Flipper: Season Two Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		0.0
Overall		4.0

Flipper: Season Two Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov September 21, 2017

"Flipper: Season Two (1965-1966) 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".

Stop, stop

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.

SEASON TWO

There are a couple of interesting developments in Season Two, which arrived exactly a year later (1965-1966). Indeed, while the length of the episodes remained unchanged -- each is again approximately twenty-five minutes long -- the producers of Flipper attempted to expand a few of the stories with more complex material. So Dolphin in Pursuit and The Ditching, for instance, are now broken into two equal parts, while Flipper’s Odyssey actually comes in three parts. There is also a new central character played by Swedish actress Ulla Strömstedt. The beautiful oceanographer develops an interesting relationship with the cheeky dolphin and also becomes quite close with Porter Ricks. (Unfortunately, it seems quite clear now that an opportunity was missed to create something more interesting and lasting out of the obvious attraction between the two). So there is certainly more attention given to the dynamics of the relationships between the main characters, though without significantly changing the identity of the show.

The biggest surprise occurs at the end of the Second Two where Flipper suddenly falls in love and decides that it is a much better idea to spend more time with the new girlfriend than with good ol’ Bud. Dolphin Love is also broken into two parts and as the title suggest it is one of the most melodramatic entries in the entire show.

It is worth mentioning that a few of the early episodes in Season Two promote a different version of the theme song performed by Frankie Randall.

DISC ONE

1. Flipper and the Mermaid
2. Dolphin in Pursuit- Part I
3. Dolphin in Pursuit- Part II
4. Flipper's Hour of Peril
5. Coral Fever
6. Junior Ranger
7. The Ditching - Part I
8. The Ditching - Part II
9. Flipper and the Spy
10.Dolphin Patrol

DISC TWO

11. A Job for Sandy
12. Flipper and the Horse Thieves
13. Flipper and the Bounty
14. Shark Hunt
15. Flipper, the Detective
16. Flipper's Odyssey - Part I
17. Flipper's Odyssey - Part II
18. Flipper's Odyssey - Part III
19. Slingshot
20. Flipper and the Shark Cage

DISC THREE

21. Lobster Trap
22. Air Power
23. Gift Dolphin
24. The Racoon Who Came to Dinner
25. Flipper Joins the Navy - Part I
26. Flipper Joins the Navy - Part II
27. Flipper's Underwater Museum
28. Deep Waters
29. Dolphin Love - Part I
30. Dolphin Love - Part II

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

The quality of the episodes in Season Two is every bit as impressive as that of the episodes in Season One. Obviously, they have all been remastered, and almost certainly at the same time when Season One was done. Once again, there are a few white specks and tiny black spots, which were likely printed that way, but clarity, depth, and fluidity are very good. I actually projected quite a few of these episodes and they look every bit as good as some recently remastered feature films. The only obvious density fluctuations that you will notice are during footage that was shot either during different times -- like some of the underwater material -- or during the unique inserts, but these are native fluctuations that are part of the original cinematography. Also, there is room for some minor encoding optimizations, but grain is always nicely exposed and quite well distributed. There are no sharpening adjustments. Colors are nicely saturated and typically very well balanced. In fact, a lot of the episodes have that very strong organically balanced appearance that elaborate restorations typically produce. 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 Two 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.

The lossless track serves the entire season really well. Clarity and especially depth very good. Also, there are absolutely no balance issues to report. As I mentioned in our review of Season One, I am quite certain that some sort of a remastering work was done because the basics are very strong, but it is difficult for me to tell if it was in fact an elaborate job. If one day the audio was fully remixed, I really do not believe that there will be any substantial improvements to report.

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

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

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

If you enjoyed Season One of Flipper, I guarantee you will not be disappointed with Season Two. In fact, you will probably like it even more because some of the new stories are more complex and the introduction of the beautiful Swedish actress Ulla Strömstedt changes the balance in the main relationships for the better. There are also plenty of wonderful new locations. Olive Films' technical presentation of Season Two once again does not disappoint, but this three-disc also does not have any bonus features. Still, consider adding Flipper to your collections. You will not regret your purchase. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.