Mad Monster Party DVD Review
Mad Monster Party DVD Review
Frightful and Delightful.
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For anyone who enjoys the stop motion animation process as it applies to the genre (think: Harry Harryhausen, The Brothers Quay, or Mike Johnson), Mad Monster Party is a no-brainer. Surely you've caught it before — it's a 40+-year old TV classic — but you've never seen it quite like this.
Prior releases have been struck from 16 mm film and were of poor quality, especially in regard to the color and sharpness. The original film negative was damaged years ago, but recently Sony Pictures Television discovered an another 35 mm print in pristine condition. This has led to a special edition release from Lionsgate (out September 8, 2009).
The new features boast a documentary including interviews with historian Rick Goldschmidt, Arthur Rankin, Jr., voice artist Allen Swift, storyboard artist Don Duga, and musical director Maury Laws to name a few, plus a look inside the Rankin/Bass "Animagic" process. (You know it from some of their other classics, Christmas stories like Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer and Frosty the Snowman — Mad Monster Party is their one-and-only Halloween special).
The accoutrements are great but of course, the main attraction is the fab feature itself which spotlights such instantly recognizable voices as Boris Karloff and Phyllis Diller. The story runs some 90 minutes and explores the shenanigans that ensue when Dracula, the Werewolf, the Creature from the Black Lagoon, The Invisible Man, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Dr Jekyll & Mr. Hyde, The Mummy, and It are invited to a party at Baron von Frankenstein's castle. When they receive the mysterious invite, have no idea what they're in for.
What you're in for is a goofy good time along the lines of The Addams Family and The Munsters… but more culty. After all, Mad Magazine creator Harvey Kurtzman wrote the script and Mad artist Jack Davis designed several of the characters. A standout is freaky Francesca (Gale Garnett), a curvy, husky-voiced green-eyed redhead who sings the signature tune "Never Was A Love Like Mine" with sultry puppet panache (paving the way for the Jessica Rabbits).
Personally I could do with less of the musical numbers and dated jokes, but the puns are fun and the look and feel of Mad Monster Party is a one-of-kind blast from the past.
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Reviewed by Staci Layne Wilson