Curucu, Beast Of The Amazon (1956) coming from Vinegar Syndrome

[whiteberry]

When reports of a clawed beast cause hundreds of natives to flee their Brazilian plantation jobs, the landowners send a macho trouble-shooter aptly named Rock Dean and cancer-researching doctor Andrea Romar deep into the rainforest for a steamy odyssey of dance numbers, headhunters, blowguns, grope-happy savages and one of the most infamous monsters in horror history!

From famed writer/director Curt Siodmak – scribe of THE WOLF MAN, I WALKED WITH A ZOMBIE and DONOVAN’S BRAIN – comes perhaps the most notorious jungle shocker of the 50s: CURUCU, BEAST OF THE AMAZON! Starring 50s B-movie legend John Bromfield (REVENGE OF THE CREATURE), cult movie icon, Beverly Garland (IT CONQUERED THE WORLD), alongside Tom Payne (LOVE SLAVES OF THE AMAZON), Vinegar Syndrome Labs offers this criminally overlooked studio produced shocker on Blu-ray for the first time, newly restored in 2K from its completely uncensored 35mm dupe negative.

directed by: Curt Siodmak
starring: John Bromfield, Beverly Garland, Tom Payne, Harvey Chalk, Larri Thomas, Wilson Vianna, Andrea Bayard
1956 / 75 min / 2.00:1 / English Mono

Additional info:

• Region A Blu-ray
• Newly scanned & restored in 2K from its 35mm dupe negative
• Brand new commentary track with film historian / author Barry Forshaw and film critic / author Kim Newman
• Archival video featurette with writer/director Curt Siodmak
• Video trailer
• Reversible sleeve artwork
• English SDH subtitles

Ships mid to late January

https://vinegarsyndrome.com/collecti...-of-the-amazon

Original Trailer:
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/xzyj78

New Trailer:

Curucu, Beast of the Amazon (1956) [Vinegar Syndrome Labs Blu-ray Promo Trailer] - YouTube

[Jobla]

The first monster movies I ever saw in a theater were CURUCU and THE MOLE PEOPLE, on a Universal double-bill. This was back in 1958 or 1959 at a suburban "family" theater. Neither one proved to be the greatest monster movie I would ever see, but the nostalgia factor is certainly in play for me here. So, I have preordered both CURUCU and FLESH AND FANTASY from VS, to keep the spirit of a "double-bill" alive.

[Slob]

Went ahead and ordered one. This has been near top of my want list since VHS days. I've had to content myself with boot from black and white tv print in 1:33.
When did this go up for pre-order? Site says limited to 4000, only 1000 left.

[TominMN]

Originally Posted by Slob

Went ahead and ordered one. This has been near top of my want list since VHS days. I've had to content myself with boot from black and white tv print in 1:33.
When did this go up for pre-order? Site says limited to 4000, only 1000 left.

It went up for preorder today. Site says over 1000 left in stock.

[whiteberry]

It was released as part of a double feature with The Mole People (1956). Zombos' Closet has the complete pressbook:
https://www.zomboscloset.com/zombos_...he-amazon.html

[Jobla]

Great to see that pressbook. That was the double-feature that I attended back in 1958. I can't believe it was so long ago.

[HuggyBear73]

Was this ever on dvd?

[JasonMichael]

Originally Posted by HuggyBear73

Was this ever on dvd?

Apparently not ever on VHS or DVD.

[Jobla]

Originally Posted by JasonMichael

Apparently not ever on VHS or DVD.

Correct.

[klingsor]

You can watch the entire film in good quality on Youtube. I'd recommend doing that if you're really interested.

[RalphoR]

Anyone snag an early copy?

[BlightThrower]

Man, I'm really debating on grabbing this one. My Dad used to get all these B-Movie double feature DVDs for us to watch and this one looks like it would have been right at home alongside stuff like The Wasp Woman and Attack of the Giant Leeches. I also have a soft spot for film historian commentaries.

[Rzzzz]

Originally Posted by BlightThrower

Man, I'm really debating on grabbing this one. My Dad used to get all these B-Movie double feature DVDs for us to watch and this one looks like it would have been right at home alongside stuff like The Wasp Woman and Attack of the Giant Leeches. I also have a soft spot for film historian commentaries.

I did the same for my kids and now my grandkids. The boys eat this stuff up. The girls, not so much . I didn't have to think twice about ordering this...

[Killer Meteor]

It's got Beverly Garland, piranhas and a Kim Newman commentary. How could I resist?

[Mr. Thomsen]

Same here.

I mean, for a short second I was debating whether I should wait for the inevitable price drop at the Half-way to Black Friday Sale in May. There is no way this will be sold out before that.

But I ended up pre-ordering it anyway. I really want to watch it (and the other VSL release) ASAP, and also support Vinegar going further back into deep catalogue and releasing more like this.

[BIGXWHIFF]

Originally Posted by Mr. Thomsen

Same here.

I mean, for a short second I was debating whether I should wait for the inevitable price drop at the Half-way to Black Friday Sale in May. There is no way this will be sold out before that.

But I ended up pre-ordering it anyway. I really want to watch it (and the other VSL release) ASAP, and also support Vinegar going further back into deep catalogue and releasing more like this.

I had the same thought but I also wanted to support this line to (hopefully) keep more of these types of releases coming.

[johnf14]

'Curacu' has a very disappointing transfer. Looks like some scenes were taken from a pan/scan TV print blown-up to a 2:1 AR. Truth be told this is a very poor monster film (without a monster). If only it lived-up to the cover art. 'Flesh and Fantasy' is somewhat better (PQ) but still not as good as recent Universal titles from Shout Factory. Premium prices should net premium product.

[By_His_Strypes]

Hopefully, they don't dip their toes in too many waters where quality begins to suffer for it...

[gbm82]

Originally Posted by By_His_Strypes

Hopefully, they don't dip their toes in too many waters where quality begins to suffer for it...

the fact that the poster equates it to a pan-and-scan blow up makes me question their credibility.... and plenty of people have this in hand and this is the first I've heard of it being substandard.

[By_His_Strypes]

Originally Posted by gbm82

the fact that the poster equates it to a pan-and-scan blow up makes me question their credibility.... and plenty of people have this in hand and this is the first I've heard of it being substandard.

I don't know, I'm just going by what he said. But, I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. There are too many VinSyn fans that wouldn't criticize anything even if it was exactly as he said...