Kino Lorber Studio Classics Debuts 4D MAN, BILLY THE KID VS. DRACULA, and DINOSAURUS! on Blu-ray Disc!

MAD SCIENCE, DUELING LEGENDS, AND PREHISTORIC MONSTERS ARE ON THE MENU IN KINO LORBER'S LATEST TRIO OF BLU-RAY RELEASES!

I've gotta admit that Kino Lorber has really been doing a stellar job of bringing overlooked, unknown, and forgotten classics to Blu-ray over the past several years! And their latest batch of new Blu-ray titles is no exception! I've never seen 4D MAN, but it sounds like a great supervillain origin story, while BILLY THE KID VS. DRACULA was something I watched (and typically snoozed through) on late night TV when I was a kid! And DINOSAURUS! has long been a favorite "dinosaur on the loose" flick of mine so naturally I'm super stoked to upgrade from my old Image DVD of the film! Let's take a closer look at these three new Kino titles, shall we?

4D MAN (SPECIAL EDITION - 1959)

Synopsis: Two brothers, scientists Scott and Tony Nelson, develop an amplifier which enables a person to enter a 4th dimensional state, allowing him to pass through any object. Scott experiments on himself and discovers that each time he passes through something he ages rapidly. He begins killing people, sucking out their life energies and regaining his youth as a result. It falls to Tony and Scott's girlfriend, Linda, to try to put a stop to his murderous rampage.

Disc Specs:
Unrated | Color | 85 minutes | Region A
Video - 1080p Widescreen (1.85:1)
Audio - ?

Extras:

• NEW! 4K RESTORATION FROM THE ORIGINAL CAMERA NEGATIVE!
• NEW! Audio Commentary by Film Historian Richard Harland Smith!
• NEW! Audio Commentary by Kris Yeaworth (son of director Irvin S. Yeaworth Jr.)!
• Reflections from The 4D Man - On-camera Interview with Producer Jack H. Harris!
• On-camera Interview with Co-star Lee Meriwether!
• Theatrical Trailer

Kino's Special Edition of 4D MAN is now available wherever Blu-rays are sold, and should cost you between $18 - $20! Add this newly restored sci-fi thriller now by picking up a copy from AMAZON, BULL MOOSE, DIABOLIK DVD, or directly from KINO LORBER's online store!

BILLY THE KID VS. DRACULA (1966)

Synopsis: BILLY THE KID VS. DRACULA is an outrageous low-budget horror-western directed by cult filmmaker William Beaudine (THE APE MAN, VOODOO MAN).

Traveling by stagecoach, Dracula (the great John Carradine) plots to convert Billy the Kid's (famed stuntman Chuck Courtney) fiancée, Betty Bentley (Melinda Casey), into his vampire bride. When the sinister bloodsucker kidnaps Betty and takes her to an abandoned silver mine, Billy must confront the Count, but soon realizes his six-shooters' bullets are no match for the undead—and an all-out battle of good vs. evil ensues.

Filmmaker Carl K. Hittleman (36 HOURS) wrote the screenplay for this wild cult classic, beautifully shot by Lothrop B. Worth (GOG) and featuring Marjorie Bennett (WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO BABY JANE?) and Harry Carey Jr. (CHERRY 2000).

Disc Specs:
Not Rated | Color | 73 minutes | Region A
Video - 1080p Widescreen (1.85:1)
Audio - ?

Extras:

• NEW! Audio Commentary by Film Historians Lee Gambin and John Harrison!
• Trailers

BILLY THE KID VS. DRACULA is now available and should cost between $15 - $20! See it for the first time, or relive your childhood memories by snapping up a copy today from AMAZON, BULL MOOSE, DIABOLIK DVD, or directly from KINO LORBER!

