Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		3.0
Extras		5.0
Overall		3.5

The Six Million Dollar Man: The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf July 10, 2022

Author Martin Caidin created the character Steve Austin for his 1972 book, “Cyborg.” Hollywood was soon interested in the material, and a television movie, “The Six Million Dollar Man,” was produced in 1973. It provided an origin story for Steve, detailing the former astronaut’s horrific accident and his recovery, where his body was reconstructed with bionic parts, giving him super powers he didn’t immediately understand. Two more television films followed, taking the premise into a James Bond-ish direction, and a weekly series eventually arrived in 1974, keeping Steve busy with various adventures that involved the use of his bionic powers, his cool demeanor around certain doom, and his feminine appeal. “The Six Million Dollar Man” quickly turned into a hit show, offering audiences a fantasy premise with unusual visuals (and sound effects) and defined heroism, with the production’s command of escapism keeping the series going for five seasons.

“The Six Million Dollar Man” 1973 T.V. movie introduces Steve Austin (Lee Majors) as a NASA-trained astronaut of honor, participating in a dangerous test flight, with his progress monitored by Dr. Rudy Wells (Martin Balsam). When Steve’s plane crashes during landing, he’s nearly destroyed, quickly scooped up by Rudy, who deals with Oliver Spencer (Darren McGavin), a secretive man from the Office of Strategic Operations looking for a test subject for his cyborg project, fitting Steve for robot parts. Realizing what his life has become, Steve resists the experiment, but with help from Rudy and love from Jean Manners (Barbara Anderson), the space hero learns to work with his new body, soon sent on a mission into Saudi Arabia by Oliver to test his physicality, reliability, and loyalty.

“The Six Million Dollar Man” T.V. show follows the adventures of Steve Austin, a NASA-trained astronaut of honor utilized by Oscar Goldman (Richard Anderson) to aid the Office of Scientific Intelligence, using his specially augmented body to deal with the daily dangers of the world, preventing all kinds of disasters and befriending those in need.

“The Six Million Dollar Man” was meant for all audiences, but the show really connected with children, who were handed a weekly display of super powers involving a character who was constantly trying to keep the world safe. Steve had support from Oscar and an emotional connection to “Bionic Woman” Jaime (Lindsay Wagner), but the real pull of the show was the main character’s experiences with all sorts of antagonists, including evil robots, diabolical terrorists, and, well, Bigfoot. Such villainy supplied the series with a steady stream of troublemakers, inspiring Steve to use his super-strength, super-speed, and super-sight to clear away all challenges, and the production was careful to keep conflicts clear, giving kids a new kind of hero. “The Six Million Dollar Man” isn’t sophisticated entertainment, and that’s the appeal of the show, which spends time developing characters and larger character arcs, but every week basically boils down to Steve and his feats of bionic-y glory, accompanied by an iconic sound effect.

The Six Million Dollar Man: The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

For this review, select episodes of "The Six Million Dollar Man" were covered, and the AVC encoded image (1.36:1 aspect ratio) presentations (sourced from 2015 scans, and the age shows at times) are largely consistent, exploring the world of Steve Austin and his travels around California (standing in for The World). Exteriors offer some depth as the character often seeks adventure in the wild, and interiors retain passable clarity, helping to study room decoration and computer technology. Facial surfaces are satisfactory, exploring elements of age and makeup, and texture is retained with hair and costuming, offering varied period outfits. Color is inviting, with nature experiences keeping bright blue skies, desertscapes, and greenery. Skin tones are natural, and clothing brings out clear primaries, along with set decoration. Delineation is satisfactory. Sources are in good condition, but periodic wear and tear is detected, along with brief scratches and debris.

The Six Million Dollar Man: The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA tracks for "The Six Million Dollar Man" aren't consistent. While the majority of the episodes covered for this review maintained clarity with dialogue exchanges and music elements, balance isn't always there, with scoring cues occasionally running hotter than performances. Age could be a factor, and the low-budget nature of the show, but there are noticeable volume dips at times and muffled conversations ("Day of the Robot" and "The Return of Bigfoot: Part II" offer a few examples of this issue). Some highs slip into brief fuzziness. Audio issues are also found on "Bionic Ever After," which contains a slight channel imbalance. Sound effects are acceptable, preserving bionic movement and violent encounters.

