For the longest time people considered Ed Wood’s Plan 9 From Outer Space as the worst movie ever made. Mystery Science Theater 3000 dared to find something that made Ed Wood look like an Oscar nominee. “Manos” Hands of Fate is a film that dared to disregard everything they teach in film school. It has the most uneventful opening minutes of all time. Thankfully the badness gets goosed by the crew of the Satellite of Love. Now this legendary film is getting a special edition DVD in the Fall. The original film is presented along with the MST3K episode. See if you can handle Torgo without Crow’s witty comments. Here’s the press release from Shout! Factory:
SHOUT! FACTORY TO RELEASE
MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER 3000:
“MANOS” THE HANDS OF FATE SPECIAL EDITION
IN STORES SEPTEMBER 13
To further celebrate the laugh-fest that is Mystery Science Theater 3000, Shout! Factory, in association with Best Brains Inc., have announced the September 13 release of the 2-DVD set Mystery Science Theater 3000 “Manos” The Hands Of Fate Special Edition.
Newton’s Third Law of Motion states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. Sure, there’s math to back that up, but the far more compelling proof is in the treatment accorded “Manos” The Hands Of Fate by those physicists of comedy at Mystery Science Theater 3000. Consider this legendary low point in film history, widely regarded as the worst film ever made, which depicts a family that gets lost en route to a vacation and stumbles into the lair of a cult. Since Satellite of Love captive Joel Robinson and his robot sidekicks Tom Servo and Crow T. Robot react to movies, it follows that this particular episode must be a glorious high point in Mystery Science Theater history. Glorious it is, as the film’s characters battle a half-man, half-goat and an evil man in a robe, and the members of the SoL battle terrible writing and acting.
Disc 1 of the set includes Mystery Science Theater 3000 “Manos” The Hands Of Fate, and bonus features Group Therapy, wherein Joel, Trace, Frank & Mary Jo relive the horror; MST Hour wraps; and an exclusive mini-poster by artist Steve Vance. Disc 2 offers the original “Manos” The Hands Of Fate feature film, and bonus features Hotel Torgo, a documentary on the making of “Manos” The Hands Of Fate; Jam Handy To the Rescue!: a Ballyhoo production; Hired!, (featuring parts 1 and 2 together at last); and more!
Mystery Science Theater 3000 is a true cult classic. Its high-camp rendition of B-movies from every genre to the small screen makes it one of the most memorable pop culture shows of our time.
The Mystery Science Theater 3000 series was created by Joel Hodgson and produced by Jim Mallon. After a year on KTMA TV in Minneapolis, its national broadcast life began in 1989 on the Comedy Channel (later to become Comedy Central), where it ran for seven seasons. The show’s final three seasons aired on the Sci-Fi Channel. The premise of the series features a hapless man who is trapped by mad scientists on a satellite in space and forced to watch old B-movies of questionable worth. To keep sane, he’s built two robot sidekicks, and together they do a running commentary on the films, affectionately mocking their flaws with inspired wisecracks and acting as a demented movie theater peanut gallery. Series creator Hodgson originally played the stranded man, Joel Robinson. When he left in 1993, series head writer Mike Nelson replaced him as the new B-movie victim Mike Nelson, and continued in the role for the rest of the show’s run. The format proved to be popular and remarkably durable. During its 11-year run and 198 episodes (including one feature film), MST3K attained a loyal fan base and critical acclaim. The series won a Peabody Award in 1993, and was nominated for writing Emmys® in 1994 and 1995.