VILLAGE
OF THE GIANTS (1965)Director: Bert I. Gordon
MGM
VILLAGE
OF THE GIANTS (1965)For years, producer/director Bert I. Gordon ("Mr. Big") had been shrinking and enlarging a variety of people, animals and insects in a series of cult sci-fi films. When it came time to adapting H.G. Wells' "Food of the Gods" in the mid 60s, Gordon approached the subject as a spoof that's sort of in the mode of AIP's popular beach flicks. Wells would probably be turning in his grave at the notion of this blend of "Flubber" and horny teenagers, but as a 60s time capsule piece, it's perfectly enjoyable hokum.
The film opens up with a pack of reckless teenagers (led by future star Beau Bridges) who crash their car in the middle of a rainstorm. For no apparent reason--other than to flaunt the girls in drenched, revealing tops--they dance around in the mud. They make their way to a nearby town where a kid called "Genius" (little Ronny Howard on hiatus from Mayberry) invents a pink goop formula that makes animals grow when eaten. He first gives it to some ducks who become giant and shake their tale feather at a disco, where the kids seem more interested in dancing to the catchy live performance of The Beau Brummels, as well as cheating on their mates. The goop is later consumed by a nasty cat, a cute dog, and since this is Bert Gordon film, a spider.
After a community barbecue featuring a giant roast duck as the main dish, the bad teens steal a lump of Ronny's goop from his basement lab and decide to feast on it. They all grow enormously, and the busty girls burst out of their clothes "Incredible Hulk" style! Taking refuge at a closed theater, they use some drapes and curtains as clothes, and bully the other normal-sized teens and adults around. Like in "Charlie Brown," there's hardly any adults around anyway, and the sheriff (Joe Turkel) is useless since the giants kidnap his daughter as muscle against the town. They put a curfew on the adults and the other teens (including "The Rifleman" star Johnny Crawford and former Disney actor Tommy Kirk, looking ten years too old to be a teen) are forced to bring them miniature buckets of chicken and soda pop at their beckoning.
Other highlights include the giant teens dancing slow motion to the beat of Jack Nitzsche's nifty music, red-haired Toni Basil's go-go-cage jiggle (she later had the 1982 chart-topper "Mickey"), Freddie "Boom Boom" Cannon singing in front of some bikini beauties, and John Crawford happily clinging onto Joy Harmon's immense (literally) bosom (which was the primary image used in the advertising campaign). You can also expect the usual effect tricks associated with Mr. Big, but the giant-scale replica of Bridge's legs looks pretty ridiculous, being pencil-thin and remaining stationary while being lassoed. This is all actually lots of fun, and believe it or not, you can show it to the kids.
Originally released theatrically by Embassy, MGM has released VILLAGE OF THE GIANTS as part of their "Midnite Movies," which like the "Food" from the title of Wells' original novel, is a gift from the Gods. The full frame transfer looks pretty good. The colors are a bit muted, but still highly acceptable. The mono sound is fine. There are optional French and Spanish subtitles. There is no trailer or any other extras, but hey, we're lucky that this drive-in gem is now on DVD! Thanks again MGM! (George R. Reis)