DINOSAURUS! (SPECIAL EDITION - 1960)

Synopsis: Alive with thrills that started a million years ago! From legendary producer Jack H. Harris and director Irvin S. Yeaworth Jr., the team behind sci-fi classics THE BLOB and 4D MAN, comes this cult fantasy-adventure starring Ward Ramsey, Paul Lukather and Kristina Hanson.

Building a new harbor off the coast of a Caribbean island, an American engineer (Ramsey) sets off a blast on the ocean floor that uncovers the frozen bodies of a Brontosaurus, a Tyrannosaurus Rex and a Neanderthal Man. The dinosaurs are hauled ashore by the construction crew, who are unaware that the giants are still alive. Struck by lightning during a fierce tropical storm, the monsters awaken and prowl the island jungles!

Also restored to life is the caveman (Gregg Martell), an amiable brute who joins the island boy Julio (Alan Roberts) in a series of wacky misadventures. A merry grab-bag of sci-fi, action and comedy, Dinosaurus! features stop-motion dinosaur animation by the legendary Projects Unlimited effects team (THE TIME MACHINE, The Outer Limits). Beautifully shot in Scope by the great Stanley Cortez (SINCE YOU WENT AWAY, THE NIGHT OF THE HUNTER).

Disc Specs:
Not Rated | Color | 85 minutes | Region A
Video - 1080p Widescreen (2.35:1)
Audio - ?

Extras:

• NEW! 4K RESTORATION FROM THE ORIGINAL CAMERA NEGATIVE!
• NEW! Audio Commentary by Kris Yeaworth (son of director Irvin S. Yeaworth Jr.)!
• Dinosaurus!: A Monstrous Story - Interviews with Producer Jack H. Harris, Co-star Paul Lukather and Film Historians Donald F. Glut and Bill Warren!
• Reversible Blu-ray Art!
• Theatrical Trailer

DINOSAURUS! is definitely a must-have for yours truly (especially now that it's gotten a 4K makeover!) - it is super cool to see it getting some love after being out of print for so many years! This film is now available on Blu-ray (and DVD!) and should cost between $18 - $20! Get yourself a copy of this fun dinosaur romp now from AMAZON, BULL MOOSE, DIABOLIK DVD, or KINO LORBER!

WANTED ON BLU-RAY: THE LAST DINOSAUR (1977)

WANTED ON BLU-RAY:
THE LAST DINOSAUR (1977)

Not Rated | Color | 106 minutes 

With JURASSIC WORLD: FALLEN KINGDOM about to hit theaters, I've been feeling nostalgic for the dinosaur films of my youth. During my early childhood, I became enamored with dinosaurs, which made me the "weird kid" throughout grade (and middle) school! I read books about prehistoric creatures, drew pictures of them, and naturally watched cartoons AND movies featuring those "terrible lizards." I just couldn't get enough!

From KING KONG and DINOSAURUS! to BABY: SECRET OF THE LOST LEGEND and THE CRATER LAKE MONSTER, I watched anything and everything that contained any sort of prehistoric fauna. And out of those dozens of films, there's one in particular that left a lasting impression to this day: THE LAST DINOSAUR!

Synopsis: During a routine mission aboard "The Polar Borer," an exploratory laser-drill used in seeking oil reserves under the polar ice caps, the crew members made a history-shattering discovery: There is a prehistoric world beneath the Earth's crust, teeming with life! A geologist named Chuck Wade (Steven Keats) is the sole survivor of the expedition, and tells the world during a press conference that a T-Rex ate the rest of his crew!

Realizing that a Tyrannosaurus head would be one hell of a trophy to hang on his wall, Thrust puts together a new expedition made up of Chuck, a Massai tracker named Bunta (Luther Rackley), Dr. Kawamoto (Tetsu Nakamura), and a Pullitzer Prize-winning photographer named Frankie Banks (Joan Van Ark) who secures herself a spot on the trip by getting "Thrusted." With his team assembled, Maston leads them underground to bag himself a T-Rex!

And here I always thought Denver was the Last Dinosaur...

