The Mole People

Film appreciation by Robert Siegel of The Digital Bits

Universal has previously made this set available exclusively at Best Buy, but has now made a general DVD release of The Ultimate Sci-Fi Collection, something horror fans have long awaited. Universal, known for its horror films of the 1930's and 1940's, started to produce science fiction in the 1950's with larger than life monsters and beasts from other planets and was quite successful in creating a series of films that to this day are treasured by fans of classic horror and science fiction.

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Included in this set is The Mole People. This is the story of a present day expedition in Asia that discovers a tribe of Sumerians, thought to have been lost for centuries, living underground and in complete ignorance of the outside world. While most sci-films of the period dealt with strange happenings in outer space, producer William Alland chose a completely different premise and went underground for this film, the story of the discovery of a lost race of people who for centuries have been living underground. The film stars John Ager, who spent much of the period doing science fiction and horror films and is well known for them. As he explained it at the time of release, "While there was probably more fiction than science behind these films, naturally I became interested in the scientific backgrounds of the stories and started delving deeper into the subjects. The more interested I became, the more I felt I could do with each role. Scientists may not do as well financially as actors, but from the sketchy studying I have done they certainly lead fascinating lives." Of the three science fiction pictures Agar did up to this point, he considered The Mole People the most fascinating.

Co-star Cynthia Patrick described her meeting with producer William Alland. "I knew the minute I walked into Mr. Alland's office and found Virgil Vogel there, that something was up, but I wasn't prepared for being offered a starring role. In fact, when Mr. Alland asked me how I would like to play the lead opposite John Ager, I didn't think he was serious." However, Alland was very serious and the virtually unknown beauty who walked into his office walked out a Universal star. Cynthia plays a member of the lost race in a role she has later said she always will treasure and give much thanks to Universal for having such faith in her.

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Also included with this set are Universal Sci-Fi classics Tarantula, The Incredible Shrinking Man, Monolith Monsters, Monster on the Campus, Dr. Cyclops, Cult of the Cobra, The Land Unknown, The Deadly Mantis and The Leech Woman. It's a great set of sci-fi horror films for fans of the genre.

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Release Details (The Mole People only): Theatrical Release: December 1956 by Universal International Pictures Filming Locations: Hollywood, California (Universal Studios) Category: Science Fiction Original Running Time: 77 minutes Original Specs: 35mm mono, Black and White Original Budget: $207,500.00 Box office Gross: Unknown Soundtrack on LP, CD: 3 Selections on Monstrous Movie Music, CD, 1996, MMM-1950 Awards: None DVD Release: May 13, 2008 by Universal as part of Classic Sci-Fi Ultimate Collection - UPC 025195033015 (set) DVD Specs: English Dolby Digital mono, 5.1, English and French subtitles

The Secret of Santa Vittoria

In Panavision and Technicolor, MGM Home Video has released the United Artists film The Secret of Santa Vittoria. The film stars Anthony Quinn as the bumbling tosspot and part time Mayor Bombolini with Ann Margnani as his shrewish spouse, a couple which has endeared themselves to millions of readers. Also starring are Virna Lisi and Sergio Franchi as the passionate noblewoman Malatesta and her peasant lover, Tufa.

Since Italy's post-war Santa Vittoria is now far from the rather sleepy mountainside town of Crichton's novel, a suitable substitute had to be found for the action of the story and this was most fortunately secured in Anticoli, Corrado, which was as typical of the small Italian village as could be found. So to Antocoli Corrado went Director Stanley Kramer and his vast technical and artistic corps supplying that ancient town with its greatest excitement since the Huns swept through it 2000 years ago on their way to Rome. Since the village is a mere 35 miles from Rome, Kramer was able to use the vast motion picture-making facilities of that capital.

The novel of The Secret of Santa Vittoria which recounts in sometimes hilarious manner the struggle between a small Italian village whose inhabitants' wits have been sharpened by 2000 years of dealing with the insanity of authority, and the well-disciplined, no-monkeyshines minds of the Nazi master race for the possession of the town's wine supply, was quite the story to tackle. Kramer was so taken with the story when he read it in galley-proof form that he purchased the movie rights to it at once for a record $350,000. That he picked a winner was evident at once when the novel hit and occupied a high place on the best-seller lists for 49 straight weeks, ran into many reprint editions in almost every language, and is still in print form. Thus, Kramer added to his stature as a director and producer of great motion pictures, a career which commenced with the making of the now historic The Champion, and which included such stand-outs as High Noon, The Caine Mutiny, On the Beach, Inherit the Wind, Judgement at Nuremberg, Guess Who's Coming to Dinner and It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World.

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There was never any doubt in Kramer's mind who would play Bombolini and his wife in the film. He remembered the sterling performances together of Quinn and Mahnani ten years previous in Wild is the Wind, and never considered anyone else for these roles. Quinn, since 1937 to the time Vittoria was made, had appeared in 68 motion pictures in which he portrayed 25 different nationalities and acquired 2 Academy Awards along the way. Born in Mexico, he was half Irish and half Mexican but an American citizen by adoption. He long resided in Italy, his favorite spot in the world. Anna Magnani won an Academy Award for Best Actress in 1955 for her part in The Rose Tattoo. She wasn't seen on the American screen much since that time until Vittoria. Born in the slums of Rome, Magnani attended drama school when she was 17, supporting herself as a singer of stornelli which are ribald songs of the Roman back streets. She achieved an early fame on the Italian stage and made her movie debut in 1934 in The Blind Woman of Sorrento. From then she went on to the international film scene. One of the most popular performers on the RCA-Victor label at the time was Sergio Franchi, who plays the role of the peasant Tufa to the impassioned Countess Malatesta. Hardy Kruger plays the Nazi commander Von Prum. This is the films first release on DVD.

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