Lifeguard [New Blu-ray]

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.

Bonus Materials

* Audio commentary by Jim Healy and Ben Reiser
* Booklet with new essay by Cristina Cacioppo (first pressing only)
* English subtitles
* Double-sided wrap with legacy artwork
* Image gallery

Sales Points

* New 4K Restoration from the original 35mm negative
* Early starring roles for Sam Elliott, Anne Archer and Kathleen Quinlan
* Worldwide Blu-ray premiere

Press Quotes

'LIFEGUARD is an understated and wise film about the rejection of adulthood. Director Daniel Petrie lets the story develop its own shaggy tempo, and elicits a grounded, engaging performance from Elliott. He exudes a bodily calm, his gestures an extension of his surfer-Buddhist ethos.'

-R. Emmet Sweeney, Turner Classic Movies Movie Morlocks

'One of the year's best pictures, sensitively directed and beautifully written. Boasts a star-making role for Sam Elliott.'

-Kevin Thomas , Los Angeles Times

'Performs an interesting autopsy on the psyche of the American male.'

-Verina Glaessner, Time Out

'The film, like its title character, is charming and unassuming - making no pretense of eloquence or importance, yet achieving both.'

-Perry Stewart, Fort Worth Star-Telegram

'Sensitively directed by Daniel Petrie, the film relies for most of its charm on the low-key sexiness of Elliott's performance.'

-Jeanne Miller, San Francisco Examiner

'Sam Elliott is perfection.'

-Judith Crist, Playgirl

'You are in for a pleasant surprise! First-rate performances. An insightful and enjoyable film!'

-After Dark

'Sam Elliott invests the role with understated integrity and the kind of Marlboro manhood that dozens of clean-cut Hollywood hopefuls spend half their lives trying to simulate.'

-Playboy