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Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
The four Sam Katzman films included in his Icons of Horror Collection stand as testaments to the American atomic age, reflecting public terror and awe towards 1950s technology and the accomplishments made in science and medicine. Sam Katzman, an incredibly prolific B-movie producer whose expertise in horror and sci-fi resulted in collaborations with Ray Harryhausen (Jason and The Argonauts), originally masterminded several wonderful thrillers, classic archetypal examples for later films on similar topics. In this DVD set, two of the four films are painfully slow paced, but contain horror scenes that vibrantly combine horror, sci-fi and film noir. Zombies of Mora Tau (1957) catalogues a researching team's attempts to confiscate a diamond stash lodged on an abandoned ship in a harbor guarded by the living dead. Some foggy shots of zombified sailors, eternally guarding the gems as a curse for stealing them, provide chills if even for a few moments. The Giant Claw (1957) introduces the viewer to the age of alien invasions and military paranoia. Opening with a great shot of an Earth diorama orbiting in space, the film chronicles Mitchell MacAfee (Jeff Morrow), an electronics engineer who reports from his aircraft shadows of a large bird dive-bombing his plane. Sally Caldwell (Mara Corday) stands by at home base, continually ready for action. When one does manage to see this elusive shadow, the viewer can almost make out the giant avian claw that looks like a chicken foot. The two films that really make the collection are Creature with the Atom Brain (1955) and The Werewolf (1956), which reinvent the Frankenstein story to chronicle humans-turned-monster in the name of science. In Creature, Dr. Steigg (Gregory Gaye) has reanimated dead men with atomic energy by injecting their brains with radioactive material that exponentially increases their strength to kill normal humans. Great sequences show Dr. Chet Walker (Richard Denning), the heroic scientist hired by police, using a Geiger counter at crime scenes. Live-dead men with stitched up heads wandering stiffly around as a monster mafia, giving hearty doses of humor to this fantastic film. Likewise, The Werewolf features awesome footage of star, Duncan Marsh (Steven Ritch), turning into a wolf while managing to keep his well-tailored suit clean as he runs through the forest. During most of the film, Marsh is fleeing a well-intentioned Sheriff Haines (Don Megowan), and two villains, Dr. Emery Forrest (S. John Launer) and Dr. Morgan Chambers (George Lynn), who accidentally turn him into a wolf when experimenting with radioactive injections that would protect humans from radiation. All four films have the look and feel of the epic Universal movies like The Wolf Man, and The Mummy, and give historical context to buffs researching 1950s monster films. —Trinie Dalton
Product Description
Short on budget but never on drama, four of renowned producer Sam Katzman's most chilling tales demonstrate his creativity and range of vision: The Giant Claw (Jeff Morrow, Mara Dorday. 1957/75 min.), Zombies of Mora Tau (Gregg Palmer, Allison Hayes. 1957/70 min.), Creature with the Atom Brain (Richard Denning, Angela Stevens. 1955/69 min.) and The Werewolf (Steven Ritch, Joyce Holden. 1956/79 min.). Also includes comedy shorts and cartoons. 2 DVDs. B&w/NR/widescreen.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
75 of 78 people found the following review helpful
By Videonut
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Most Boomers already know why they love these particular flicks, so I'll get right to the important stuff: The Giant Claw, The Werewolf and Zombies of Mora Tau are all in the Anamorphic widescreen format (Creature with the Atom Brain is fullscreen). All the prints are sharp with crisp soundtracks. This is really a long way from all the poor bootlegs and cable copies that many Boomers were forced to live with for so many decades.
Although these films are important to many who grew up with them, either seeing them during their first runs in the movies or later on Chiller Theater, some newer viewers may not see them in the same light (many younger people won't bother watching them for the simple fact that they're not in color). But then again, these newer viewers will never know of that magical time when these flicks were lighting up the huge screens in Movie Palaces and Drive-In theaters throughout the country.
It will be the true enthusiasts of this genre who will see this set as a home run, especially at these prices. Kill the lights, then hold tightly onto your honey and enjoy!
