Renown Films

[Deadite]

I couldn't find an existing thread for this company. I've only just discovered them and have yet to order anything, but wondered if anyone else had and what their experiences were.

They seem to focus on vintage British B movies of the 30s 40s 50s and 60s. Largely crime movies and thrillers/dramas.

A link to their website for the curious.

Renown Films

[Susan Foreman]

THE RENOWN MONSTER COLLECTION BOX SET OF NINE CLASSIC CREATURE FEATURES + Bonus

• BEHEMOTH THE SEAMONSTER (1959) stars Andre Morell & Gene Evans – Nuclear testing causes a dinosaur to surface and terrorise England.
• BEAST FROM HAUNTED CAVE (1959) Stars Michael Forest. Gold thieves pull off a heist only to be pursued by spider like monsters as they flee.
• GORGO (1961) with Bill Travers. Undersea volcano causes aquatic creatures to come out of hiding!
• MONSTER FROM GREEN HELL (1957) stars Jim Davis and Robert Griffin in a tale of giant wasps!
• THE GIANT GILA MONSTER (1959) stars Don Sullivan & Lisa Simone. A giant lizard terrorises a local Texas community and a heroic teenager tries to save the day.
• THE CRATER LAKE MONSTER (1977) stars Richard Cardella & Glen Roberts. In Crater Lake a scientist is informed of a remarkable discovery in the cave system!
• THE KILLER SHREWS (1959) stars James Best, Ingrid Goude and Ken Curtis. A doctors experiments mutate and become giant shrews that escape and reproduce rapidly.
• THE STRANGE WORLD OF PLANET X (1958) stars Forest Tucker. An alien spaceship warns of the dangers of a scientists experiments.
• THE WOMANEATER (1958) with Vera Day. In the Amazon a tree feeds on the blood of women!
• BONUS FEATURES: MAN OR BEAST – a short documentary on early Hollywood monster movies inc; Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde, Hunchback of Notre Dame and Phantom of the Opera + VERA DAY – exclusive insight into her life in films and introduction to her movie THE WOMANEATER!

[BAKA]

They have their own TV channel too, Talking Pictures. I think it's channel 81. It's quite surprising to see adverts featuring their DVD artwork. I don't have anything by them, but they've released a few things I'd be interested in picking up, at the right price.

[Demdike@Cult Labs]

That set is worth getting if the films have all been remastered into pristine versions.

I have a couple of Renown releases and they aren't so stunning i'm afraid. Certainly not like Network releases.

I get the feeling it's the equivalent of a Mill Creek release.

[Susan Foreman]

Well, the trailer doesn't look too bad!

[Demdike@Cult Labs]

Originally Posted by Susan Foreman

Well, the trailer doesn't look too bad!

One or two look good but several clearly are just public domain prints.

With a bit more info on what is what i might get this.

[Dave Boy]

Looks good.
I think you have to join the club to get the set for £15.
Amazon are asking £35 and for some curious reason show pictures of women's shoes .

[Demdike@Cult Labs]

Originally Posted by Dave Boy

Looks good.
I think you have to join the club to get the set for £15.
Amazon are asking £35 and for some curious reason show pictures of women's shoes .

I don't think i'll be joining a club. Renoun are renowned for their extortionate prices.

Edit - looking at their website they seem to have slashed prices on thier own stuff.

[Susan Foreman]

Originally Posted by Dave Boy

Amazon are asking £35 and for some curious reason show pictures of women's shoes .

Sounds good to me!

Oh - just seen them. Maybe not!!

[Dave Boy]

Okay, so there is no denying that this box set is entertaining.
If you love the low budget monster movies then this box set is great.
It's a shame then that the film have not been remastered as advertised.

The films that look the best are The Womaneater, Strange World Of Planet X and The Giant Gila Monster.
The Beast From Haunted Cave and Monster From Green Hell are really not too bad a picture.
Gorgo looks colourful but still has washed out detail.
The Crater Lake Monster looks like an old tv print with transmission lines.
Behemoth The Sea monster has picture noise like digital blocking.
The Killer Shrews is just the old public domain print.

So, yes it does look bad from my comments but I really don't think that these films are going to look any better than they are here..no one is going to put the money in to restoring these which is a shame.
If you can pick up this set cheap then I say go for it, it really is a lot of fun.