Ludwig, Edward

The Fighting Seabees

The Black Scorpion

Fans of '50s science fiction should be pleased by this "big bug" chiller, which offers a fine showcase for the talents of special effects master Willis O'Brien (King Kong). The Black Scorpion follows closely in the multiple footsteps of Them!, produced three years earlier by the same company (Warner Bros.)--again, giant insects threaten mankind, though here a volcano is responsible for unleashing them, and the metropolis in peril is Mexico City. Though direction, acting, and scripting aren't on par with Them!, O'Brien's title creatures (which sport implausible yet creepy faces) are memorably monstrous, especially during hero Richard Denning's visit to their nightmarish underground lair. Warner Bros.' DVD features a surprising amount of extras for an older title. "Stop Motion Masters" is a short tribute to O'Brien by his famed student Ray Harryhausen; also included is O'Brien's dinosaur-laden opening for Irwin Allen's The Animal World documentary, and legendary test footage for two unfilmed monster projects by O'Brien's assistant, Peter Petersen. --Paul Gaita

They're big. They're bad. They scuttle along in caverns miles beneath the Earth - until an earthquake opens paths to the surface. Now these monsters of genus Arachnida are invading our world with deadly force. With top special effects co-designed by King Kong's Willis O'Brien, The Black Scorpion is horror with a sting more lethal than the king-sized ants that overran Los Angeles's sewers in the classic Them! Can humankind survive these invincible juggernauts? That fate rests on the shoulders of Hank Scott (1950s monster movie stalwart Richard Denning) as the creatures rip a train from its tracks, snatch a helicopter from the sky and, in the film's most gripping sequence, battle each other in their subterranean lair. Watch out!

DVD Features:
Featurette:Stop-Motion Masters with Ray Harryhausen; Never-before-seen test footage of the Las Vegas monster and beetlemen; Harryhausen-animated dinosaur sequence from Irwin Allen's 1956 The Animal World
Theatrical Trailer:Giant monsters trailer gallery featuring this film, The Beat from 20,000 Fathoms, Clash of the Titans and The Valley of the Gwangi

Branded - The Complete First Season

In Branded, Chuck Connors plays the part of part of Captain Jason McCord, West Point graduate and decorated Cavalry officer. As the sole survivor of the Battle at Bitter Creek, an Apache Indian massacre, he is judged to have deserted the field of battle and is stripped of his rank. He is branded a coward and a disgrace in the eyes of the world. Branded is a true Western classic and Chuck Connors as Jason McCord is the epitome of the American spirit; rugged and courageous. He is unafraid to take on any task and through his strength and will, he is able to overcome whatever odds are placed before him.

Wake of the Red Witch

John Wayne stars as a 19th-century sea captain out for revenge against a wealthy shipping magnate in this interesting and unlikely 1948 offering from Republic Pictures. Wayne plays the wronged Captain Ralls with a convincing bitterness that foreshadows his later work in the John Ford classic The Searchers, and his grim portrayal of Ralls hits a high point when Ralls purposely wrecks his enemy's prize treasure ship. The painfully beautiful Gail Russell costarred with Wayne only the year before in The Angel and the Badman and delivers a memorable performance as the tragic Angelique. Gig Young also stands out as a crewman who eventually learns the truth about Ralls. Wake of the Red Witch shares similarities in both character and climax to an earlier Wayne picture, C.B. DeMille's Reap the Wild Wind, but this film has a more direct approach in exploring the complex motivations of its characters. --Mark Savary

The Fighting Seabees / Wake Of The Red Witch (Double Feature)

