Flipper: Season Three Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		0.0
Overall		4.0

Flipper: Season Three Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov November 9, 2017

"Flipper: Season Three" (1966-1967) 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".

Still best friends

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. 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.

SEASON THREE

The creators of Flipper must have been quite happy with the feedback that they received after Season One and Season Two ended because the content that they approved for Season Three (1966-1967) was basically of the exact same caliber. And now it is easy to tell that it was the right decision not to dramatically expand the series with entirely new characters or perhaps drastically change the locations for Flipper’s adventures because there is undoubtedly something very special about the intimate nature of the material. In other words, anyone that enjoyed Season One and Season Two was guaranteed to have a great time with the new episodes.

Flipper is again the trusted friend that Bud (Tommy Norden) and Sandy (Luke Hlalpin) need to help strangers who get in serious trouble. In one of the early episodes, for instance, a small plane crashes in the ocean and Flipper is the only one that can locate the survivors. In another episode a boat catches fire and the sailor abandons it but loses his puppy and it is up to Flipper to reunite them. Then Flipper gets in trouble the owner of a very expensive ring becomes convinced that he has swallowed it and the only way to get it out is to cut him open. A hunter also accidentally hits the naughty dolphin with a strong tranquilizer and Bud and Sandy are forced to figure out a way to save their friend before he falls asleep and dies on the bottom of the ocean.

As it was the case with Season One and Season Two, there are a couple of episodes that tell slightly bigger stories and have multiple parts. The final one, in which Flipper makes new friends and then has to be a hero again after the kids get stranded on a island, is arguably the best one.

*It would have been great if the Blu-ray release of Flipper had a documentary of some sort that reveals precisely how a lot of the interactions between the boys, their father, and Flipper were filmed. The creators of the series apparently used three different dolphins, but as I mentioned in our review of Season Two I really could not tell when and how the changes were done. The chemistry and the understanding between actors and the dolphins is absolutely phenomenal.

DISC ONE

1. Agent Bud
2. Disaster in the Everglades - Part I
3. Disaster in the Everglades - Part II
4. Lost Dolphin
5. The Warning
6. Cupid Flipper
7. An Errand for Flipper
8. Whale Ahoy
9. Explosion
10. Executive Bud

DISC TWO

11. Flipper and Puppy
12. Flipper's Island
13. Alligator Duel
14. Flipper and the Fugitive Part - I
15. Flipper and the Fugitive Part - II
16. The Most Expensive Sardine in the World
17. Flipper and the Seal
18. Dolphins Don't Sleep
19. Aunt Martha
20. Dolphin for Ransom

DISC TWO

21. A Dolphin in Time
22. Decision for Bud
23. The Firing Line - Part I
24. The Firing Line - Part II
25. Devil Ray
26. Cap'n Flint
27. Flipper's New Friends - Part I
28. Flipper's New Friends - Part II

Flipper: Season Three 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: Season Three arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Olive Films.

Season Three was almost certainly remastered at the same time with Season One and Season Two. There are a couple of tiny flecks and dirt spots that pop up here and there, but I think that the entire season has a very consistent, truly wonderful organic appearance. In fact, even though Flipper was shot decades earlier, I think that its overall appearance on Blu-ray is quite a bit better and more convincing that that of Miami Vice. (It is another show that I revisited in its entirety this summer, which is why I wanted to mention it). There are absolutely no traces of problematic degraining or sharpening adjustments. Also, despite the different shooting locations you won't see any notable density fluctuations either -- depth, clarity, and fluidity are very consistent. The color grading is also very convincing. The primaries are very nicely saturated, stable and supporting plenty of lovely healthy nuances (see screencaptures #1, 4 and 5). Image stability is very good. My score is 4.25/5.00. (Note: This is a 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 Three 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 to report on Season Three. The audio is clean, stable, and free of annoying age-related imperfections. I previously speculated that some sort of remastering work must have been done -- again, I am pretty sure that all three seasons of Flipper were remastered at the same time -- but I don't know how specific it was. Either way, the basic qualities of the audio track are very solid.

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

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

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

I have to admit that I enjoyed going through the three seasons of Flipper quite a bit more than I expected. I recently revisited the entire third season of The Professionals, which is one of my all-time favorite TV shows, and even though it was great to spend some time with Bodie and Doyle again, I felt that I was a lot more enthusiastic about being in Flipper's company. It is a very relaxing show, and very beautifully shot. It also looks great on Blu-ray because it has been recently remastered. 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. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.