Plot: What’s it about?
Baron von Frankenstein (voiced by Boris Karloff) has been making monsters for as long as he can remember, but he is now set to retire. As such, he needs to appoint a new leader for the organization of monsters and of course, that means he’ll need to call them all together for a monster bash. So the invitations are handed over to some bats and they’re sent out into the world, to inform the monsters of the upcoming event. Soon enough, the Hunchback, Dracula, The Creature, Dr. Jekyll (and his friend Mr. Hyde), the Werewolf, Fang (a.k.a. Frankenstein’s monster), the Invisible Man, and even Fang’s companion (voiced by Phyllis Diller) have all assembled at Frankenstein’s eerie mansion, to see who will take over the leader’s post. Of course, each of them thinks it will be them to be named the new leader, but only Frankenstein and his assistant Francesca (voiced by Gale Garnett) know for sure. In truth, the reins will be handed over to Frankenstein’s nephew Felix, who is not only not a monster, but he is a nerd to boot! Will this prove to be a good decision and beyond that, will this be the best monster bash of all time?
This Rankin/Bass production isn’t in the same mold as Rudolph or Frosty, but Mad Monster Party has the same kind of charm and magic. As a fan of the classic monster movies, I love seeing so many of them featured in one place, not to mention Boris Karloff’s presence. I won’t claim that this is a flawless project, as I often wonder why Phyllis Diller was brought in and some of the songs are substandard, but Mad Monster Party is a blast to experience. Yes, it has loads of camp value and seems overly silly most of the time, but it is well written and the animation is superb, which is enough to balance things out a little. Jack Davis (of Mad Magazine fame) designed the characters and they look terrific, especially Karloff’s character, with tons of detail and while the characters look somewhat different, the designs also remain true to the traditional elements. If you’re a fan of monster movies, have a good sense of humor, and appreciate camp, then Mad Monster Party is more than recommended, without hesitation.
Video: How does it look?
Mad Monster Party is presented in a full frame transfer, as intended. As the source materials had been ravaged by time, a full restoration was undertaken and as seen on this release, the results are nothing short of miraculous. The print used is almost pristine and shows no debris or damage, simply stunning work all around here. The colors are vivid and bold, with no smears or other errors, while black levels are razor sharp and well balanced at all times. I was shocked to see such a clean, impressive visual effort for this camp classic, but the restoration work has turned back time on this one, so fans should rejoice.
Audio: How does it sound?
The original mono track is found here and while it isn’t too memorable, it sounds clean and provides a solid experience. I heard minimal age related flaws such as harshness or hiss, which was a pleasant surprise. I do think some of the musical numbers sound a little harsh, but only to a minor degree and never to the point of distraction. The sound effects are clear and well handled, so they never drown out the other elements and remain effective. The dialogue is crisp and never falters in the least, always at the proper volume balance throughout. This track is much cleaner and less dated than I expected, terrific work indeed.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc includes some production artwork, a selection of posters & still photos, and the film’s theatrical trailer.