Naturally things do not go well for the would-be hunters as they soon find themselves way in over their heads. Their intended quarry turns out to be nigh indestructible, and after losing a few colleagues, Thrust takes things personally! Chuck and Frankie try to talk some sense into the vengeance-fueled hunter,  but he'll not hear of any plans to escape because he is on a mad mission to kill the Tyrannosaurus by any means necessary!

THE LAST DINOSAUR is the result of an odd pairing of Tsuburaya Productions, known for their tokusatsu shows (primarily Ultraman) and Rankin/Bass, best known for all of those claymation Christmas specials you watch every holiday season! Together they crafted a rather gloomy adventure tale with laughable suitmation dinosaurs and a somewhat catchy theme song. While it isn't a great movie by any stretch, I have fond memories of watching this cult oddity in my youth and would love to see it given a little TLC for a change!

Availability: After failing to find a distributor, THE LAST DINOSAUR premiered on ABC on February 11, 1977 in a truncated 95-minute cut. After that, it would be released on VHS by various distributors in the 1990s, before finally being released on (Region Free!) DVD by The Warner Archive Collection back on May 9, 2011. It has the same uncut version of the film that Toho released on DVD two years earlier, but lacks any special features.

Current Rights Holder: Obviously Warner Bros. owns the U.S. rights at the moment (hence the DVD release I just mentioned). However, Shout! Factory has been dipping into the Warner vaults as of late (as evidenced by several of their recent and upcoming Scream! Factory titles) so I wouldn't be shocked if they did a nice little release of this one down the road. Only time will tell I suppose.

Normal people watching this scene: "Which dinosaur will win?!"
Me watching this scene: "The cattle there must be ENORMOUS!"

Blu-ray Wishlist:

• Both cuts of the film, remastered in 2K!
• Audio commentary by a kaiju film expert/historian, such as August Ragone.
• Interviews with any surviving cast members or crew. From what I've seen Joan Van Ark and Luther Rackley seem to still be alive. I'm not sure if screenwriter William Overgard is still around, but it'd be great to hear about his involvement with this film, as well as THE BERMUDA DEPTHS, and his stint as a writer on Thundercats! 
• An interview with Producer Jules Bass (of Rankin/Bass). 
• Poster & Stills gallery (w/ theme song on a loop)
• The supplemental materials from the Toho disc (featuring visual-effects supervisor Kazuo Sagawa) with English subtitles.
• Original Theatrical Trailer

I'm not sure if THE LAST DINOSAUR has built up enough of a cult following for any label to bother giving it a Blu-ray release, but we can only hope! If you also want this odd-ball dinosaur epic in HD, then let the powers that be at The Warner Archive Collection know by bugging them on social media. Hit them up on Facebook and/or Twitter, and maybe bother Shout! Factory on Facebook as well, just to let them know some of us are interested in a Blu-ray release for this title!

THE JURASSIC GAMES Now Available on VOD - Coming to DVD & Blu-ray on July 3rd!

"THE HUNGER GAMES" MEETS "JURASSIC PARK" IN DIRECTOR RYAN BELLGARDT'S NEWEST FILM!

When I first saw the press release for THE JURASSIC GAMES I rolled my eyes, assuming that this was just another cash-in from the folks at The Asylum. However, my tune immediately changed when I discovered that this movie was directed by Ryan Bellgardt, the man behind the brilliantly insane indie time-travel Horror-Comedy ARMY OF FRANKENSTEINS. I adore Bellgardt's ARMY, so I am ready and willing to give THE JURASSIC GAMES a look now that it is available to stream instantly!

Synopsis: Every year, ten of the world’s most lethal Death Row criminals are chosen to compete for their freedom in THE JURASSIC GAMES, a television show where contestants must survive against a variety of ferocious dinosaurs. The players all die gruesomely in the game zone except for one, the last one standing, the winner, who is granted not only his/her freedom, but fame and fortune! Survive the dinosaurs. Survive each other. Survive… THE JURASSIC GAMES.