The Six Million Dollar Man: The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

SEASON 1

Disc 1

• Commentary on "The Six Million Dollar Man" features author Herbie J. Pilato.

Disc 2

• Commentary on "Population: Zero" features author Herbie J. Pilato.

• Commentary on "Day of the Robot" features author Herbie J. Pilato.

Disc 5

• "Real Bionics" (11:58, SD) features interviews with writer/producer Kenneth Johnson, executive producer Harve Bennett, technical director Ian Fothergill, writer James Parriott, and Touch Bionics director Karl Lindborg. The interviewees examine the fictional world of "The Six Million Dollar Man" and its influence on medical research. Fan response is explored, with Bennett having the unenviable task of communicating with young viewers seeking their own bionic parts.

• "An Iconic Opening" (18:54, SD) features interviews with main title director Jack Cole, director Jerry London, executive producer Harve Bennett, director Steve Stafford, actor Martin E. Brooks, and fan Jesse Mesa Toves. The interviewees discuss the intent and execution of "The Six Million Dollar Man" main title sequence, working with technology of the time to create an opener capable of keeping viewers connected to the series.

• "Season 1 VIPs" (12:16, SD) features interviews with author Herbie J. Pilato, fan Paul K. Bisson, and executive producer Harve Bennett. The interviewees discuss the many famous faces of "The Six Million Dollar Man," highlighting contributions from such guest stars as William Shatner, Jo Anne Worley, and Farrah Fawcett.

• "OSI Mission Debriefing" (75:04, SD) is an interview with executive producer Harve Bennett.

• "Bionic Breakdown" highlights the different abilities of Steve Austin's superpowered body.

SEASON 2

Disc 2

• Commentary on "The Seven Million Dollar Man" features author Herbie J. Pilato.

Disc 5

• Commentary on "The Bionic Woman: Part 1" features writer Kenneth Johnson.

• Commentary on "The Bionic Woman: Part 2" features writer Kenneth Johnson.

Disc 6

• "The Bionic Sound Effects" (11:03, SD) features interviews with author Herbie J. Pilato, executive producer Harve Bennett, writer James Parriott, actor Richard Goldman, and fans Paul K. Bisson and Joseph Burns. The interviewees discuss the iconic sound effects of "The Six Million Dollar Man," tracking their creation and celebrating pop culture omnipresence by offering their own takes on the bionic noise.

• "Season 2 VIPs" (15:02, SD) features interviews with fan Paul K. Bisson, author Herbie J. Pilato, director Cliff Bole, and executive producer Harve Bennett. The interviewees discuss the many famous faces of "The Six Million Dollar Man," highlighting contributions from such guest stars as George Foreman, Donna Mills, and Dana Plato.

SEASON 3

Disc 3

• Commentary on "The Blue Flash" features director Cliff Bole.

Disc 4

• "Welcome Home, Jamie: Part 1" and "Welcome Home, Jamie: Part 2" are episodes of "The Bionic Woman.

Disc 5

• Commentary on "The Secret of Bigfoot: Part 1" features writer/producer Kenneth Johnson.

• Commentary on "The Secret of Bigfoot: Part 2" features writer/producer Kenneth Johnson.

Disc 6

• "The Search for Bigfoot" (13:14, SD) features interviews with author Herbie J. Pilato, executive producer Harve Bennett, writer/producer Kenneth Johnson, assistant Steve Stafford, director Cliff Bole, actors Richard Anderson and Martin E. Brooks, stunt coordinator Vince Deadrick Sr., stand-in Vince Deadrick Jr., and writer James Parriott. The interviewees discuss the use of Bigfoot in the series, with "The Six Million Dollar Man" testing the lines of camp as the show carried on. The casting of Andre the Giant to play the monster is also explored.

