Mad Monster Party (1967) in Widescreen from Umbrella

[Gone2HiDef]

I received my copy from Umbrella too. I'm on the West Coast too. Took about a week and a half.

Just played the opening from both the Lionsgate and Umbrella discs. Looks like Umbrella's 1.85:1 format trims off the top and bottom of the 1.33:1 full frame we're accustomed to seeing on the Lionsgate disc. I've only ever seen it in full frame, so it gives me the feeling that I've traded out something for a widescreen image, a little buyer's remorse if I'm being honest. The 1.33:1 full frame version is also included as a bonus feature.

I agree with everyone else here who received the Umbrella release that the image offers more detail than the Lionsgate release, especially obvious on their main widescreen version. For example, the glowing optical effect on Dr. Frankenstein's test tube after it's been electrocuted stand out more than they did on the Lionsgate version to me. Colors are better but not significantly much imo. The picture quality still has a softness about it, but overall it's better than Lionsgate's.

I checked on screen and the Umbrella disc is a longer cut by about a minute.

I watched the 3-minute intro by Rick Goldschmidt. I know nothing about the production of MMP?, so I'm looking forward very much to listening to his audio commentary. I'm optimistic that his commentary will offset what I'm feeling about the widescreen crop. I'm just so used to the full frame from my Lionsgate! LOL