THE JURASSIC GAMES is the third film from Emmy Award-winning director Ryan Bellgardt (GREMLIN, ARMY OF FRANKENSTEINS), and stars Ryan Merriman (FINAL DESTINATION 3) and Perrey Reeves (Entourage, CHILD'S PLAY 3). The film imagines a world set in the near future where convicts are chosen to compete in the ultimate virtual reality game show that pits its players against dinosaurs and each other. However, there is a catch: If you die in the virtual game, you also die in the real world!

And for Anthony Tucker (Adam Hampton), survival is his one chance to be reunited with his children after having been wrongfully imprisoned for the murder of his wife. As the devious The Host continues adding improbable challenges, the characters will find the odds stacked against them as only one victor can emerge as winner and reclaim their freedom.

Stills & Trailer:
(Click on images to enlarge them.)

THE JURASSIC GAMES is now available to rent or buy on AMAZON INSTANT VIDEO, and will be released on DVD and Blu-ray on Tuesday, July 3rd! The disc will come with director's commentary, deleted scenes, and a behind-the-scenes montage as extras, and should cost between $12 - $18 depending on what format you choose!

Kino Classics Tops Mill Creek With Their New Blu-ray Release of BABY: SECRET OF THE LOST LEGEND!

THE CLASSIC DINOSAUR ADVENTURE, "BABY: SECRET OF THE LOST LEGEND," COMES TO BLU-RAY ON FEBRUARY 13TH WITH NEW EXTRAS!

Already available on a relatively inexpensive Blu-ray from Mill Creek Entertainment (that allegedly contains a BETTER transfer of the film than this release, but most likely used the same one), Kino Classics' disc offers up spiffy new cover art, 5.1 audio, and extras! As a fan of this film (I absolutely LOVED it as a kid) I'm tempted to buy this release, but I think I'll wait a bit for the price to drop. However, don't let that stop you from adding this (tonally odd) dino-classic to your collection!

Synopsis: Time is running out to save the greatest discovery in 200 million years! Join the thrilling expedition deep into the forbidding African jungle, where two modern scientists are on the trail of an amazing discovery! While studying rare fossils, they uncover a living, breathing legend - an enormous pair of Brontosauruses and a hatchling dinosaur alive in the heart of the rain forest! To protect this rare find, they must escape a world of unseen and certain danger. Through a tribe of mystical native warriors, and into the grasp of an evil scientist, it's the ultimate battle to survive!

This movie is guaranteed to make you love dinosaurs.... and hate humans.

Screen favorites Sean Young (BLADE RUNNER, NO WAY OUT) and William Katt (HOUSE, TV's The Greatest American Hero) ignite the screen in this entertaining adventure of gigantic proportions! Bill Norton (MORE AMERICAN GRAFFITI) directed this exciting adventure for the whole family, co-starring the great Patrick McGoohan (TV's The Prisoner and Secret Agent).

Disc Specs:
Rated PG | Color | 95 minutes | Region A
Video - 1080p Widescreen (2.35:1)
Audio - DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 & 2.0

Extras: 

• NEW! Interview with star William Katt! 
• NEW! Interview with director Bill Norton!
• Original Theatrical Trailer 

BABY: SECRET OF THE LOST LEGEND arrives on Blu-ray Tuesday, February 13th and is priced between $18 - $20! You can order a copy right now from AMAZON or BULLMOOSE!

The most complete version of 1925's THE LOST WORLD is now available on Blu-ray!

REDISCOVERED FOOTAGE AND AN ALL-NEW 2K TRANSFER MAKE THIS BLU-RAY THE DEFINITIVE RELEASE OF THE LOST WORLD!

