The 50 Classic Science Fiction Movies Set

[Variety of Cells]

So I was flipping through Hammacher Schlemmer (for those of you unframiliar with Hammacher Schlemmer, it?s basically the ground version of sky mall magazine) and I was having a nice time admiring the over priced useless crap that they were selling like robot vacuum cleaners and special Christmas light projectors and space saving foosball tables, until I came across the $30 box set ?The 50 Classic Science Fiction Movies Set?.  At first I was like ?hey cool, movies, I like movies.  Maybe they put together some cool science fiction films, and $30 dollars isn?t bad for 50 movies.?  Then I read the product description.  Here it is in its entirety.

This 50-movie DVD boxed set includes some of science fiction?s most famous (and infamous) films, from a diverse group of directors including Curtis Harrington, W. Lee Ilder, and Freddie Francis, and science fiction movie stars including John Carridine, Peter Graves, and Buster Crabbe.  Titles such as Gamera the Invincible and Wasp Woman join drive-in theater staples such as Voyage To The Prehistoric Planet and Teenagers From Outer Space, along with cult classics such as They came from Beyond Space and Santa Clause Conquers The Martians.  Set includes 12 double-sided DVDs.  Visit Hammacher.com for a complete movie list.

What the hell!?  How can you call Gammera and Tennagers fom Outerspace classics?  The only reason Santa Clause Conquers The Martians is a cult classic is because MST3K made it a classic, same with the rest of those films. 

I wouldn?t have been so bothered by it if they weren?t being deceptive.  People are going to read that and think those movies are actually classics.  Imagine the look on their faces when they pop in Santa Clause Conquers The Martians.  It made me doubt everything else in Hammacher Schlemmer even more.  I bet vacuum enthusiasts are laughing their ass? off at what shitty vacuums they are selling.

On a side note, that?s a really good deal if you are looking for some raw versions of MST3K films.  That?s less than a dollar a movie.  Though to fit them all on 12 discs, the quality must be pretty poor.  Still, something to check out for all you bad movie buffs.

[kodiakthejuggler]

Though to fit them all on 12 discs, the quality must be pretty poor.

Nah. Crap in, crap out. They don't have to worry about lots of compression or resolution issues with such crappy old movies. I bet many of them were taken from videotape. It's not like they're working from HD here...


Sounds like a great deal for MST3K completionists!

[Cibernético II]

no, no they're still classics

it's not like they were unknown before MST3K came along. You know many of us still have local TV stations that to this day still show old Sci-Fi movies without the any riff assitance. No, really! It's True!

In fact, people like me that live in the Chicago area have long enjoyed horror movie presentations by Svengoolie [Jerry G. Bishop] before there was ever a MST3K (followed by Son of Svengoolie [Rich Koz] who then became just Svengoolie). The show had host segments with wackiness and fan letters and during some parts of the film Sven would stand in front of the movie making his own comments or they would just put in funny sounds.

You know, I bet there even some people out there who have ACTUALLY SEEN THOSE VERY MOVIES AT THE THEATER DURING THEIR LIFETIME.

I'm pretty sure anybody would know what they're getting into and I don't think the people are stealing any ideas.

[Variety of Cells]

Stealing ideas, no.  And you're right, they are famous without the help of MST3K, but I still feel the description is misleading.  It never says that that they are classic B movies, they advertise them as classic sci fi movies.  When people hear classic, they think good, and I refuse to call Gamera good. 

[PsypherPunk]

I have a similar '50 Chilling Classics' box set, also on 12 double-sided DVDs. There are a couple of MST'd films on there and on the whole yep, they're truly terrible. Perfect fodder for a late night though.

[mrbasehart]

Meh.  It's marketing.  Of course they're going to call them classics, people who may not have heard of these films wouldn't buy them if they knew how they are. 

[starfighter]

     "50 Public Domain Science Fiction Movies (Caveat Emptor)" doesn't have the same ring to it and since when is there truth in advertising anyway.

[Variety of Cells]

Even since they released the "Thigh Master".  I thought it was just an exercise machine, but it turns out my thighs are now the property of Suzanne Somers.  Please, don't ask me what she does with them.

[starfighter]

     Hey, is "Eegah!" in this set by any chance??  I ask cause I want to post somewhere that Misties who enjoyed Arch Hall Jr.'s work in that classic can see two other movies of his in the early morning hours next Saturday morning on TCM.  I'm not sure if Rob Zombie is still hosting in this time slot but The Sadist is on at 1:00 AM CST, followed by Wild Guitar at 2:45.  I've got a cheap DVD of Wild Guitar but this is my first chance to see The Sadist.   With a title like that, you just know it's gotta be bad/good.

    Didn't Suzanne Somers also advertise the "Butt Master"?   Does she own your ass??

[Road_Element]

No Robinson Crusoe on Mars, That sucks. Otherwise very nice.

[Sharktopus]

I have The Sadist. Haven't actually watched it, though. I just saw Arch and the title and went "Yoink!"

(You find some interesting stuff when you image Google "sadist.")

As for truth in advertising, if anyone who buys a collection featuring a movie called Santa Claus Conquers The Martians is expecting "classics" they're getting what they deserve.

[starfighter]

   Since you mention "Santa Claus Conquers the Martians"  I've always wanted to mention that it used to be available in play form for grade schools to put on.  I have no idea how that matches up to the production time frame of the movie since it was a million years ago when I was in 5th grade which is about the perfect age for that movie.  I must have at least been entertained by it since I don't remember any other school plays.  Never saw the film until MST3K used it.
    Geez,  I'm having a flashback.  One of my classmates played Santa who just last week lost the election for State Senate.  Maybe he peaked in 5th grade.

[Bob]

There are a lot of those "Classic 50 movies" sets out there.   There are several versions of the horror set and they all pretty much feature the same films.   As long as you are looking for cheese and are having your own "riff the movie" parties, then they are okay.    I just hope some grandma does note get dupped at Best Buy.

[JonnyFrag]

I LOVE these sets! IMHO the best one out there to pick up is the 50 Chilling Classics. It even has Peter Jackson's first movie Bad Taste. If you have somehow managed to miss that flick, remedy that right away!

I am not sure how Bad Taste ended up in Public Domain. Guess something to do with it being PD only in the USA or something.  Hazy area copyright is.../Yoda

[Bob]

I LOVE these sets! IMHO the best one out there to pick up is the 50 Chilling Classics. It even has Peter Jackson's first movie Bad Taste. If you have somehow managed to miss that flick, remedy that right away!

I am not sure how Bad Taste ended up in Public Domain. Guess something to do with it being PD only in the USA or something.  Hazy area copyright is.../Yoda

Yeah, I own that one!    Lots of fun.