Reviews

Strong story and a good cast help this one from RKO. Hard to dislike a film like this, but it has dated badly. Acting is uneven. Has the look of "an old movie" which doesn't help it at all today. However, Ford directed it and Max Steiner wrote the very impressive musical score. You can't go wrong with these two movie pioneers behind the scenes. Was remade several times under different titles.

Viewed today, you cannot help but laugh at some of the dialogue. Acting is only fair by everyone involved. However, you still marvel at all of the special effects involved. An awful lot of tedious and difficult work to create these memorable images. And Max Steiner composed a score that was both exciting (especially during the brontosaurus attack/log sequence) and touching (Empire State Building segment). If there were Oscars for original music and special effects in 1933, there's no doubt that Steiner and Willis O'Brien would have won. Unforgettable movie. A true 1930s classic!

The Clay People! Who can forget that sequence in Chapter 2 when they first appear. And all to that great Waxman music. Still a good serial to watch, even in these days. Good photography, OK acting, polished script but somehow the original 1936 serial was superior. And kudos again to that great tracked musical score.

Silly dialogue and some unpleasant stereotypes almost sink this one from Universal's Carl Laemmle period. Still some good action sequences and a really good musical score mostly penned by Franz Waxman. Music reused most notably in "Tim Tyler's Luck" (1937) and "The Crime of Dr. Hallet" (1938). Charles Bickford was hurt badly after wrestling with some unhappy lions in the finale. Worth a look if you can find it!

Many good and bad aspects on this horror film. Could have and should have been better. Walker created some great horror sequences with immeasurable help from Charles Stumar's photography and Karl Hajos' musical score. The music was apparently so good that it was used over and over in Universal's

"B" movies and serials for the next 5 years. Fans of the classic "Flash Gordon" serial from 1936 will recognize the music in this film immediately. What if Karloff and Lugosi were in this film instead of Hull and Oland?

A very rare film. If you can find a copy on tape somehow, rent or buy it. Photography and performances are all very good. AND that familiar musical score. Heinz Roemheld composed a truly wonderful score which was used many times over in Universal's "B" movies and serials, most notable being the 1936 "Flash Gordon" serial. Any fan of Universal's Carl Laemmle sound film era will find this a real treat.