Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		0.5
Overall		3.5

Impasse Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov February 23, 2022

Richard Benedict's "Impasse" (1969) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber. The only bonus feature on the disc is a vintage trailer for the film. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-A "locked".

There is a job that may be of some interest to you.

How do we know that a real pro cut the trailer for Richard Benedict’s Impasse? Because it sells a film that does not exist. He did it by choosing bits from the best scenes in Impasse and stitching them up to leave the impression that it is a big-budget action extravaganza shot in one of the most exotic places on earth. Well, kudos to this person for a job well done, but Impasse isn’t that kind of an exciting film.

In Manila, American Pat Morrison (Burt Reynolds) has figured out a way to make ends meet as a semi-legit businessman. But he does not care much about the semi part, so usually he is a good old-fashioned crook. He deals stolen valuables, makes money on the black market, and from time to time mingles with some of the most dangerous gamblers in the area. Morrison has also stolen Mariko (Miko Mayama), the wife of trusted associate, Jesus (Vic Diaz), who frequently helps him connect with the right people.

When Morrison accidentally learns of a large load of gold that was hidden on Corregidor Island at the end of WWII, he decides to organize a team to help him find it. Soon after, he contacts the very people that supposedly buried the gold, all of them veterans who after the war have evolved into social outcasts. Trev (Clark Gordon), a disillusioned alcoholic, is the first to begin assisting Morrison. Then together they help Hansen (Lyle Bettger), a feisty seaman, break out of jail. Despite suspecting Morrison of secretly seeing his wife, Jesus joins the group as well. Before officially going to work to uncover the exact location where the gold was buried, however, Morrison and his crew get in trouble with another shady businessman named Wombat (Jeff Correy), who dreams of retiring in style as well.

Impasse exists for the exact same reason Supercock does. It is a small and cheaply done film that was supposed to make plenty of money for the folks that produced it because it was uncharacteristically exotic. Needless to say, it was shot on location in The Philippines, which during the 1960s and early 1970s was the dream Mecca for visionary businessmen like Roger Corman.

Even though Impasse is an action film, the main attraction in it is the ‘foreign’, which at the time when it was greenlighted was everything from the giant venues that staged fierce cock fights to the trampy bordellos that were thriving all across Manila. So, if it feels like Benedict’s camera spends too much time observing the environment in which Reynolds and his assistants go to work, keep in mind that this is entirely by design.

The actual mission to uncover the hidden gold is essentially a ruse because the film moves to Corregidor Island only during the last fifteen or so minutes, and once there Reynolds and his assistants essentially go through a couple of shootouts before the predictable resolution. This is unquestionably the biggest letdown in the film because it solidifies an earlier impression that Benedict had to operate with a very strict budget and was therefore not allowed to be creative. For the exact same reason, the supporting cast is very small an unimpressive as well.

Given the obvious production limitations, is Impasse still worth seeing? It depends. Anyone that approaches it expecting a good action film with Reynolds shining in familiar ways will be undoubtedly disappointed. However, anyone that decides to see it to sample the exotic environment where some of the wildest and most outrageous genre films will be made a decade later should have a decent time with it.

Impasse Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Impasse arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber.

The release is sourced from a brand new 2K master that gives the film a very healthy appearance. Delineation, clarity, and depth are usually very pleasing, though because of the manner in which different parts of the film were lensed there are some obvious density fluctuations. There are no traces of problematic digital corrections. The grading job is good too, though some of the primaries, and the blues in particular, could appear slightly anemic. Still, the overall balance is convincing. There are no stability issues. Minor blemishes and white specks occasionally pop up here and there, as well as a couple of small vertical lines, but there are no large cuts, warped, or torn frames to report. All in all, even though there is some room for minor cosmetic improvements, this is a fine organic presentation of Impasse. 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).

Impasse 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 audio was clear and easy to follow. However, this is another area where it very quickly becomes quite clear that Impasse was shot with a modest budget. A lot of the mass and outdoor footage is mixed up with organic sounds and noises that have an effect on the dynamic balance. Supercock, which was shot around the same time and again in The Philippines, reveals very similar limitations.

Impasse Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Trailer - a vintage trailer for Impasse. In English, not subtitled. (3 min).

Impasse Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

If you approach Impasse expecting that it would turn out to be at least a decent action film with Burt Reynolds shining in familiar ways, I have to warn that you will be disappointed. Impasse is a very close relative of Supercock, which means that it is a small film whose greatest strength is its depiction of the exotic/foreign from post-war Manila. I think that Supercock is clearly the better film because of Ross Hagen's antics, so I'd recommend that you pick up a copy of it first, and only if you enjoy the type of entertainment it offers consider grabbing Impasse as well. Kino Lorber's release is sourced from a nice exclusive new 2K master. RECOMMENDED.