5.9 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 2.5 | |
Overall | 2.5 |
Offshore near Caboblanco, Peru, an explorer of sea wrecks is murdered. However, local authorities decide that the official cause of death is "accidental drowning." Among the skeptical is Giff Hoyt, an expatriate American, longtime Caboblanco resident and popular innkeeper. Giff's interest is further piqued when Marie arrives in town. Her passport is confiscated by the corrupt authority, and Giff protests. Furthermore, a Nazi named Beckdorff lives in a well-fortified compound near town, and he might be responsible for the explorer's death. Beckdorff himself seeks sunken treasure in the area, as well as protection from local interference. Can Giff Hoyt stifle the evil Beckdorff, save the lovely Marie, and possibly even locate sunken treasure?
Starring: Charles Bronson, Jason Robards, Dominique Sanda, Fernando Rey, Simon MacCorkindaleDrama | 100% |
Adventure | Insignificant |
Romance | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.37:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.35:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0
None
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (C untested)
Movie | 2.0 | |
Video | 3.0 | |
Audio | 1.5 | |
Extras | 4.0 | |
Overall | 2.5 |
When one considers the possibilities of a “Casablanca” knockoff, especially one from 1980, a list of potential actors comes to mind for the Humphrey Bogart role. Men like Paul Newman and Robert Redford, maybe even Harrison Ford, who was fresh to fortune and glory at the time. But “Cabo Blanco” (the full title is apparently “Cabo Blanco…Where Legends are Born”) doesn’t go that route, electing to hire Charles Bronson for the role of a roguish charmer trying to manage the pains of love with the dangers of his community. It’s an oddball casting choice, but “Cabo Blanco” doesn’t meet many expectations, preferring to mix a “Casablanca” homage with a treasure hunt adventure, surrounding the star with an eclectic mix of prime talent and those relatively new to the English language. Expectedly, the movie fails to inspire anything approaching romance or excitement, but director J. Lee Thompson doesn’t tank the effort on purpose, earnestly trying to craft a thrilling tale of mystery in an exotic locale, trusting the natural beauty of the land will be enough to cover for the feature’s substantial deficiencies.
The AVC encoded image (2.37:1 aspect ratio) presentation is labeled as "Newly restored in HD!" Evidence of this work isn't apparent during the viewing experience, suggesting that materials gathered were probably in rough shape to begin with. "Cabo Blanco" doesn't look disastrous, but its lush locations and meaty casting doesn't jump off the screen as expected, looking a little fatigued as colors are more serviceable than remarkable, while skintones seem a little bloodless at times. Detail is also adequate, picking up on sweaty close-ups and costuming, but never emerging with any sort of eye-catching crispness, even with some severe cinematographic limitations. Delineation is acceptable. Source showcases wear and tear, with some vertical scratches and speckling. Banding is encountered a few times.
Worrisome is the 2.0 DTS-HD MA mix, which opens with narration from MacCorkindale's character, and he sounds like a wax cylinder recording. Hiss is a nuisance throughout, often smothering dialogue exchanges, making hushed conversations nearly impossible to understand. Performances are already challenged by accent issues, making the addition of pronounced fuzziness frustrating. Scoring fares a little better, achieving a level of freshness that contrasts severely with the rest of the track, but instrumentation survives with lowered expectations. Atmospherics are muddled and unhelpful, keeping outdoor activity and barroom bustle noisy, not deep.
Goofy mistakes are made in "Cabo Blanco," including visible camera shadows and the use of a 1958 Nat King Cole song to serve as the movie's romantic theme (the story is set in 1948). There's also an absurdly happy ending forced on the film that erases any doubt of struggle, with the production eager to send audiences away on a high note at any cost. "Cabo Blanco" feels unfinished in many ways, or at least rushed, barely tending to story and character in a meaningful way, focusing attention on a classic Hollywood atmosphere of sun-drenched locations and broad evildoing. The feature doesn't work, but with this cast and director, I'm not sure it ever stood a chance.
1962
1943
Limited Edition to 3000
1954
1942
Limited Edition to 3000
1947
1942
1953
1956
Limited Edition to 3000
1955
1969
2000
Warner Archive Collection
1955
1958
1959
1961
2014
1941
1971
1947
2001