Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.0
Audio		3.0
Extras		2.5
Overall		3.0

Tiger by the Tail Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf July 22, 2018

1970’s “Tiger by the Tail” (released two years after being completed) gifts star Christopher George his own hardboiled detective story, putting him in a tough guy position that makes the most of his hard stares. It’s hard to argue with the casting, with George a believably steely man portraying a character who can’t seem to escape trouble. “Tiger by the Tail” plays to his thespian strengths, but the movie lacks a lot of chewiness the subgenre is known for, unfolding with a surprising amount of conversation instead of two-fisted conflict resolution, leaving the picture lacking a great of excitement, which is pretty amazing considering that the film opens with a brawl inside a Mexican brothel.

War hero Steve (Christopher George) is back home, reuniting with his estranged brother, who owns a horse track. When his sibling his murdered during a million-dollar robbery, Steve is left to pick up the pieces, handed 72 hours to find the culprit before track shareholders buy him out. Setting out to question people intimately involved in the case, including Rita (Tippi Hedren), Steve uncovers plenty of suspicious activity, trying to put the puzzles pieces together. However, corrupt types such as Billy Jack (Allan Hale Jr.) and Del (Lloyd Bochner) are working their own angles, while law enforcement is no help, believing Steve to be the top suspect in his brother’s murder.

George seems to be channeling the tough guys of the 1960s, riffing on the ways of Lee Marvin, portraying Steve as a man of little patience, happily ruining the plans of others when he smells a rat. He’s a vet getting past military service, only to find trouble at home, thrust into a financial bind when he’s suddenly presented with control of the track, bound by laws that force him to act quick to find those responsible for his sibling’s death. It should be an odyssey of charged encounters, but “Tiger by the Tail” doesn’t play those notes, instead taking it easy on the Steve, who’s primary show of force are veiled threats, with the movie only sporadically offering up a beating or a shooting to hold attention. It’s not the most exciting string of personal visits, but the production puts its faith in colorful and shifty characters who may or may not be contributing to Steve’s bad week. And there’s Rita, a possible femme fatale, coming between the brothers with her powerful appeal.

Tiger by the Tail Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation is sourced from a "4K scan of the 35mm original negative and interpositive by Paramount Pictures Archive." The viewing experience has a lot of heft, most impressive with colors, finding periods hues most inviting on costuming, with bold reds and bright yellows, capturing style and emphasis. Skintones are natural, identifying leathered men and Charo's ghostly complexion. Greenery is also lively, with defined location visits and race track events. While there's inherent cinematographic softness, detail is generally good, isolating textured outfits and wide open environments. Facial particulars are intact. Delineation is satisfactory. Grain is filmic. Source encounters light speckling and some brief chemical blotches. A few mild scratches as well.

Tiger by the Tail Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

More troublesome is the 2.0 DTS-HD MA mix, which is quite aged, offering a slightly muddy, always fuzzy listening event, with hiss carrying through the entire presentation. Intelligibility isn't threatened in full, but it's periodically difficult to decode lines, and nothing reaches its full sonic potential. Scoring is also somewhat muted, but musical moods are adequate, with acceptable volume when actions demand emphasis.

Tiger by the Tail Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary features film historians Howard S. Berger and Nathaniel Thompson.

• A Theatrical Trailer has not been included.

Tiger by the Tail Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

There's very little thrust to "Tiger by the Tale," which doesn't provide the most enthralling mystery. It's more compelling with quirk, including the casting of Charo as a cheery club performer who clearly wants to know Steve in a biblical way, and the seasoned vets in the supporting cast add some needed menace to keep the story from falling asleep. And when all else fails, there's George, working very hard to appeal effortlessly cool, achieving dramatic goals in a movie that's wise to keep him front and center, getting a quick charge whenever he shoots a death glare.