Tab Hunter Confidential Blu-ray Review

"Tab Hunter Confidential" debuts on Blu-ray courtesy of FilmRise, featuring a commendable 1.78:1 1080p AVC-encoded presentation with a total video bitrate of 25.52 Mbps. The visually engaging documentary excels with its contemporary interview segments, showcasing excellent HD quality, bright and true-to-life colors, and a good level of detail. These scenes stand out for their clear, natural imagery, maintaining professional video standards. Moreover, while depth isn't emphasized due to the focused backgrounds, the visuals remain crisp and clean throughout.

Archival footage and older film clips intermixed with the interviews demonstrate varying quality. The resolution of old photographs has been enhanced for digital projection while retaining an acceptable level of visual fidelity. The vintage footage, though not restored or derived from digital intermediates, remains generally watchable despite evident chroma noise, color bleeding, and occasional mosquito noise, particularly when upconverted for Blu-ray. The technical effort behind this transfer is evident, respecting the source's limitations and budget constraints. While some film clips appear sourced from standard definition masters or even VHS tapes, these inclusions do not detract significantly from the viewing experience, serving their purpose without overstaying their welcome.

Overall, "Tab Hunter Confidential" offers a solid and engaging visual presentation, balancing HD interview segments with vintage materials seamlessly for documentary purposes. FilmRise divides this feature into fourteen chapters ensuring ease of navigation and enhancing the viewing experience.

FilmRise has provided a Dolby Digital 5.1 (448 kbps) audio track along with a Dolby Digital 2.0 (192 kbps) option for the "Tab Hunter Confidential" Blu-ray. While the absence of an uncompressed track is somewhat noticeable, it does not severely impact the primary feature: clear, intelligible dialogue from contemporary interviews. The documentary relies heavily on spoken content, which is conscientiously rendered through the front and center channels. Michael Cudahy’s original score accompanies the narrative well, although the surround channels could benefit from additional emphasis, particularly during musical moments underscoring emotional scenes.

The technical execution is serviceable but unremarkable, primarily due to the dominant centering of dialogue with minimal effect on dynamic imaging. The sparse utilization of surround channels leaves the impression of a stereo presentation rather than leveraging the full potential of 5.1 audio. Notably, there is an oversight around the 40-minute mark where French dialogue lacks proper subtitles, only indicating “Speaking French,” which could cause some inconvenience. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for most of the main feature, mitigating this issue to an extent but not fully addressing it.

Overall, while the audio presentation adequately supports the documentary's narrative focus, it falls short in delivering a richly immersive sound experience.

The Blu-ray extras for "Tab Hunter Confidential" provide a rich, engaging experience that offers viewers deeper insights into Tab Hunter's life through a series of informative and heartfelt interviews. The Bonus Interviews montage features segments with Tab Hunter discussing his mother, military school, early B-films, and relationships, alongside contributions from notable personalities such as Robert Osbourne, Debbie Reynolds, and George Takei. The material is quite extensive and enriching even if not pivotal to the main documentary narrative. Additionally, the Trailer presents the film in a 1.78:1 format optimized for 16x9 displays, giving a clear preview of the documentary. These extras significantly enhance the viewing experience by supplementing the main content with valuable additional perspectives.

Extras included in this disc:

• Bonus Interviews: A montage of excised interviews and outtakes with title cards introducing each segment; includes content from Tab Hunter and various notable personalities.
• Trailer: A 1.78:1 trailer of "Tab Hunter Confidential" optimized for 16x9 displays.

"Tab Hunter Confidential" is an insightful and deeply engaging documentary by Jeffrey Schwarz that meticulously examines the multifaceted career of Tab Hunter. The film draws from Hunter's 2005 autobiographical book of the same name, co-written with Eddie Muller, and incorporates interviews with over thirty individuals including friends, colleagues, and critics. Schwarz enhances the narrative with a dynamic visual style, overlaying archival footage with animations and juxtaposing stills, lobby cards, and movie posters to create a three-dimensional effect. This approach breathes life into discussions of more than sixty films, telefilms, and TV specials, providing a comprehensive overview of Hunter's artistic output and the cultural contexts he navigated.

The documentary largely adheres to a chronological order, covering Hunter’s strict upbringing, his tumultuous relationship with his father, and his early fascination with acting and equestrianism. Significant attention is given to Hunter's breakout stage role in "Our Town," which precedes his success in Hollywood's 'B' movies. The film vividly captures the studio moguls' exploitation of Hunter's image, often portraying him shirtless to capitalize on his appeal. This illusion of carefree stardom sharply contrasts with the actor's internal struggles, notably his efforts to conceal his homosexuality in a deeply intransigent 1950s society. The candid inclusion of Hunter’s arrest at a homosexual party and his precarious balance of public image versus personal truth adds layers to the narrative.

Schwarz adeptly juxtaposes Hunter's personal recollections with analytical comments from contemporary figures such as George Takei and John Waters. These contributions highlight both the widespread adoration of Hunter's masculine persona and the societal challenges he faced. While some moments could benefit from a slower pace to explore Hunter’s early life in greater detail, the documentary offers an invaluable glimpse into the life of a Hollywood icon who managed to maintain both professional success and personal integrity. Overall, "Tab Hunter Confidential" is an honest, compelling portrait that reveals the complexities behind the alluring facade of one of America's beloved movie stars.

"Tab Hunter Confidential" on Blu-ray offers an engrossing and insightful look into the life and career of one of Hollywood's most intriguing personalities. Spanning Hunter's journey from a matinee idol to an openly gay man in his twilight years, the film delivers a mix of poignant moments and fascinating revelations. FilmRise has done an admirable job with this release, providing a solid transfer and an audio mix that effectively supports the film's content. The inclusion of extra interview footage enhances the package, offering deeper insights into Hunter's experiences and legacy.

The technical quality of the Blu-ray presentation is commendable, with a fine transfer that captures the visual essence of the documentary. While the audio mix is serviceable, it adequately complements the narrative without overwhelming it. These aspects combine to create an immersive viewing experience that draws you into Hunter's world. Whether you're a fan of classic Hollywood or new to Hunter's work, this film serves as both an educational and compelling exploration of his life.

In conclusion, "Tab Hunter Confidential" provides an excellent overview of the 85-year-old's career. One should gain multiple insights into Hunter’s different personalities as well as respect and admiration for how he has transitioned through different chapters of his life. It’s a highly recommended release that not only captures the essence of a bygone Hollywood era but also serves as an inspiring tale of personal resilience. This release will hopefully inspire major studios and niche labels to release more of Hunter's film and television work on Blu-ray.