THE LEMON GROVE KIDS MEET THE MONSTERS: Another great DVD release.

Recently, my order for THE LEMON GROVE KIDS MEET THE MONSTERS came in and I was fortunate enough to see it yesterday. The DVD contains the three Lemon Grove Kids shorts in order:

"The Lemon Grove Kids" (1967): Gopher, Slug, and The Lemon Grove Kids have a cross-country race against Killer Krump and his gang The East Lemon Grove Kids. Krump's associate Duke Mazaratti makes a deal with Big Ed Narzak that he can sabatage the race so Krump's team will win. The race begins and Duke brings in "The Sabatour", a crazy French, to put an end to the race.

"The Lemon Grove Kids Meet the Green Grasshopper and the Vampire Lady From Outer Space" (1969): Gopher, Slug and The Lemon Grove Kids start their own yard-work service and are hired to clean up an old house. Yet, a flying saucer appears and The Vampire Lady, with her trusty henchmen The Green Grasshopper, invade and capture The Lemon Grove Kids. It's up to Gopher and Slug to save the day.

"The Lemon Grove Kids Go Hollywood!" (1969): Gopher and some of The Lemon Grove Kids help clean up the house of washed-up movie star Cee Bee Beaumont. Yet, Miss Beaumont ends up being kidnapped by two dim-witted criminals. Again, Gopher and The Lemon Grove Kids jump in to save Cee Bee.

My appreciation for Ray Dennis Steckler is starting to grow more than it did before. RAT PHINK A BOO BOO was just icing on the cake, but THE LEMON GROVE KIDS series really shows that Steckler does have a passion for making movies. It's definatley a take off of the Hunz Hall-Leo Gorcy BOWERY BOYS and THE EAST SIDE KIDS, but it all works. Why? Because most of it is strictly improv and because of that the three shorts come off as being light-hearted fun. Ray Dennis Steckler comes across as the perfect Hunz Hall look-alike. Hell, he's perfect in that role. And Mike Kannon definately looks like Leo Gorcy, with his mean demeanor and facial expressions. Add some cute kids, some creative moments, and funny humor that indeed does board towards the sophisticated that you'll have to watch the films more than once.

The three shorts were released apart for Saturday matanee shows for the kiddie film circut. Later on in 1969, the three shorts were released together with marketing campaign's calling it THE LEMON GROVE KIDS MEET THE MONSTERS.

Media Blasters-Guilty Pleasures has released another good looking DVD with the three shorts presented digitally remastered from the 16mm negatives that Ray Dennis Steckler owned. "The Lemon Grove Kids" looks good, but some of the colors are dark and grain does show. Yet, this was all because of the film quality that was used as leftover 16mm short-ends were all that Steckler had to work with. Yet "The Lemon Grove Kids Meet the Green Grasshopper and the Vampire Lady From Outer Space" and "The Lemon Grove Kids Go Hollywood!" really shine as the colors are vibrant and grain is very minimal. Overall, the remastering is nicely done. Unfortunately, the three shorts are not presented in the 1.85:1 Aspect Ratio. The films were indeed theatrically released, but why they are not presented in the said ratio is a head-scratcher after various on-line sites like Amazon.com claim it was. But, it's not a big problem and isn't very distracting.

A 20 minute video interview with Ray Dennis Steckler is presented. Once again, Steckler come off as a charming man with absolutely no pretencious attitude whatsoever; Steckler shows his honesty and kindness, as well as his passion for making movies. Steckler tells some interesting stories, particularly one in which he meet Hunz Hall after making "The Lemon Grove Kids Meet the Green Grasshopper and the Vampire Lady From Outer Space" and was almost sued by Hall if he ever wore the "trademark" hat that Hall wore in his films. Steckler also provides an audio commentary on the three shorts. I must say that Steckler has more to say on "The Lemon Grove Kids" shorts than he did on the commentary track for RAT PHINK A BOO BOO. Steckler does narrate a bit, but even so he does reveal some interesting info and stories.

A small photo gallery is presented along with the original theatrical trailer, which is in 1.85:1! Again, I ask why the trailer is in scope, but the three short presentations are not. Oh well, I am thinking about contacting Media Blasters head man John Sierabella and find out why.

Another fine release from Media Blasters-Guilty Pleasures and I hope to see more Ray Dennis Steckler features from them in the near future. And for those on this board who have kids, I suggest you pick up THE LEMON GROVE KIDS MEET THE MONSTERS as you will certainly have some good old fashoned slapstick-improv fun.