He’s the lone survivor of a lost civilization…thrust into ours. A giant storm tosses ashore a being who is both human and a creature from the deep. Mark Harris is the name given to him by the astonished scientists who study and protect their remarkable find. Harris is equally astonished, a fish out of water eager to learn about us. Patrick Duffy (a year before beginning his legendary run on Dallas) plays the Atlantean in the origin movie that (along with three more films) preceded the cult classic Man from Atlantis TV series. In this adventure, Harris uses his amazing underwater abilities to save mankind from a madman’s (Victor Buono) plot to launch missiles from all the world’s nuclear submarines!

For thoughts on Man From Atlantis, please check out my thoughts on No Streaming Required:

Video Quality

Man From Atlantis arrived on Blu-Ray in 2019 courtesy of the Warner Archive in a stunning 1080p transfer derived from a 2K scan. The film is presented in its original broadcast 1.33:1 aspect ratio that preserves the original look of the film. Colors radiate off the screen with a vibrancy well beyond what you would expect for the material. You only need to take a look at the crystal blue water to gain a deep appreciation for this transfer. The underwater sequences are incredibly clear given the way they were filmed, and the open-air portions are as clear as any modern films. That’s not to say that the filmic quality is compromised in the least; there is a world of natural grain that yields exceptional detail. There is no signs of compression artifacts or banding to be found. Warner Archive has really pulled out all of the stops on this one.

Audio Quality

This Blu-Ray comes with a resolute DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio track that deftly preserves the original sound aesthetic. The pleasant score is treated with care and balanced well within the mix. Dialogue is crystal clear without ever being overwhelmed by special effects or the score. The more frenetic moments, along with the prominent weather sounds, create a spacious track that is more nuanced than you might expect. This track provides a presentation absent of any major defects or digital anomalies that would prevent the enjoyment of the film. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for those who desire them.

Special Features

There are no special features provided on this disc.

Final Thoughts

Man From Atlantis is a decent TV movie outing that keeps your attention but does not exactly leave you clamoring for a full series outing. That being said, we would love for Warner Archive to continue upgrading the remainder of the telefilms and series to see how the concept is put to the test. The film delivers some solid special effects work, and the performances are all perfectly in line with what you expect from the material. It will function better as a nostalgia play for anyone who remembers the property, but those who like unusual TV should give it a watch. Warner Archive has given this one a Blu-Ray with an excellent A/V presentation but no special features.

Man From Atlantis 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.