Flipper: Season One Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		0.0
Overall		4.0

Flipper: Season One Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov September 18, 2017

"Flipper: Season One (1964-1965) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of independent distributors Olive Films. There are no supplemental features on the three-disc set. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-A "locked".

Bud

I have to admit that nearly two weeks ago I started viewing the first season of Flipper without any particular expectations. I had some vague memories of catching a few episodes here and there, but aside from the theme song I just could not remember much about the show. However, I should probably also clarify that I am not one of those hardcore TV fans that consume a massive amount of content each week and always know what is worth seeing or remember a wide range of shows that premiered decades ago. In recent years I have come to realize that there are quite a few of them and there are some that actually do exactly the opposite of what I do -- which is view more TV content than films. I just don’t have the time to view all of the feature films that I am either interested in or have to see to do my coverage for the site and follow closely an entire season of a good TV show, regardless of whether it is new or old. I guess what I am trying to make perfectly clear is that I am not exactly an authority on TV content, so it is hardly surprising that when I tried to remember more about Flipper I drew a blank. (In case you wish to know, here are some older TV shows that back in the days I liked a lot -- and I still do -- and either followed closely or ended up purchasing on DVD/Blu-ray so that can I see them in their entirety: The Professionals, Get Smart, The Saint, The Dukes of Hazzard, Family Matters, Blake's 7, Miami Vice, and The X-Files. There is a lot about these shows that I remember perfectly well).

Each episode of Flipper is approximately twenty-five minutes long so I was able to see between three and four per night. Twice I did only two episodes for reasons that were beyond my control, but other than that I did not alter the cycle. I mention this because by the time I reached the third episode where that cocky researcher gets trapped in his tiny submarine, I was already convinced that I will have a great time with both seasons. (Currently, the two Blu-ray sets from Olive Films offer only Season One and Season Two. Season Three is not yet available on Blu-ray). To be clear, what appealed the most to me was not the action, but the very warm and relaxing ‘60s atmosphere which essentially mirrors the one from James Clark’s feature film that inspired the show. Indeed, there is some wonderful on-location shooting with great panoramic footage while the underwater material where the cheeky dolphin does most of its great tricks is flat-out brilliant. In other words, Flipper turned out to be one surprisingly enjoyable nostalgia trip that repeatedly offered more of the same.

So what about the quality of the writing and the actual content -- just how good are they. Basically, each episode presents Bud (Tommy Norden) and his older brother Sandy (Luke Hlalpin) with some sort of a test that ultimately ends up reminding them what an invaluable friend Flipper is. In the Key West area where their father (Brian Kelly) is employed as a park warden there are plenty of dangerous traps that Bud and Sandy must avoid, but it is not always easy. In one of the early episodes they get locked inside a fancy car with some mysterious bullet holes on the bottom of the ocean. Later on, Sandy and another boy from the city get trapped in an old ship that has literally started falling apart. However, in another episode a huge hurricane nearly kills a crippled girl and her mother, but the boys and their father manage to save them. Sandy, Bud and Flipper also save the life of a sailor who has been bitten by a shark and desperately needs fresh blood to survive. So for the most part the material is somewhat predictable, but there are some interesting bits that little by little transform Flipper into a real star and the focus shifts from the nature of the tests to the interactions between the boys and their best friend. It is basically good old-fashioned fun with plenty of character and some genuinely stylish camerawork.

*The stunts and the editing work are first-class. Flipper’s stunts were reportedly done by three different dolphins, but while viewing the various episodes I could not tell.

DISC ONE

1. 300 Feet Below
2. The Red Hot Car
3. S.O.S. Dolphin
4. The Gulf Between
5. City Boy
6. Dolphin for Sale
7. Not Necessarily Gospel
8. Countdown for Flipper
9. Mr. Marvello
10. My Brother Flipper

DISC TWO

11. The Second Time Around
12. Lady and the Dolphin - Part I
13. Lady and the Dolphin - Part II
14. Danger
15. The Misanthrope
16. Flipper's Bank Account
17. The Lifeguard
18. The Day of the Shark
19. Love and Sandy
20. Money to Blow

DISC THREE

21. Flipper's Treasure
22. The White Dolphin
23. Teamwork
24. Flipper and the Elephant - Part I
25. Flipper and the Elephant - Part II
26. Flipper and the Elephant - Part III
27. Bud Minds Baby
28. Sailor Bud
29. The Call of the Dlphin
30. Flipper's Monster

Flipper: Season One Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.33:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Flipper arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Olive Films.

Flipper has been recently remastered and it is very easy to tell. Indeed, excluding a few tiny flecks that I spotted popping up here and there Season One has a very nice organic appearance with solid density levels. Just about all of the well-lit close-ups boast the type of delineation and depth that recent remasters guarantee, though I should say that with some minor encoding optimizations the end result would have been even more impressive. There are no traces of problematic degraining or sharpening adjustments. Colors are very nicely balanced and typically really well saturated. There is some room for improvement, but I guarantee you will be very pleased with the current color palette and its prominent organic qualities (see screencaptures #1 and 3). Image stability is excellent. All in all, even though there is some room for some cosmetic improvements, the current technical presentation is indeed very good. My score is 4.25/5.00. (Note: This is Region-A "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-A or Region-Free player in order to access its content).

Flipper: Season One Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature.

There are no technical issues or source anomalies to report in our review. The audio is very clean and stable, and the dialog is always easy to follow. My guess is that some type of remastering work was done when Season One was transferred in high-definition, but to be honest I don't know just how in-depth this work was. Regardless, I think that the basics are very solid and the end result very convincing.

Flipper: Season One Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Most unfortunately, there are no supplemental features to be found on this Blu-ray release.

Flipper: Season One Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Though very different releases, I would rank Flipper right behind Rat Fink as it is one of this year's most surprising treats to reach my desk. I started viewing Season One nearly two weeks ago without any expectations and I absolutely loved the relaxing atmosphere and the cheeky dolphin's tricks. If you are on the fence and are unsure if Flipper would be something that you will enjoy, consider a blind buy as there is a really, really good chance that you will have the exact same experience I had with it. Olive Films' technical presentation is very good, but at least one of the two Blu-ray sets should have had some bonus features. Regardless, I can't wait to see Season Three. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.