicolor."
Now more than fifty years after it's theatrical debut, "This Island Earth," is regarded by film critics and collectors as the archetypal Sci-Fi flick of the Fifties, way ahead of Sci-Fi films such as "War of The Worlds," "When Worlds Collide," "The Day The Earth Stood Still," & later on "Forbbiden Planet."
Therefore, on account of all the above, we are still very confident that an "Anamorphic Widescreen/Ultrawide-Scope Release" this time preserving the aspect ratio of its original theatrical exhibition, is what Universal is giving us now. Since it would be well received, awaited by all of us "Sci-Fi Collectors" in 2006.
Hopefully, that is precisely what Universal is doing right now, and the news that this "DVD Release" is been made once again in "FULL FRAME" is but just a "Press Release Error," done by an unfortunate oversight of the publicity department "HOME VIDEO" over there.
Since the recent re-made of "War of The Worlds," By Steven Spilberg, released to critical acclaims reviews proves that it is worth the extra milleage and money spend to do it right once and for all. Just look at the financially rewarding returns of his film on DVD.
All this facts are win win guarantees to Universal Pictures, that the money witch the Studio would be spending on a full restoration of "This Island Earth's on Anamorphic Widescreen/Ultrawide-Scope Format" can also too, be financially well rewarded and received by the public.
So please! MCA UNIVERSAL HOME VIDEO! Give us an "SPECIAL COLLECTOR'S GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY 'THIS ISLAND EARTH' WIDESCREEN DVD EDITION NOW.
Summary of This Island Earth
Prepare to blast off from planet Earth in one of the most popular classic sci-fi films of all time! When atomic scientist Dr. Meacham (Rex Reason) is chosen to take part in a top-secret research experiment in a remote lab, he quickly discovers that he is really involved in an evil scheme by alien Metalunans to take over Earth. After he and the gorgeous Dr. Adams (Faith Domergue) make their escape shortly before the lab explodes, they are whisked away in a flying saucer to Metaluna, where they are blamed for the destruction. Will interstellar negotiation save the day or will the scientists be forced to take part in a treacherous battle to the death? Featuring incredible special effects that were 2 1/2 years in the making, this is one adventure that you have to see to believe! Starring: Jeff Morrow, Faith Domergue, Rex Reason, Lance Fuller, Russell Johnson, Douglas Spencer, Robert Nichols, Karl L. Lindt Directed by: Joseph NewmanSimilar DVD Movies
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