The Positively No Refunds: Bride and the Beast/The White Gorilla

"It's not often that two films as dubious (though inarguably entertaining) as The Bride and the Beast and The White Gorilla are presented on DVD with the tender loving care VCI Entertainment has lavished on this ""Positively No Refunds"" double-feature disc. The Bride and the Beast (scripted by none other than Edward D. Wood Jr.) has been given a widescreen transfer to disc in its original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.66:1 (letterboxed on conventional televisions and enhanced for anamorphic playback on 16x9 monitors), while The White Gorilla appears in its full-frame ratio of 1.33:1. The package notes claim both films have been transferred from their original negatives, and while there are occasional visible flaws in the original elements, these pictures look better than they ever have on home video (especially The White Gorilla), though the quality of the transfers sometimes call attention to the shoddy camera work on both movies. The audio for both films has been mastered in Dolby Digital Stereo, retaining the original monophonic sound mixes, and sounds as good as can be expected. Both features are in English, with no multiple language options or subtitles included. Extensive bonus materials have been included with this release, including commentary tracks for both movies. The Bride and the Beast commentary is hosted by author Tom Weaver, and also features actress Charlotte Austin and actor Slick Slavin (aka Trustin Howard), both of whom appear in the picture, as well as gorilla suit expert Bob Burns. Weaver and Burns team up again for the commentary on The White Gorilla. The disc also includes still galleries for both features, biographies of the leading cast members, a collection of trailers, and original footage from the silent serial Perils of the Jungle, which was re-used in The White Gorilla. VCI Entertainment really went the extra mile in putting together this DVD, and fans who embrace the ""so bad its good"" aesthetic will certainly be pleased with the results."