Yeti: Giant of the 20th Century — Yeti: Giant of the 20th Century( Blu Ray)
Yeti: Giant of the 20th Century is a gloriously cheesy 70’s Italian knock-off. It mimics & mixers King Kong, Godzilla, and tacky US cryptid capers, with splashes of heroic dog adventure & lo-fi disaster action- all warped in a seemingly family film setting that often lurches into the inappropriate. Here from Dark Forces Entertainment is a new region free Blu Ray of the film, taking in a great new scan, though sadly no extras.
Yeti: Giant of the 20th Century (Yeti - Il gigante del 20° secolo, Big Foot, Ice Man) appeared in 1977- it was an Italian/ Canadian co-production. The film was directed by Gianfranco Parolini( as Frank Kramer)- who in total helmed twenty-nine films- going from run of the mill sword & sandal fare. Onto more than a few spaghetti western, through to Thai set adventure, onto slick-if- cheapie euro spy capers, through to muscle-bound action-comedy. Yeti: Giant of the 20th Century is competently shot & composed- sure it clearly has a fraction of the budget for something like King Kong- but it tries its best, with it's effective if-at-points unintentionally amusing effects.
After dramatic footage of icebergs cracking & chopper shots of a city- the films starts with tubby industry magnate Morgan Hunnicut (Edoardo Faieta) literally drop-in, via a padded seat hung from a chopper, on the eccentric Professor Wassermann(John Stacy) at his riverside home. Hunnicut convinces the prof. to go to Newfoundland's coast, where a huge humanoid figure has been found in an ice block. When he lands, first he tries & taw the figure with flame throwers, then when the huge 30 foot figure appears -they build a massive phone box structure to try & revive the beast by taking him up into the sky by use of the faithful chopper. As you’d imagine this rather crazy plan doesn't go well- with the yeti coming around mid-air, and breaking out of his box. He starts raging when back on the ground- though he suddenly sees Jane- a barely teen girl, Herbie- her voiceless, effeminate & odd brother, and their Lassie like dog. He carries the three to near by water- capturing a giant fish for Jane, which he strips to the bone then uses to comb her hair!...from here on he takes her for a trip in his hand, she touches his huge nipple & the Yeti smiles…and you know you in are in for Euro-trash gold.
As we move on we get a host of clearly superimposed/ and miniature effects- as basically the yeti is a Môn browd bearded guy with a big mane-like a wig on, wearing a flesh & fursuit. Just like in King Kong he gets taken to the big city(in his giant telephone box), and as you’d expect things go awry. We get smashed down cardboard walls, lift full of people pulled out of building & a falling heroin, Yeti climbing down a tower block, double-crossing henchmen & nasty gangsters attack the good guys so red paint leaks out. All moving towards a cliff top cop showdown, oh & the Yeti even has its own funked-up disco track too. It really is both highly camp, often very silly, but an eventful & lo-fi effect lined shot of trashy, sentimental, and at points bizarre film-making.
Moving onto this new Blu Ray release- and it’s packaged inside a neat slip sleeve taking the original poster artwork, with inside more on the case it’s self- sadly no booklet though. The disc its self is region free, with the print been lovely in both it’s clarity & colour make-up, which of course enhances the (not-so) special effects. Sadly no extras here- which is a pity, as it would have been great to have either an interview or two with the cast or crew, or a commentary track- as I’m sure there would have been a lot to comment on here, but I guess sometimes companies either can’t get or can’t afford this.
In finishing Yeti: Giant of the 20th Century is a hell of a lot of euro trash 70’s fun-and if you’re a fan of tacky Italian knock-offs this Blu Ray is most certainly is a must purchase.