J-Men Extra Features
I saw that Firesign Theater’s J-Men Forever is out on DVD. For any who are unfamiliar with it, the comedy troupe took a bunch of Republic serials, redubbed the voices, and edited the footage into a comedy spoof. I’ll be reviewing the film later this weekend on my movie blog, as it’s not really a serial but a feature film. Anyway, what I wanted to mention about the DVD is a great bonus feature with an interview with Commando Cody himself, George Wallace (which is ironic in that the all of the Rocket Man footage in the film is Tristram Coffin, not Wallace). It is a fascinating thirty minute interview where Wallace discusses Radar Men From the Moon, Forbidden Planet, Raul Walsh, his short lived time on Disney’s Swamp Fox due to an onset accident with a horse, as well as his work on Minority Report and the TV series Buffy, The Vampire Slayer. It is a true treat for serial fans.
Firesign Theatre also did “Hot Shorts” in 1983 which was more fun with edited serial segments! 8 of the 9 shorts were from serials -
(Dangers of the Canadian Mounted): Mounties Catch Herpes
(The Black Widow): Sperm Bank Holdup
(Spy Smasher): Revenge of the Non-Smokers
(Manhunt of Mystery Island): Toy Wars
(Panther Girl of the Kongo): Claws II
(Undersea Kingdom): Olympic Confidential
(Radar Men From the Moon): The Last Hand Gun on Earth
(Darkest Africa ): Heaven Is Hell
(he other short was edited from the B-movie - She Demons and became Nazi Diet Doctors
Was released on VHS,BETA,CED and Laserdisc!
Still no dvd on this title,sadly.