Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		3.5
Overall		4.0

Seconds Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov October 22, 2015

Nominated for the prestigious Palme d'Or Award at the Cannes Film Festival, John Frankenheimer's "Seconds" (1966) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of British distributors Eureka Entertainment. The supplemental features on the disc include an original trailer for the film; audio commentary with the late director; audio commentary with film scholar Adrian Martin; and new video interview with critic and novelist Kim Newman. The release also arrives with an illustrated booklet featuring essays by critics David Cairns and Mike Sutton. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-B "locked".

A new man

You can buy everything in America - even a new life. This is exactly what Arthur Hamilton (John Randolph, Serpico, Prizzi's Honor), a successful middle-aged banker, discovers after one of his old and supposedly dead friends begins calling him at home. At first Arthur refuses to believe that he is the same man he knew years ago, but after he points out details from his past no one else could have known he changes his mind. Encouraged by his friend, Arthur also agrees to visit the office of a company specializing in procedures that allow its customers to reinvent their lives.

At the company’s lavish office Arthur is informed how, when and at what cost he can become a new man. Not entirely certain what he is being offered, he signs a contract that quickly drains his bank account and gives the company the power to literally take over his life. Shortly after, he gets a complete makeover - a team of surgeons replaces his face, teeth, fingerprints, and everything else one could possibly use to identify him. A kind man from the company also informs him that in a matter of hours the old Arthur will unexpectedly die in a tiny hotel room somewhere in the city.

The new Arthur (Rock Hudson, Pillow Talk, All That Heaven Allows) that emerges from the company’s office is younger and slimmer. He also has a new name, Antiochus ‘Tony’ Wilson, and a new address in Malibu Beach.

Soon after he returns to his lavish beach house, Tony meets the attractive blonde Nora Marcus (Salome Jens, Savages). The two then visit a Bacchanalian grape-stomping ceremony that forces Tony to reexamine his new and supposedly better life.

It is an indisputable fact that John Frankenheimer’s Seconds was well ahead of its time. Completed in 1966, the film asks a number of questions that are frequently debated in the media today. To see that Frankenheimer was able to imagine a future reality and more importantly accurately describe how technology could alter people’s perceptions about right and wrong is indeed quite extraordinary.

Seconds is structured as a thriller, but there are various themes in it that actually make it an unorthodox study of morality in America. There are two major character transformations in it that are linked to different perceptions about success and happiness and the price one may have to pay for them. As the film progresses, Frankenheimer carefully forces the viewer to ponder whether the two are related or simply misunderstood.

The film is very dark and very intense. It is also notably cynical. At times it feels as if Frankenheimer intentionally lets the camera observing Tony’s misery for as long as possible, as if to make a point that there is a good reason for everything that he is going through. The party sequence where Tony gets seriously drunk is simply painful to watch.

The look of the film is essential for its success. Cinematographer James Wong Howe shot select sequences with a hand-held camera and many of them greatly enhance the sense of paranoia that permeates the film. The ending is also amongst the best scripted and shot for a film of this caliber.

Randolph and Hudson are both terrific. The latter truly looks like a man on the verge of a serious nervous breakdown during the party sequence. (Apparently, Hudson was really drunk by the time Frankenheimer was done shooting it). Jens also leaves a memorable impression as the liberated blonde who wants to live life to the fullest.

Seconds is also complimented by a terrific, very dark soundtrack courtesy of award-winning composer Jerry Goldsmith (Basic Instinct, Papillon).

Seconds Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 1.75:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, John Frankenheimer's Seconds arrives on Blu-ray courtesy Eureka Entertainment.

The release appears to have been sourced from the same excellent restoration (4K scan/2K restoration) which Criterion introduced in 2013. Needless to say, the film looks fantastic in high-definition. Detail and clarity are outstanding during well-lit close-ups as well as during the darker footage. Depth is equally impressive. There are a few short segments -- most notably during the beach footage -- with some minor density fluctuations, but they are clearly inherited. Contrast and sharpness levels remain stable throughout the entire film. There is a very fine layer of light and very well resolved grain. Image stability is excellent. There are no large debris, cuts, damage marks, stains, or torn frame. (Note: This is a Region-B "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-B or Region-Free player in order to access its content).

Seconds Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: English LPCM 1.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature.

The audio track is outstanding. Depth, clarity, and separation are excellent. The music is also well balanced and as a result very effective. The dialog is always crisp, stable, clean, and easy to follow. There are no pops, audio dropouts, or digital distortions to report in our review.

Seconds Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary - this audio commentary with John Frankenheimer was recorded in 1997. It initially appeared on Paramount's Region 1 DVD release of Seconds. The director explains in great detail where various sequences shot, how they were framed (for example, 18mm lens were used for one of the most atmospheric sequences), how the operations were filmed and what type of sketches were used for the facial reconstructions, etc.

• Commentary - in this audio commentary, film scholar Adrian Martin discusses the main themes in Seconds, the socio-cultural environment at the time John Frankenheimer shot the film, the fact that at one point the director was not particularly happy with his image in the media (which was solidified by the popularity of the action films he shot), the film's visual style, a few interesting descriptions of the director's work from notable critics, etc.

• Trailer - original theatrical trailer for Seconds. In English, not subtitled. (3 min).

• Kim Newman - in this new video interview, critic and novelist Kim Newman discusses John Frankenheimer's early films and the major themes in them, the interesting casting choices (a number of actors were outcasts that were blacklisted during the McCarthy era), some of the political themes and major plot points in the "paranoia trilogy" (The Manchurian Candidate, Seven Days in May, Seconds), etc. In English, not subtitled. (20 min).

• Booklet - an illustrated booklet featuring essays by critics David Cairns and Mike Sutton.

Seconds Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Eureka Entertainment's upcoming release of John Frankenheimer's Seconds is sourced from the same beautiful restoration of the film which Criterion introduced in 2013. Fans of the film residing in Region-B territories will be very pleased with the technical presentation. Hopefully, we will soon see an equally impressive restoration and presentation of the second film in the "paranoia trilogy", Seven Days in May, with Burt Lancaster, Kirk Douglas, and the beautiful Ava Gardner. (The Manchurian Candidate is already out on Blu-ray via Arrow Video). VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.