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| Tarantula(1955); Discuss the film here & DVDs here | |
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| Topic Started: Feb 8 2006, 09:57 AM (398 Views) | |
| packmule | Feb 8 2006, 09:57 AM Post #1 |
Site founder - Searching for Cropsy
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In 1955 Tarantula, another "monster on the loose" movie, hit American theaters. The story: a scientist(played by Leo G. Carroll) conducts growth experiments on plants and animals out in the deep desert, in hopes of alleviating world hunger. One of his specimens, a tarantula the size of a large dog, escapes the lab during a fight between the scientist and a dying disfigured comrade who had injected himself with the drug. Enter Dr. Matt Hastings(played by John Agar), the town doctor who is suspicious of Dr. Deemer(Leo G Carroll) and also Stephanie Clayton, aka "Steve", played by Mara Corday, who has arrived to be Dr. Deemer's assistant. Meanwhile, the escaped tarantula wanders the desert, increasing in size until it becomes a hundred foot juggernaut, feeding on livestock and members of the local populace... Post your thoughts and opinions of this film here. All replies welcome. :) |
 Packmule's Pen Latitude Zero(1969) The Relic(1997) | |
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| KaijuFanatic | Feb 9 2006, 10:20 PM Post #2 |
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As a woman that has been terrified of spiders my entire life, I still love this film. :D I first saw bits of this film as a four-year old on TV and the image of Mara Cordy running from the house screaming in the night was a scene I've always remembered. I would love to see this classic come to DVD, would make a perfect double-feature with, Them!. |
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| packmule | Feb 9 2006, 10:29 PM Post #3 |
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Site founder - Searching for Cropsy
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Even today I think this film has stood the test of time. The special effects used to render the tarantula gigantic in size are, for 1955, stellar. I also think the "horror" element adds to the film's overall creepiness. Seeing kindly old Dr Deemer(played by Leo G Carroll) turned into a horribly disfigured victim(during the monster spider's attack on his house) is a memorable scene. Trivia note: during the jet fighter attack on the giant tarantula, who has approached the town's border, notice the pilot who gives the attack orders: Mr. Clint Eastwood. An early(if brief) screen appearance. |
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Packmule's Pen Latitude Zero(1969) The Relic(1997) | |
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| KaijuFanatic | Feb 10 2006, 12:43 PM Post #4 |
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For me, most of these films have held up well over time. Perhaps it's the nostalgia factor for me.....seeing them on late-night TV or Saturday afternoons as a kid, but I love sitting down and watching these classic films. I remember when The Sci-Fi Channel first hit TV, they had great Saturday night features as well as afternoon films and showed films like this on a daily basis......didn't matter if I had these on video or not, I would sit and enjoy every minute of the film, commericals and all. It's a shame that there isn't a real cable channel that caters to fans of classic sci-fi and horror films, I know I'd probably take root to the sofa, if we had something like this. I think the cast of, Tarantula was outstanding and Eastwood's brief, but early scene is a great trivia question. |
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| KaijuFanatic | Apr 14 2006, 02:23 PM Post #5 |
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I see that some wonderful classic sci-fi/horror films are now available for Region 2, including: -Tarantula ('55) -The Strange World of Planet X (AKA: Cosmic Monsters) I'd love to get both of these films as well as; The Incredible Shrinking Man which is on Region 2 and I've heard Curse of the Fly is currently available on Region 4. |
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| packmule | Apr 14 2006, 07:10 PM Post #6 |
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Site founder - Searching for Cropsy
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I have a multi-region DVD player. Where did you see Tarantula advertised on Reg 2 DVD? |
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Packmule's Pen Latitude Zero(1969) The Relic(1997) | |
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| KaijuFanatic | Apr 15 2006, 12:25 AM Post #7 |
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I saw them listed at Xploited Cinema. I'm region-free as well and if I could stop myself from buying bargain-priced discs, I'd have enough saved up for these! 
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| packmule | Apr 15 2006, 02:14 AM Post #8 |
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Site founder - Searching for Cropsy
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Nice site. Not sure my multi-region player supports PAL format. silver surprised |
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| KaijuFanatic | Apr 17 2006, 01:02 PM Post #9 |
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That's a shame. I have a few all-region players and all convert PAL-NTSC. One is a Tokia, it's a great little player...plays everything I've tossed at it, DVD-R/+R, DVD-RW, CD/CD-R/RW and it has a PAL/NTSC button that automatically does the conversion to all regions without the need for a hacking code. I paid $40 for the player. |
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| packmule | Apr 17 2006, 07:26 PM Post #10 |
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Site founder - Searching for Cropsy
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Well, in the evolution that is Packmule's electronic purchases, consider that as recently as January, 1999 I possessed a 25" TV and a 2-head VCR, and nothing else. Now I have a 36" standard screen stereo TV, a 30"widescreen flat-screen TV, a hi-end DVD player/recorder/4-head VCR, a hi-end DVD player(with audio jack), and a multi-region player, not to mention a desktop computer and printer/copier/fax. Based on your remarks I will now look into a DVD player that can convert NTSC to PAL. :) |
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| KaijuFanatic | Apr 18 2006, 10:23 PM Post #11 |
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Wow! :D Nice electronic toys you have. I'd love to have a nice widescreen TV, but my 27" will have to suffice for now. I have four DVD players, but none are high end and I still have a couple of VCRs and a DVD+R recorder, but it's nothing fancy and basically just does the basics...no menus or anything fun like that. As for converting PAL-NTSC, I think there are several players out there that do this and don't cost an arm and a leg. I've been pleased with all my players that were purchased with the idea of going outside Region 1 and converting PAL-NTSC. |
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| packmule | Apr 25 2006, 05:55 AM Post #12 |
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Site founder - Searching for Cropsy
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In particular John Agar, who I thought was also very good in The Mole People. Despite the low production values of Curse Of The Swamp Creature(1966), I also thought this actor made watching this low-budget film possible. eyebrow |
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| KaijuFanatic | Apr 25 2006, 03:30 PM Post #13 |
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John Agar was very good in the film and I agree, very solid in, The Mole People (another classic that needs an official DVD release!). Memory of, Curse of the Swamp Creautre fails me....not sure if I've ever seen this film. |
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| packmule | Apr 25 2006, 08:18 PM Post #14 |
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Site founder - Searching for Cropsy
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Curse Of The Swamp Creature is a low budget horror movie released in 1966 starring, most notably, John Agar. The plot is familiar: a scientist is conducting weird experiments deep in a Texas swampland and one of the results is a reptilian humanoid monster. This film appears on AMC periodically and in AMC's Monsterfest lineup every few years. It is a slow-paced movie. Only during the film's climax does the monster appear, and it is not a particularly well-rendered one at that. This movie is available on DVD(at DeepDiscountDVD) for about $7.50 + shipping). I would recommend this movie for the hardcore horror film collector or completist only. If I were you I would wait until it is on AMC again and tape it. Just a suggestion. :) |
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| KaijuFanatic | Apr 25 2006, 09:10 PM Post #15 |
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Thanks for the info on this film, packmule. :) I will definitely have to check this one out....somehow! |
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