‘Lifeguard’ Blu-Ray Review – Sam Elliott Wrestles With His Place In Life In This Overlooked Beach Gem

At first glance, it looks as if Rick Carlson (Sam Elliott, Tombstone and The Big Lebowski) has it made. He’s bright and good-looking. He’s also the lifeguard on a stretch of California beach that has more than its fair share of tanned bodies and beautiful girls. But Rick is at the crossroads of his life. His friends and family are pushing him to get a “real” job but, at this point, Rick’s not so sure what “real” is. It’s an agonizing decision compounded on one side by an adoring beach groupie (Kathleen Quinlan, Apollo 13) and on the other side by a former high school flame (Anne Archer, Fatal Attraction) who’s game for rekindling, but only if he’s serious about trading in his swimsuits for three-piecers.

Elliott drew waves of accolades for his sensitive and sexy portrayal of the aging title character who’s compelled to reassess his life and career. Director Daniel Petrie’s (Buster and Billie) picture is an introspective character piece whose protagonist struggles against societal norms in order to hold onto his sense of self and find personal fulfillment. The script by first-time writer Ron Koslow (Firstborn), is based on his experiences as a California lifeguard. The musical voice of so many ’70s dramas, Paul Williams (Phantom of the Paradise) contributes the aptly-titled “Time and Tide” to the film’s soundtrack. Filmed in picturesque, all-American Southern California locales by DP Ralph Woolsey (Rafferty and the Gold Dust Twins), Lifeguard has been remastered from a 4K scan of its original camera negative for this first-ever Blu-ray release.

For thoughts on Lifeguard, please check out my thoughts on No Streaming Required: 

Video Quality

Lifeguard debuts on Blu-Ray courtesy of Fun City Editions with a digital AVC encoded 1080p transfer in its original 1.85:1 aspect ratio that is derived from a 4K restoration of the 35mm Original Camera Negative. The colors are brilliantly saturated with deep, natural hues coming through with ideal accuracy. There are plenty of bright costumes and vistas along the beach to make this a visually sumptuous experience. Black levels hold up favorably with no moments of crush or banding observed. Highlights likewise never come up short with blooming. 

The presentation preserves the natural textured film properties free of unsightly DNR or other digital nuisances. Everything appears to be accurate to its intended appearance yet refined to sidestep any clumpy grain frozen in the background. Skin tones are naturally warm and consistent across the ensemble with distinct features such as pores, perspiration, and makeup easily observable in closeup. Image stability and clarity are top tier with the textures of the costumes and landscapes showcasing resolutely. Any previous instances of print damage such as nicks and scratches have been eradicated. Fun City Editions always manages to impress. 

Audio Quality

The Blu-Ray comes with a DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio track that executes every facet of this narrative with a noble consistency. Music is a big part of the rhythms of this story, and this release includes the soundtrack emanating with the utmost fidelity to fill the room. Dialogue plays well with this with every exchange coming through clearly in all environmental circumstances. We did not experience any sonic shortcomings or signs of age-related wear such as hissing, sibilance, or distortion. This track delivers a satisfying experience on all fronts for this feature. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided. 

Special Features

• Audio Commentary: Film Historians Jim Healy and Ben Reiser provide an entertaining and informative commentary track in which they discuss the legacy of the feature, the careers of the talent involved, the marketing campaign that upset Sam Elliott, and much more that is worthwhile. 

• Image Gallery: A nearly eight-minute slideshow of stills and marketing materials. 

• Booklet: There is a bound booklet included featuring the essay “To Beach, Or Not To Beach” by critic Cristina Cacioppo that explores the production, the themes, the background of the creative tea, and much more that is enlightening.

Final Thoughts

Lifeguard is a surprising character study for a film that has a somewhat cheesy and lighthearted aura surrounding it. Sam Elliott is excellent in the lead role as a man unsure of his place and trajectory in life, and he brings a lot of complexity to the role. The supporting players are very good including Kathleen Quinlan and Anne Archer. There are a few elements that make us raise an eyebrow, but this is a rewarding piece of storytelling waiting to be rediscovered. Fun City Editions has delivered a Blu-Ray featuring a sumptuous A/V presentation and a nice assortment of special features. We could not be happier. Recommended 

Lifeguard is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray and DVD. 

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

Disclaimer: Fun City Editions 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.