6.4 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
In order to infiltrate a gang of drug smugglers, a cop is sent undercover to participate in a drag-queen beauty contest aboard a cruise ship.
Starring: Anya (VI), Roberts Blossom, Paul Cronin, John DeSanti, Hy GardnerMystery | 100% |
Comedy | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio Mono
English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 2.5 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 0.0 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Co-writer/director Alan Ormsby endeavors to create something wacky with 1974’s “Murder on the Emerald Seas” (a.k.a. “The Great Masquerade”), and his approach to big screen comedy takes some getting used to. Clearly a fan of classic comedies, favoring the work found in silent cinema, Ormsby tries to master the same timing and tirelessness for “Murder on the Emerald Seas,” which plays broadly and excitedly with familiar set-ups and punchlines. It’s a whodunit, but providing a thorough mystery isn’t part of the production’s plan, as most energy is poured in generating silliness, which can only reach as far as the iffy screenplay allows.
"Murder on the Emerald Seas" arrives on Blu-ray with an AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation, and damage is apparent from the opening scene, which is riddled with chemical blotches (check the last screencap for a look). The issue pops up a few more times during the movie, brief but unavoidable, slightly hurting an otherwise wonderfully vivid viewing experience. Clarity is terrific, showcasing this collection of oddballs with fine detail, picking up on costuming choices and make-up designs, delivering a clear view of costumed and undercover pageantry. Set decoration is also defined. Colors are vivid, showing plenty of life with signage and period outfits, which deliver bright primaries. Skintones are natural. Delineation is communicative.
With the visual stretches of damage, the 1.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix offers accompanying disruptions as well, adding roughness to the listening event. Again, all of this is periodic and clears up fast, but dialogue is disturbed at times. Getting past these tender spots, and the track delivers clear and inviting performances, picking up on comic timing and what passes for performance nuances. Scoring (haunting, repetitive ragtime) is also compelling, with adequate instrumentation and position to support onscreen antics.
There is no supplementary material on this disc.
If one can buy Dave as a woman, the rest of "Murder on the Emerald Isle" shouldn't be much trouble to sit through, though its sense of humor leaves much to be desired, trying too hard to light up the screen with hoary jokes, even bringing in Henny Youngman to cameo to secure the legitimacy of the mischief. There's a body count, but it's not a priority to the helmer, who's mainly interested in cracking wise, showcasing nudity, and embracing the slapstick possibilities of the plot, which has a few characters dressed up as Keystone Cops to accentuate the tribute. It's amazing the feature doesn't end in a pie fight. "Murder on the Emerald Isle" more of a curiosity than an achievement, with Ormsby playing the role of a ringmaster rather than a director, throwing so much at the wall to see what sticks. It's not a particularly funny endeavor, but it keeps trying, even with the lamest ideas. Such enthusiasm has its appeal, making this weird attempt at throwback entertainment with an R-rated edge digestible.
(Still not reliable for this title)
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