THE FIGHTING SEABEES - All-American hero John Wayne takes a crew of construction workers and turns them into one of WWII's toughest fighting forces in this action-packed war classic. After having convinced the Army brass to let his civilians bear arms Wedge Donovan ( Wayne) whips his new troops into combat shape. But when he leads his unit in an alll-out assult against the Japanese Donovan is brought up on court-martial charges and must fight for his life on a new battlefield. THE FIGHTING SEABEES offers an entertaining combination of strong supporting performances by Daniel O'Keefe and ravishing about-to-be-superstar Susan Hayward; brawlinlg big budget action sequences; and an Oscar-nominated score- all of which led Leonard Maltin to give "3 stars" to this spirited saga turned box office bonanza. WAKE OF THE RED WITCH - John Wayne battles enemies above and below the waves - including a giant killer octopus - in WAKE OF THE RED WITCH. This sprawling epic adventure pits the tough-minded Captain Ralls (John Wayne) against the treacherous Captain Sidneye (Luther Adler) in a bitter rivalry on a South Seas isle. At stake is a fortune in pearls hidden in an underwater cave. At risk is the hand of the beautiful Angelique (Gail Russell) daughter of Desiax the tyrant ruler of the island who plans to marry her off to Sidneye. In an attempt to rescue Angelique Ralls must seize the pearls and exchange them for her freedom. The danger continues as fate holds one final test of strength and bravery for the bold Captain and the woman he loves.System Requirements:Running Time: 206 Mins.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: WESTERN/MISC. Rating: NR UPC: 017153213171 Manufacturer No: 21317

The Big Wheel

Mickey Rooney: Forever Young 4 Movie Pack

THE BIG WHEELMickey Rooney plays Billy Coy a garage mechanic who matriculates into a champion racecar driver. On the way to the top he steps on his friends and foes alike. He even manages to briefly alienate his saintly mother (Spring Byington). The cocky Coy eventually kills another racer when he forgets that gas and alcohol don t mix. It takes some doing but Billy finally redeems himself1949 B&W 92 minutesMY OUTLAW BROTHERDenny O More (Mickey Rooney) is a greenhorn from New York who heads into the Wild West to see his brother Patrick (Robert Stack). Along the way he begins traveling with a ranger who is hot on the trail of a notorious outlaw who turns out to be Denny s brother. The tale is based on a novel by Max Brand.1951 B&W 82 minutesQUICKSANDMotor mechanic Dan Brady (Mickey Rooney) lacks funds for a heavy date with new waitress Vera the type whose life s ambition is a fur coat; so he embezzles twenty dollars from his employer. To make up the shortage he goes in debt for a hundred. Thereafter every means he tries to get out of trouble only gets him deeper into crime while everyone he meets is out for what they can get.1950 B&W 79 minutesLOVE LAUGHS AT ANDY HARDYIn true art imitates life fashion Rooney plays returning G.I. Andy hardy who arrives in his home town of Carvel to the open arms of his family: Father Judge Hardy (Lewis Stone) mother Mrs. Hardy (Fay Holden) and Aunt Milly (Sara Haden). Andy launches into a new romance with college coed Kay Wilson (Bonita Granville). His boundless ebullience is dampened when Kay elects to marry another setting the stage for another of those man-to-man talks between Judge Hardy and Son. Fortunately Andy bounces back to his old self when he meets Latin American exchange student Isobel Gonzales (Lina Romay).1946 B&W 93 minutesSystem Requirements:Copyright 2004 BCI.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: COMEDY UPC: 787364574896

Great Racing Movies (The Fast And The Furious / The Big Wheel / Hot Rod Girl)

3 Great Movies on 1 DVD. Star Power, Exciting Genre with Extras on each DVD.

The Big Wheel

Restless and reckless, Mickey Rooney is "The Big Wheel!" All grown up, Rooney stars as Billy Coy, the son of a famous Indianapolis 500 race car driver who died in a fiery crash in the last laps of the race. Always living in the shadow of his father, Billy races his way to the Indy 500 to face his fears and claim his family legacy. Action-packed race car footage filmed at the famed speedway with plenty of dizzy skids and crashes for race fans and action lovers. Spectacular footage, romance and music. Great stars, top notch entertainment!

The Fighting Seabees [Region 2]