MATINEE/MANT the 1993 movie.

[marsattacks666]

Anyone in Horrorland dig Joe Dantes, Matinee? Fun movie, loosely based on William Castle's films. But, not really.

[mike c]

Absolutely one of my top ten favorite films ever!
I don't think it was based on Castle's films so much as on his legendary personality and ingenious marketing skills... and Goodman is impeccable!
Cathy Moriarty is hysterically droll, the kids are all funny and real, and the movie MANT... holy c**p what a classic, stupid, funny thing! I wish I could watch all of MANT!
-"Can't you be a man and put the insect aside?"
-"Insecticide?!? Where?!"

Just a loving, incredibly FUN film.

I wonder when it will be RE-released on DVD, hopefully with some supplements and extras (who wouldn't want a commentary with the cast, or interviews with Dante, Goodman, et al?); the last time was in the 90's and copies are ridiculously priced now. Does anyone know why there's been no new release of this perfectly enjoyable film?


Mike C.

[mike c]

Joe Dante's MANT! part 1
Joe Dante's MANT! part 2


I guess I should be careful for what I wish!

Note the casting of real Cold War era sci-fi/horror movie stalwarts like Bill Schallert, Bob Cornthwaite and Kevin McCarthy (and Dick Miller who's in the movie and the movie-within-the-movie!) Also, note the music cues from CFTBL, and other classic stock horror library motifs!
Wonderful stuff.
Mike C.

[BlackLagoon]

I have not seen in this film in a long time! I remember seeing it, I think in high school and liking it but not really knowing what it was really all about.

Now oddly enough reading this thread, seeing stuff on youtube and ironically a comercial on either encore or TMC...I'm pretty amped up to watch it. Knowing me I'll probably just get impatient and buy it!

[Mike Scott]

Also, note the music cues from CFTBL, and other classic stock horror library motifs!

All the music cues in "Mant!" were taken from the old Dick Jacobs "Themes From Horror Movies" album.

[mike c]

Knowing me I'll probably just get impatient and buy it!

Well, best of luck; the only DVD version was released in '98, and they're commanding anywhere from $50 to $150 in some places when you can find it.
Some folks are selling DVD copies for $5 each but I don't really want to support bootlegging.
They need to release this for real. With supplements.

Mike C.

[Wicked Lester]

Well, best of luck; the only DVD version was released in '98, and they're commanding anywhere from $50 to $150 in some places when you can find it.
Some folks are selling DVD copies for $5 each but I don't really want to support bootlegging.
They need to release this for real. With supplements.

Mike C.

If the owners would release this great movie (and many others) as a legit one the bootlegging would go away. Until then as long as it's a decent print I support "boot legging" all the way.
I am shortly going to watch my bootlegged copy of Killdozer. If they snooze they lose.

[marsattacks666]

Well, here's the funny thing 'bout Matinee...... HBO shows the film every week, or at lease once a week. Amazon.com list the DVD at different prices. I has seen one for 114.oo, ouch!!!!! Also, I noticed the Mr. Dante used the same music/soundtrack for the 'BURBS. Reading the thread, I see the music came from the " THEMES FROM HORROR MOVIES" album. Is this album still available? Golly gee, I really love this movie.....and yes, Kevin McCarthy(Invasion of the Body Snatchers) fame, Dick Miller, how cool is that? I wish someone had or would make the MANT mask/costume, either one. I like the thug's(Harvey Starkweather) MANT costume the best.

Being a Universal movie, why doesn't Universal just release the darn flick, with tons of extras? I do own a copy on VHS....not the same.

[Mike Scott]

Also, I noticed the Mr. Dante used the same music/soundtrack for the 'BURBS.

It wasn't the same score, but is was by the same composer (Jerry Goldsmith) and both movies being sort of comedy/fantasy, they do have a similar sound.

Reading the thread, I see the music came from the " THEMES FROM HORROR MOVIES" album. Is this album still available?

Only in the "Mant!" footage, though. Goldsmith wrote the score for the rest of MATINEE. The Jacobs album was released on a Varese Sarabande CD. It was retitled "Themes from Classic Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films". It's OOP, but not hard to find. Here's the track listing.

1. Treacherous Trek [From "The Mole People"]
2. Monster Attack [From "The Creature from the Black Lagoon"]  
3. Main Title: Shooting Stars [From "This Island Earth"]  
4. Main Theme From "The Incredible Shrinking Man"
5. Visitors from Space [From "It Came from Outer Space"]  
6. Stalking the Creature [From "The Creature Walks Among Us"]  
7. Main Title from "The House of Frankenstein"
8. Main Title/Dracula's Feast of Blood [From the "Horror of Dracula"]
9. Main Title from "Tarantula"
10. Main Title from "The Son of Dracula"
11. Main Title from "The Revenge of the Creature"
12. Winged Death [From "The Deadly Mantis"]  

The Varese CD contains the clean music tracks. The old Coral Records LP had "spooky" sounds and dialog over the music.

BTW The MATINEE soundtrack album only contains the Goldsmith score. No "Mant!" music.

[marsattacks666]

It wasn't the same score, but is was by the same composer (Jerry Goldsmith) and both movies being sort of comedy/fantasy, they do have a similar sound.

Only in the "Mant!" footage, though. Goldsmith wrote the score for the rest of MATINEE. The Jacobs album was released on a Varese Sarabande CD. It was retitled "Themes from Classic Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films". It's OOP, but not hard to find. Here's the track listing.

1. Treacherous Trek [From "The Mole People"]
2. Monster Attack [From "The Creature from the Black Lagoon"]  
3. Main Title: Shooting Stars [From "This Island Earth"]  
4. Main Theme From "The Incredible Shrinking Man"
5. Visitors from Space [From "It Came from Outer Space"]  
6. Stalking the Creature [From "The Creature Walks Among Us"]  
7. Main Title from "The House of Frankenstein"
8. Main Title/Dracula's Feast of Blood [From the "Horror of Dracula"]
9. Main Title from "Tarantula"
10. Main Title from "The Son of Dracula"
11. Main Title from "The Revenge of the Creature"
12. Winged Death [From "The Deadly Mantis"]  

The Varese CD contains the clean music tracks. The old Coral Records LP had "spooky" sounds and dialog over the music.

BTW The MATINEE soundtrack album only contains the Goldsmith score. No "Mant!" music.

Cool, thank you for the info.

[BlackLagoon]

Who knew this was that hard to find? Anyone have an idea if that may change?

[BrotherD]

I LOVE this movie.  It's such a great tribute and homage to the Castle-era and -style of filmmaking, but beyond that, it also stands on its own as a great film by itself.  Goodman turns in a wonderful performance, and the direction is among some of Joe Dante's best.  The music . . . FANTASTIC.

[Monsters For Sale]

I see that the foreign-issued "Matinee" BLU-Ray has the full length "MANT!", a 30-minute making of featurette (or interview) with Joe Dante and a stills gallery.  Not as much as could be hoped for, but better than what existed.

When will Universal license all these cool Blu-Rays for U.S./Canadian audiences?

[marsattacks666]

I see that the foreign-issued "Matinee" BLU-Ray has the full length "MANT!", a 30-minute making of featurette (or interview) with Joe Dante and a stills gallery.  Not as much as could be hoped for, but better than what existed.

When will Universal license all these cool Blu-Rays for U.S./Canadian audiences?

I forgot about this thread.

[charp13]

I can't get enough MANT!     AND I adore Matinee! Sweet characters & monster kid goodness.