Out of the handful of silent films I've sen, THE LOST WORLD is easily my favorite. It is arguably one of the most important movies in cinematic history, and for the longest time has only been available in bargain-priced public domain DVD releases that contained the abridged 63-minute cut of the film.

Then in 2012, Image Entertainment released a 93-minute "restored version" of THE LOST WORLD. Though the quality of the transfer left a little to be desired, it was amazing to see a half-hour of never before seen footage! And now, we have a whopping 110 minutes of THE LOST WORLD to gawk at, thanks to Blackhawk Films, Lobster Films, and Flicker Alley!

Synopsis: True to its title, the 1925, 10-reel version of The Lost World effectively disappeared from circulation in 1929 all known positive prints destroyed a move by First National Pictures to help clear the way for another creature film utilizing special effects and Willis O Brien's cutting-edge animation techniques: KING KONG! For more than 80 years, only abridged editions of THE LOST WORLD remained in existence... until now!

Follow Professor Challenger, played by the inimitable Wallace Beery, as he and a crew of curious explorers embark on an expedition in search of a mythical, prehistoric plateau in South America. Along for the adventure are eminent scientist Summerlee (Arthur Hoyt, the director s brother), sportsman Sir John Roxton (Lewis Stone), journalist Ed Malone (Lloyd Hughes) and Paula White (Bessie Love), whose father disappeared on the same plateau. The party is not there long before the lost world of the jungle begins to reveal its secrets: a primitive ape-man, a Pterodactyl flying through the air, a massive Brontosaurus feeding upon the trees, the vicious Allosaurus, and many more monstrous beasts of the Jurassic age.

Flicker Alley, Lobster Films, and Blackhawk Films are thrilled to present the world-premiere Blu-ray edition of Arthur Conan Doyle's THE LOST WORLD, the most complete version of the film ever released! This visually stunning 2K restoration, accomplished by Lobster Films, features newly-discovered scenes and special effect sequences, incorporating almost all original elements from archives and collections around the world. Renowned silent film composer Robert Israel contributes a new and ambitious score, performed by a full orchestra in 2016!

Disc Specs:
Not Rated | Color (tinted) | 110 minutes | Region Free
Video - 1080p Fullscreen (1.33:1)
Audio - LPCM 2.0 (Orchestrated music only.)

Extras:

• Audio Commentary: Feature-length audio essay by Nicolas Ciccone, amateur filmmaker and film historian.
• Deleted Scenes: Restored outtakes from a 1925 original nitrate transfer of THE LOST WORLD. 
• R.F.D., 10,000 B.C. (1917): Short film directed by Willis O'Brien for producer Thomas Edison. 
• The Ghost of Slumber Mountain (1918): Short film written and directed by Willis O'Brien in a new 2K restoration by the Dinosaur Museum. 
• Creation (1930): Unfinished film directed by Willis O'Brien that nonetheless convinced Merian C. Cooper to hire O'Brien for KING KONG. 
• Image Gallery: Featuring original production, exhibition, and promotional materials. 
• Booklet Essay: "The Lost World: Secrets of the Restoration" by Serge Bromberg of Lobster Films.

The reviews are in and this restoration of THE LOST WORLD is a definite must-have! It boasts the longest, and most complete cut of the film, a beautiful new transfer, a newly orchestrated soundtrack, and a fantastic array of extras! You can order it now from AMAZON or BULLMOOSE! The price is a bit steep, but in this case, the pricetag seems warranted!

Saddle Up for some classic Harryhausen! THE VALLEY OF GWANGI makes its Blu-ray debut on March 14th!

THE BEST COWBOYS VS. DINOSAURS FILM OF ALL TIME, FINALLY COMES TO BLU-RAY ON MARCH 14TH FROM THE WARNER ARCHIVE COLLECTION!

I've always been a big Ray Harryhausen fan, and THE VALLEY OF GWANGI still has one of the most impressive stop-motion effects sequences ever committed to film. (i.e. "The Roping of Gwangi" sequence) And now I am happy to report that this classic dino-filled adventure is making the leap to high-definition this Tuesday!