Although these films are important to many who grew up with them, either seeing them during their first runs in the movies or later on Chiller Theater, some newer viewers may not see them in the same light (many younger people won't bother watching them for the simple fact that they're not in color). But then again, these newer viewers will never know of that magical time when these flicks were lighting up the huge screens in Movie Palaces and Drive-In theaters throughout the country.
It will be the true enthusiasts of this genre who will see this set as a home run, especially at these prices. Kill the lights, then hold tightly onto your honey and enjoy!
61 of 67 people found the following review helpful
By John D. Page
Format:DVD
I'm still in the second childhood phase and looking for all the old movies I watched as a child. This collection features some of the movies that I watched on those long ago Saturdays. While not great they are very fun and in some cases very funny.
1.The Giant Claw= The last word on monster fx's. You can see the strings and the "bird" looks laughable, but the movie is still great fun if you let it be.
2.The Werewolf= An "atomic" twist on the old werewolf legend and really pretty good
3.Zombies Of Mora Tua= Silly and very funny.
4.The Creature With The Atom Brain= Brain dead fun
Not for all taste but some fun for anyone who loves these old cheesy movies like I do.
1.The Giant Claw= The last word on monster fx's. You can see the strings and the "bird" looks laughable, but the movie is still great fun if you let it be.
2.The Werewolf= An "atomic" twist on the old werewolf legend and really pretty good
3.Zombies Of Mora Tua= Silly and very funny.
4.The Creature With The Atom Brain= Brain dead fun
Not for all taste but some fun for anyone who loves these old cheesy movies like I do.
30 of 32 people found the following review helpful
By RUSTY
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
My dad took me to the movies back in the 1950's when "The Werewolf" and"Creature with the Atom Brain " were in their first run theatrical release. After seeing "Creature" this 8yr old boy was afraid to go to bed.
It haunted me for a long, long time. When I saw it again as an adult those childhood chills came right back. Glad these classics are getting a top notch release replacing the terrible copies made from poor prints.
It haunted me for a long, long time. When I saw it again as an adult those childhood chills came right back. Glad these classics are getting a top notch release replacing the terrible copies made from poor prints.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great films, excellent set!
This is an excellent set of 50's Sci-Fi and Horror B-movies. "Creature With The Atom Brain" is fullscreen, the rest are in anamorphic widescreen, and all four movies look great! Read more
Published 2 months ago by Alex Nennig
5.0 out of 5 stars
Did my heart good!
I thought I had seen every single 50s/60s horror film at least once ... and then I happened upon this one - wow! a movie I had never seen before! Read more
Published 4 months ago by Jeannee
3.0 out of 5 stars
3 stars
Picture was good but stories were fair... not to bad for the price though...... over all good buy. wanted the movie for my collection.
Published 5 months ago by french kirk
5.0 out of 5 stars
Outstanding
To use an old term, This is more fun than a barrel of monkeys. This is a collection you want to buy and KEEP. Read more
Published 7 months ago by T12
5.0 out of 5 stars
[...]
I found Giant Claw featured on the above site. It is so abismal it is their signature ode to cinema suicide. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Ace Rimmer
4.0 out of 5 stars
Icons of Horror Collcection
I've been looking for the "the werewolf' for a long time and found it here, but its really the only one of the movies in this group I watch. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Andy C.
5.0 out of 5 stars
2 Winners + 2 So-So Flicks
The Amazon review for this one pretty much tells you everything you need to know, and I'm in full agreement. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Mike
4.0 out of 5 stars
loved it
This DVD is nice if you're a B-Movie fan like me this is a great deal. "The creature With The Atom Brain" is why I bought this DVD. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Patrick faber
3.0 out of 5 stars
Mixed Bag of 1950s Low-Budget Horror
Sam Katzman (1901-1973) began his film career on Hollywood's "poverty row," working as an independent producer selling low budget genre films to Monogram Studios. Read more
Published 19 months ago by Gary F. Taylor
4.0 out of 5 stars
THE WEREWOLF -- Five Stars For Atmosphere And For Steven Ritch's...
When I first saw this film at the tender, prepubescent age of 10, I was petrified beyond belief. Now, I suppose, the kindest thing I can say about THE WEREWOLF -- which still... Read more
Published 19 months ago by Joel Kovacik
