Voyage to the Bottom of Sea: Season 2, Vol. 1 [3 Discs]

"The first half of Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea's second season -- the series' first to be shot in color -- has arrived on DVD in a fine edition on three double-sided platters. The full-screen (1.33:1) film-to-video transfer on these shows are beautiful -- from the opening episode, ""Jonah and the Whale,"" the programs look like they were shot last year, not 40 years ago, with beautiful detail and rich color, and hardly a flaw discernible; and one can now fully appreciate the time and attention that Oscar-winning cinematographer Winton Hoch (She Wore a Yellow Ribbon etc.) devoted to shooting the series. That particular episode also offers a serious musical treat in the form of Jerry Goldsmith's score -- including a new main- and end-title theme -- written specifically for this episode; one of the best action/sci-fi scores of Goldsmith's early career, it came at the very tail-end of the composer's television career, just as he was graduating to feature film work on a more-or-less full-time basis, and it gives the episode a level of sophistication that was lacking in most TV science fiction of the period (Star Trek was not yet on the air); indeed, parts of the score are almost operatic in a Wagnerian sense in certain sequences. That particular episode was virtually a new pilot episode for the series, as it introduced not only the color episodes but also two new regular characters, CPO Francis Sharkey (Terry Becker) and Stu Riley (Allan Hunt), as well as a somewhat new look to the Seaview. Other episodes, such as ""The Deadliest Game,"" are also notable for their transfers here, for finally getting their night shots properly and realistically lit, which makes them a pleasure to watch anew. As with the prior volumes in the series, each episode is given 12 chapter breaks fitting the breaks in the original series and matching the story arc as well. Each disc opens to a two-layered menu that is easy to maneuver around and straightforward, with no surprises. Disc Three is limited to three episodes out of the 13, with its second side containing the set's bonus features. These include extensive silent special effects footage from the episode ""Leviathan,"" plus stock shots of the Seaview model in action, and an array of still galleries. The latter include various publicity shots, including photographs of first season supporting player Henry Kulky, who died midway through that season; but the highlight of the still-frame galleries has to be the Mad magazine parody, ""Voyage To See What's On The Bottom,"" in its entirety. All of these bonus features are very easy to access and maneuver around, requiring clicks of just two buttons, and are an enjoyable treat for the true fans of the series."