Synopsis: Cowpokes head into a mysterious Mexican valley to head em up and move em out. But they're not looking for little doggies. They're looking for great big dinosaurs! James Franciscus stars in this thunderous adventure featuring amazing special effects by Ray Harryhausen (THE BEAST FROM 20,000 FATHOMS, EARTH VS. THE FLYING SAUCERS, et al.)

Franciscus plays a Wild West showman who leads his riding and roping crew into legendary VALLEY OF GWANGI, where prehistoric giants still roam. Thanks to Harryhausen wizardry, fantastic creatures lunge, fight and rampage in scene after dazzling scene (including an awesome sequence where the cowboys rope Gwangi, a razor-toothed Allosaurus). Saddle up and join the excitement!

Disc Specs:
Rated PG | Color | 95 minutes | Region A
Video - 1080p Widescreen (1.85:1)
Audio - DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0

Extras:

• Return to the Valley featurette with SFX wizard Ray Harryhausen.
• Theatrical Trailer (HD)

THE VALLEY OF GWANGI comes out on Tuesday, March 14th from The Warner Archive Collection. You can order it now from AMAZON, BULLMOOSE, and DIABOLIK DVD! If you love classic dinosaur cinema, or happen to be a fan of Ray Harryhausen's work, you owe it to yourself to pick this disc up!

Kino Lorber takes you back in time to ONE MILLION YEARS B.C. on February 14th!

SEE RAQUEL WELCH'S FUR-KINI IN STARTLING HD CLARITY IN KINO LORBER'S NEW "ONE MILLION YEARS B.C." BLU-RAY!

I've been a huge fan of Ray Harryhausen ever since I was a little hobgoblin, and ONE MILLION YEARS B.C. features some of my favorite work by the late stop-motion master. Plus it doesn't hurt to see Raquel Welch in a furry bikini! I can't wait to add this to my collection and compare the U.S. and international cuts of the film, which are both included on this release!

Synopsis: In this vivid view of prehistoric life, a man from the vicious Rock People, Tumak (John Richardson, BLACK SUNDAY) is banished from his home, but soon finds himself living among the kind, gentle Shell People. There, he falls in love with the beautiful Loana (Raquel Welch, 100 RIFLES, FUZZ, FATHOM), in the role that made her an international sex symbol and a major star.

The two decide to strike out on their own, living by their wits in a deadly land of treacherous beasts and unknown dangers, leading to a thrilling climax by the edge of an angry volcano. The stunning primeval creatures were created by the legendary special effects wizard Ray Harryhausen (THE BEAST FROM 20,000 FATHOMS, CLASH OF THE TITANS, et al.).

ONE MILLION YEARS B.C., a true science-fiction classic, was directed by Don Chaffey (JASON AND THE ARGONAUTS) and featured a strong supporting cast that included Martine Beswick (THUNDERBALL), Robert Brown (THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS), Percy Herbert (TOO LATE THE HERO) and Yvonne Horner (PREHISTORIC WOMEN).

Disc Specs:
Not Rated | Color | 91 minutes (U.S. cut) & 100 minutes (international cut) | Region A
Video - 1080p Widescreen (1.85:1)
Audio - English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0

Extras:

• NEW! 4K Restoration of the 91-minute U.S. Cut.
• Audio Commentary by Film Historian Tim Lucas.
• In the Valley of the Dinosaurs: Interview with Star Raquel Welch.
• An interview with SFX Legend Ray Harryhausen
• An interview with Actress Martine Beswick.
• Animated Montage of Posters and Images
• Trailers

Kino Lorber's stellar Blu-ray of ONE MILLION YEARS B.C. will be available everywhere on Tuesday, February 14th! Order your copy of this dino classic at AMAZON, BULLMOOSE, or DIABOLIK DVD today!