Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.0

The Tamarind Seed Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf July 16, 2019

Maturing as a filmmaker after spending time with the “Pink Panther” series, Blake Edwards tries his luck with a spy genre with 1974’s “The Tamarind Seed,” which opens with a James Bond-style credit sequence from Maurice Binder and features a John Barry score, but doesn’t do much more when it comes to digging into cinematic influences. Instead, Edwards puts his faith into stars Julie Andrews and Omar Sharif, who supply just enough star power to get this unexpectedly dry thriller out of neutral on multiple occasions.

“The Tamarind Seed” is a tale of global spies and espionage efforts, but Edwards (who also scripts) can’t shake the stillness of the material, preferring to make a stage play about opposites finding love in the midst of worldwide paranoia and political gamesmanship. There are superb performances but little inner fire, with Edwards preferring to tackle growing danger through conversations, and while Sharif and Andrews are master thespians, they can only get so far with a feature that’s more tell than show.

The Tamarind Seed Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (2.35:1 aspect ratio) presentation delivers a consistent and defined look at "The Tamarind Seed." Some compression issues hound the main title sequence, but the rest of the viewing experience is stable, handling colors with care. Island paradise is well represented through blue skies and bright beach wear, and skintones are natural. Interiors visit colder offices and bedrooms. Detail is satisfactory, picking up on facial nuances and fibrous outfits, and the picture's attention to the miniature workings of spy tools remains intact. Delineation is acceptable. Source is in fine shape, without much wear and tear.

The Tamarind Seed Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA mix delivers an agreeable listening event for "The Tamarind Seed," focusing on dialogue exchanges, which sustain intelligibility while dealing with various accents and levels of dramatic intensity. Scoring supports comfortably, with passable instrumentation and volume. Sound effects remain open with beach encounters and office visits, and brief moments of gunfire offer snap. Hiss is detected throughout.

The Tamarind Seed Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Interview (14:59, SD) is a 1972 visit to the British T.V. show, "Russell Harty Plus," which welcomes actor Omar Sharif for a chat. This being the early 1970s, the discussion isn't exactly politically correct, with Harty asking his guest to share his insights on beautiful women from around the globe, and if intelligent women should really be tolerated, with attitude a big turn-off for the host. It's darkly hilarious, but matters return to normal, covering topics such as the origin of Sharif's name, his Egyptian heritage, the importance of sporting habits for school-age children, his early career experiences, and his passion for the game of bridge. The men are joined halfway through by Diana Dors, who is clearly very interested in the guest. Also joining the panel are countless cigarettes, with Sharif and Harty sucking down heaters as they engage in semi- creepy talk show banter.

• Interview (11:36, SD) returns to "Russell Harty Plus," this time in 1974, with Sharif returning to the program to promote his participation in "Juggernaut." The men discuss the power of complaining, with Sharif sharing a highly bizarre anecdote about a temper tantrum he threw in front of deceptive airline employees. The guest's bachelor lifestyle is also explored, with Sharif making it clear he doesn't want his bathroom messed up by the presence of a woman. Life experience and future plans are summarized, along with Sharif's passion for bridge tournaments and horses, lamenting how the public no longer dresses up for a day at the track.

• Interview (34:57, SD) is another Russell Harty episode, this time from 1975, where the host is joined by Peter Sellers, Burt Kwouk, and director Blake Edwards. Sellers works his way through various bits and stories, trying very hard to be entertaining for Harty. Kwouk is only around briefly. Edwards covers the creation of Inspector Clouseau, detailing his relationship with Sellers, which is more of a friendship after finding the actor at the last minute for the first "Pink Panther" production. The men examine the normality of cracking up on-set, ruining takes, the psychology of the character, and Edwards's own battle with illness while making the movie, enduring an appendectomy during production, with Sellers determined to split some stitches by making his director laugh post-surgery.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (3:01, HD) is included.

The Tamarind Seed Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Edwards finally gets some adrenaline going in the finale, but it's not enough to send off what's really a static picture about active government agents. "The Tamarind Seed" tries to be romantic and suspenseful, but it's not terribly exciting, with all of its appeal coming from the actors assembled to sell tension that's never quite there to begin with.