Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		3.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		1.5
Overall		3.0

The Chicken Chronicles Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov June 29, 2020

Frank Simon's "The Chicken Chronicles" (1977) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber. The only bonus feature on the disc is an exclusive new audio commentary by critics Lee Gambin and Emma Westwood. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-A "locked".

Digging up flaws in Frank Simon’s The Chicken Chronicles is a bit like shooting fish in a barrel -- anyone can do it and with great success. And yet this film is actually pretty darn entertaining because it does not attempt to hide the bad that is part of its DNA. It is a risky concept to impress an audience, yes, but it is also an admirable one because the film does not pretend to be something that it isn’t and can’t be.

The events in the film take place during the Vietnam War after many American boys have been shipped overseas and many have started returning in military coffins. But many more have also stayed behind and are enjoying life without noticing the horror stories that are flooding the news channels.

In Beverly Hills, the only thing David Kessler (Steve Guttenberg) thinks about is how to lose his virginity before he graduates from high school. He has two options. Option one is the All-American beauty Margaret (Lisa Reeves), who has been occasionally going out with him and is willing to help but only if he treats her right -- meaning that he finds a relaxing quiet place, brings protection, agrees to have the lights turned off, talks nicely to her, and then does not brag about the ‘event’ when he goes back to his pals. You know, the ‘simple’ routine of getting laid the ‘right’ way. Option two is Tracy (Meredith Baer), who genuinely likes David and would love to help without demanding things, but not if she has to compete with Margaret. If David wants to be with her, and lose his virginity to her, he would have to walk away from Margaret. David’s best high-school pal, Mark (Branscombe Richmond), with whom he also works at Max Ober’s (terrific Phil Silvers) fast food joint Chicken on the Run, thinks that either option would do. He is willing to provide emotional support but tells David to stop overthinking things and simply get the job done. Even David’s younger brother, Charlie (Gino Baffa), who isn’t always on good terms with him, has been willing to help him succeed, but only if he hooks him up with some quality dope that he can share with his girlfriends. With senior prom rapidly approaching David goes to work to accomplish his goal, but a series of foul plays begin sabotaging his perfect plan to lose his virginity.

The main reason why The Chicken Chronicles isn’t terribly exciting as a teen comedy is actually quite obvious -- it was not conceived to be one, or at least not of the straightforward kind that would flourish during the ’80s. In other words, this film isn’t a big collection of mostly random segments where a lot of silly characters do a lot of very silly things. (For reference, see The Beach Girls and Up the Creek). It’s got characters that are learning a few things from their experiences and in the process maturing before the camera. (The news article David publishes in the high-school paper after being warned that it is not suitable for the local community highlights precisely this important distinction).

On the other hand, it would be quite a stretch to declare that The Chicken Chronicles is a memorable time capsule. The attitudes and decisions of its characters are certainly reflective of trends that formed the foundation of the sexual liberation that was transforming the country during the '70s, but the change isn’t a key theme in the film. Its story is about supposedly ordinary teens from Beverly Hills that are exploring intimate relationships in all the familiar ways teens do.

Ultimately, The Chicken Chronicles will work for viewers who accept that it is right not to see life as a never-ending party despite the fact that its characters seem to feel alive only when they can have fun. This is what keeps the film grounded in reality, looking quite sincere as well. Everyone else, and especially those expecting it to be just another colorful teen comedy, will likely walk away from it underwhelmed.

*Another film from the same era with similar characters but a much better story to tell is Curtis Hanson’s Losin' It, which was recently remastered in 2K. It is available on Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber.

The Chicken Chronicles Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

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

The release is sourced from an old master that was probably prepared during the DVD era. It has some decent areas, mostly during close-ups where light is restricted, but there are also areas where definition becomes poor and fine nuances collapse. Grain isn't nicely exposed and resolved, though at least on this master it does not appear to have been manipulated. Sharpness levels are slightly elevated, but there are no serious anomalies that will affect your viewing experience. On the other hand, most highlights are quite poor, so in shots where there are different layers of lighting the balance can be off. Colors are stable, but there is clearly room for improvement. Image stability is very good. All in all, at very best the current master can be described as decent, and while it is free of compromising digital anomalies, it has its fair share of limitations. My score is 3.25/5.00. (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).

The Chicken Chronicles 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 is very strong. It is clear, sharp, and free of balance issues. The upper register is also very healthy, so I assume that when the current master was prepared someone made sure that age-related imperfections are eliminated. So, I am unsure if a fictional new master would be capable of delivering any meaningful improvements in the audio department.

The Chicken Chronicles Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary - in this new audio commentary, critics Lee Gambin and Emma Westwood compare The Chicken Chronicles to other genre films, and discusses the era in which the film was conceived, its reputation, how its style and sense of humor have aged, etc.

• Trailers - trailers for the following releases from Kino Lorber's catalog:
  
  1. Moving Violations
  2. Losin' It
  3. Up the Creek
  4. The Bedroom Window

The Chicken Chronicles Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Frank Simon 's The Chicken Chronicles will work for viewers who accept that it is right not to see life as a never-ending party despite the fact that its teen characters seem to feel alive only when they can have fun. Curtis Hanson's film Losin' It, for which there is a trailer on this release, actually does the exact same thing but tells a much more exciting story, so if the synopses for these films sound interesting to you, consider picking up both on Blu-ray. Kino Lorber's release of The Chicken Chronicles is sourced from an old but rather decent master that was supplied by StudioCanal. RECOMMENDED.