• "Season 3 VIPs" (15:41, SD) features interviews with fans Paul K. Bisson and Joseph Burns, author Herbie J. Pilato, writer/producer Kenneth Johnson, stunt coordinator Vince Deadrick Sr., stand-in Vince Deadrick Jr., actor Richard Anderson, director Cliff Bole, and executive producer Harve Bennett. The interviewees discuss the many famous faces of "The Six Million Dollar Man," highlighting contributions from such guest stars as Sonny Bono, Louis Gossett Jr., and Katherine Helmond.

SEASON 4

Disc 1

• Commentary on "The Return of Bigfoot: Part 1" features author Herbie J. Pilato.

• Commentary on "The Return of Bigfoot: Part 2" features author Herbie J. Pilato. This is also an episode of "The Bionic Woman."

Disc 2

• "Kill Oscar: Part 1" is an episode of "The Bionic Woman."

Disc 3

• "Kill Oscar: Part 3" is an episode of "The Bionic Woman."

• Commentary on "Vulture of the Andes" features director Cliff Bole.

Disc 4

• Commentary on "A Bionic Christmas Carol" features author Herbie J. Pilato.

Disc 7

• "The Six Million Dollar Fans" (13:43, SD) provides an overview of viewers who grew attached to "The Six Million Dollar Fan" and "The Bionic Woman" during their formative years, recalling initial excitement for the show and enduring love for the programs.

• "Season 4 VIPs" (17:13, SD) features interviews with fan Paul K. Bisson, author Herbie J. Pilato, writer/producer Kenneth Johnson, executive producer Harve Bennett, and actors Martin E. Brooks, Richard Anderson, and Janice Whitby. The interviewees discuss the many famous faces of "The Six Million Dollar Man," highlighting contributions from such guest stars as Flip Wilson, John Houseman, and Kim Basinger.

• "OSI Mission Debriefing" (53:32, SD) is an interview with actor Richard Anderson.

SEASON 5

Disc 6

• "Season 5 VIPs" (14:15, SD) features interviews with author Herbie J. Pilato and fan Paul K. Bisson. The interviewees discuss the many famous faces of "The Six Million Dollar Man," highlighting contributions from such guest stars as Rick Springfield, Suzanne Somers, and John De Lancie.

• "Best Villains and Best Fights" (18:13, SD) features interviews with fans Paul K. Bisson and Joseph Burns, executive producer Harve Bennett, author Herbie J. Pilato, actor Janice Whitby, and writer/producer Kenneth Johnson. The interviewees explore the tough adversaries and strange situations facing Steve Austin during the run of "The Six Million Dollar Man."

• "OSI Mission Debriefing" (64:07, SD) is an interview with actor Martin E. Brooks.

THE REUNION FILMS

Disc 2

• "OSI Mission Debriefing" (88:36, SD) is an interview with writer/producer Kenneth Johnson.

• Original Promos (10:39, SD) collects commercials for "The Six Million Dollar Man."

• Reunion Movie Promos (1:39, SD) collects commercials for "The Return of The Six Million Dollar Man and The Bionic Woman," "Bionic Showdown," and "Bionic Ever After."

• "Bryan Cranston Gives It To Us Straight" (5:06, HD) spends a moment with the actor, who watches his scene from "The Return" and recalls giggle fits from Lee Majors.

• Gallery #1 (2:32) collects BTS photos from The Kenneth Johnson Collection.

• Gallery #2 (1:02) collects photos from a Hollywood Museum event featuring Lee Majors.

• Gallery #3 (:42) collects photos from Kenneth Johnson's commentary session.

• Gallery #4 (1:12) collects photos from Bionic Con, featuring Lindsay Wagner and Kenneth Johnson.

• Gallery #5 (:42) collects pages from a Universal Studios Hollywood brochure promoting a "Bionic Testing Center" attraction.

The Six Million Dollar Man: The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"The Six Million Dollar Man" set includes 99 episodes, three reunion and three pilot films, and a wealth of extras, including commentaries by superfans of the show and production team members. Sound elements have their limitations, but visual presentations offer an adequate look at a nearly 50-year- old series.