SYNOPSIS
At long last, “can” and “must” meet on the graph, as ROBOT MONSTER, the most demented, delirious, and delightful 3-D film of the Golden Age arrives in a showcase edition loaded with out-of-this-world extras!
A cosmic catastrophe has wiped out humanity, and now the last six survivors must outwit that strangely iconic alien menace, Ro-Man (George Barrows). Taking orders from the pitiless Great Guidance, Ro-Man wavers in his pursuit of human annihilation when he falls in love with a girl (Claudia Barrett). Can dashing young Roy (George Nader) save her? Independently photographed in less than a week on location in Bronson Canyon, the Tru-Stereo photography is comparable to the major studio 3-D productions of the time. And to mark the milestone 70th anniversary of this all-time sci-fi classic, the 3-D version of ROBOT MONSTER has been painstakingly and masterfully restored from complete 35mm archival 3-D elements by the talented archivists at the 3-D Film Archive, the leading experts in vintage stereoscopic film restoration.
This is your opportunity to finally see the incredible Ro-Man as director Phil Tucker intended — in the miracle of Tru-Stereo Three Dimension!
What We Thought:
I had never seen Robot Monster before. I knew of it because of pop culture references like MST3K and the Ro-Man character appearing in other films/TV shows, but this was a first-time watch for me and boy is it something. Is it a good movie? Oh absolutely not. Is it so bad that it’s entertaining? You better believe it.
This release opens with Slick Slaven doing impressions of famous actors and how they would sound in 3D. What that has to do with Robot Monster, I have no idea. But it let’s you know that you’re in for something. I’m not 100% sure what that something is, but you kind of have to watch it.
The actual film opens with a young boy and young girl playing spaceman when they run into two men in a cave. The men are scientists type and the boy wants to know more. He’s pulled away by his sister and mom to take a nap and then the film jumps into them being the only survivors on Earth thanks to Ro-Man.
Ro-Man is three quarters gorilla and one quarter space helmet. This was low budget filmmaking with a guy in a gorilla suit and whacky space helmet playing an alien. It’s camp and utterly ridiculous. Ro-Man must hunt down the humans so his kind can take over the Earth. The survivors are the people we met at the cave, but are now somehow all family members. That gets explained at the end which is a good thing because I simply thought someone screwed up the continuity.
It was shot in a week and you can tell. The actors aren’t very good nor is the script. The special effects are laughable even by the standards of the time period. Why there was a bubble machine blowing bubbles around Ro-Man’s equipment is beyond me. But if you like schlock, this is a must see if you haven’t seen it already.
This new Monster Robot release is pretty special. The film has been remastered and probably looks better than it did 70 years ago. It’s jampacked with bonus features (list below) and even comes with 3D glasses if you have 3D capability at home. If you like MST3K movies, classic sci-fi schlock then this is new Blu-ray presentation is a must own!
3-D BONUS FEATURES INCLUDE
- STARDUST IN YOUR EYES (1953) – Robot Monster’s original prologue starring Slick Slaven aka Trustin Howard. New 4K scan from the left/right 35mm master positives.
- MEMORIES OF A POOPED-OUT PINWHEEL (2022) – Greg Moffett shares his personal recollections of filming on location over a period of four days in March 1953.
- TRAVELS THROUGH TIME & SPACE (2023) – Newly curated vintage slide presentation from Stereoscopic Anthropologist, Hillary Hess
- ADVENTURES IN 3-D (1953) – Newly restored Golden Age 3-D Comic Book, presented in association with Carl Scheckel at Carl’s Comix.
- Plus additional trailers, vintage shorts, and a restoration demo!
2-D BONUS FEATURES INCLUDE
- SAVING SLICK (2023) – Sean Thrunk’s new documentary short explains how 1950’s nightclub comedian Slick Slaven is reminded of his long-forgotten act and identity when his lost 3-D film is revived in 2003.
- JOE DANTE, TRAILERS FROM HELL (2013) – 1956 MONSTER FROM MARS reissue trailer hosted by Joe Dante, courtesy of Trailers from Hell
- MISTAKES & INNOVATIONS (2023) – Bob Furmanek describes the original day-for-night footage and Phil Tucker’s innovative use of “Double Film” aka “3-D Blinkey.”
- RESCUING RO-MAN (2023) – This documentary short by filmmaker Sean Thrunk tells how an accidental discovery of two forgotten 35mm prints in 1990 saved the only complete 3-D footage.
- FEATURE COMMENTARY TRACK (2022) with Greg Moffett, Mike Ballew, Eric Kurland and Lawrence Kaufman.
- WAS I A MAN (2022) – New song by The Other Favorites, aka Josh Turner and Carson McKee, played during the post-feature restoration credits and memorabilia gallery.
- MEMORABILIA GALLERY (2023) – Created by Charles Barnard with original newspaper ads, posters, lobbycards and publicity photographs.
- BELA LUGOSI – YOU ASKED FOR IT (July 27, 1953) – Appearance on live television, newly restored.
The Nerds Templar 