Based on the first of Kenneth Robeson’s 181 adventure-packed Doc Savage books, Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze hits the screen with all its gee-whiz, gung-ho spirit intact. And its bold protagonist, who along with having a Herculean body is also a surgeon, linguist and inventor, remains determined to do right to all and wrong to no one.

Ron Ely (TV’s Tarzan) plays the strapping Savage in this high-camp, big- heroics tale of his trek into the Valley of the Vanished to confront the power-hungry Captain Seas (Paul Wexler). And behind the camera are pros who know how to get the most of this entertainment bronze mine: veteran fantasy film producer George Pal (The War of The Worlds, The Time Machine) and director Michael Anderson (Around the World in 80 Days, Logan’s Run).

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Video Quality

Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze received a fetching upgrade on Blu-Ray when it was released in 2016 courtesy of Warner Archive with a 1080p master sourced from a 2K scan of the Interpositive. The transfer retains the beautiful natural film grain free of any compression artifacts or other such digital shortcomings. We did not observe any lingering signs of damage such as specks or scratches. Skin tones appear to be natural across the entire cast. The colors of the film are faithfully saturated to capture the intended aesthetic. Bold hues make an impression within the clothing, production design, and light sources. Black levels are deep and detailed in the shadowy spaces of the screen, and highlights never suffer from blooming. The upgrade unleashes textures that are clearly visible for the first time at home. Warner Archive has provided a mighty fine transfer for this unusual adventure.

Audio Quality

Warner Archive brings this Blu-Ray to audiences with a DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio mix that offers a pleasant presentation. The action is far from traditional but the environmental effects always make themselves known. The score from Frank De Vol establishes the unique tone of the film, and it sounds strong throughout with firm fidelity. Dialogue stays resolute in the center channel without being overwhelmed by parallel elements. This is a consistent track that executes everything it needs to without issue. Optional English (SDH) subtitles are provided on this disc.

Special Features

Theatrical Trailer (3:01)

Final Thoughts

Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze is an at-times confounding mixture of absurd earnestness and knowing camp. Many audience members may not know what to do with the movie, but a few qualities make it worth exploring to uncover some of its charms. It is unlike most features you can throw on from this era, so for that reason alone it is worth considering. Warner Archive has released a Blu-Ray featuring a formidable A/V presentation but almost nothing in the way of special features.

Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze can be purchased directly through MovieZyng or various other online retailers.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Warner Archive has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.