City in the Sea Blu-ray Review

The Blu-Ray presentation of "City in the Sea" is an impressive example of 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 encoding, maintaining a consistent 2.35:1 aspect ratio. The clarity is commendable throughout, with sharpness that brings out the intricate details in both set designs and costumes. Facial textures are rendered with notable intricacy, and skin tones appear natural. Although the film has aged, primary colors—particularly reds and greens—remain vibrant and steadfast, ensuring a visually engaging experience.

In terms of contrast and brightness, the presentation handles these aspects expertly for the majority of the runtime. Blacks are deep with excellent shadow detail, adding appreciable dimensionality to the scenes. However, whites can sometimes be overly bright, introducing negligible noise. A thin layer of grain enhances the film-like quality, fostering an immersive viewing experience. The palette predominantly features browns and earth tones, with secondary hues occasionally appearing washed-out. Reds, however, stand out with vibrant boldness.

While the source material shows minor signs of wear such as white specks, dirt, and infrequent scratches, these are largely forgivable given the film's age and original photography. Underwater scenes exhibit more significant vertical scratches and recycled footage shows wear and tear. Yet, fine lines and background details—such as stone carvings and walls—are sharply defined. Despite delineation challenges at distances, the frame information remains intact, making this presentation a definitive example of a well-executed Blu-Ray encode.

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix for "City in the Sea" adeptly sustains an adventurous atmosphere, presenting an energetic score that, although lacking in precise instrumentation, robustly supports the action sequences. Dialogue exchanges are rendered with clarity and expressiveness, with a diverse cast's dramatics distinctly conveyed. The audio design generously incorporates water-based soundscapes and cavernous echoing, enhancing the sense of deep-sea life. However, there are minor issues such as slight hiss and varying levels during reel changes, but these deficiencies are minimal and do not significantly detract from the overall audio experience.

The stereo DTS-HD 2.0 soundtrack excellently balances clear dialogue with music and effects, establishing an immersive auditory experience. Despite some inherent limitations from the original sound design, which result in a uniform mix with a constrained frequency range, the presentation remains competent. Dialogue remains intelligible and precise throughout, although the mix lacks some depth and heft in the low-end while introducing marginal distortion in the upper frequencies. Background activities enrich the audio landscape moderately, providing additional dimension despite the mostly flat mid-range presentation. Overall, the lossless mono soundtrack satisfactorily encapsulates the film’s essence, doing justice to the source material.

The Blu-ray extras for "City in the Sea" provide enriching insights into the film’s production, featuring a cheery and informative interview with star Tab Hunter. Hunter shares his experiences on set and the camaraderie with his co-stars, including Vincent Price, while also candidly acknowledging the movie’s reception. The extras are rounded out by a theatrical trailer, offering a nostalgic glimpse back at the film’s original marketing. These additions provide both a behind-the-scenes look and an authentic connection to the film's legacy.

Extras included in this disc:

• Interview: Actor Tab Hunter discusses his time on set, sharing various memories and anecdotes working with Vincent Price and other cast members.
• Theatrical Trailer: Original promotional trailer for "City in the Sea."

"City in the Sea," better known as "War-Gods of the Deep," is a 1965 endeavor by director Jacques Tourneur to craft an aquatic adventure with dramatic flair. This film, starring Vincent Price, Tab Hunter, Susan Hart, and David Tomlinson, seeks to merge Disney-esque spectacle and 1960s horror-fantasy tropes. With its limited budget, the production struggles to fully realize its grandiose underwater world. However, Tourneur’s direction makes the best of towering sets and occasional visual grandeur to maintain a mood of mystery and exploration. Price, as always, delivers a captivating performance, embodying the sinister Captain Sir Hugh with characteristic menace and nuanced articulation.

The screenplay by Charles Bennett and Louis M. Heyward draws more from contemporary fantasy than its supposed inspiration, Edgar Allan Poe’s poem, "The City in the Sea." Notably, Price recites lines from Poe’s work to reinforce the thematic backdrop. The narrative is packed with fantastical elements – an underwater city, mermen, and looming volcanic doom – all contributing to a storyline that occasionally ventures into the nonsensical. The humor inserted by Heyward feels jarring, not least due to David Tomlinson’s comedic subplot involving a chicken, which contrasts starkly with the overall atmosphere Adventure scenes and conflicts seem whimsical at times, threatening to undercut the intended tension.

AIP, the film's production company, has a legacy of entertaining albeit not always critically acclaimed films, often targeting younger audiences. Their model of sensationalism is evident here, yet "War-Gods of the Deep" stands out due to Tourneur’s deft handling of cinematography and sporadic injections of dramatic intensity. Despite its shortcomings and odd mixture of horror and comedy, the film remains an engaging piece of campy sci-fi B-horror memorabilia.

"City in the Sea" offers a blend of fantasy and horror that, despite its whimsical premise, delivers some solid moments, especially through its climactic underwater sequences. The film's second act may drag with exposition and comedic missteps, but the action and destruction that follow reinvigorate the narrative. Vincent Price’s performance remains a highlight, even if the script’s eccentricity sometimes overshadows his commanding presence.

The Blu-ray release is a notable improvement over previous editions, particularly in visual presentation. The director's distinctive use of color and sophisticated lighting have been meticulously rendered, showcasing the pristine restoration work. Clarity and tonal range are prominent, only marred by minor defects intrinsic to the original negative. The stereo DTS-HD 2.0 sound mix complements the visuals well, offering clear dialogue and balanced music and effects. The lack of a robust stereo system should not detract from enjoying the film’s soundscape.

Despite a scant offering of bonus features – limited to an interesting yet brief interview with Tab Hunter – this Blu-ray edition remains an essential acquisition for fans. The interview, although not deeply revealing, provides amusing insights into the filmmaking process and anecdotes from the set. Overall, while "City in the Sea" may not reside at the pinnacle of Vincent Price's oeuvre, this release does justice by presenting the film in its best possible quality.