NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: Kino Blu-ray (February 2024): Kino have transferred Jerry Hopper's Alaska Seas to Blu-ray. It is cited as being from a "Brand New HD Master by Paramount Pictures". There are a few speckles noticeable. It is on a single-layered disc with a max'ed out bitrate. The film has stock footage of Alaska, collapsing glaciers and fishing that is of a lower quality. Overall there is consistent softness and the contrast a shade muddy - but the overall presentation is quite appealing.  

NOTE: We have added 56 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Kino use a DTS-HD Master dual-mono track (24-bit) in the original English language. Alaska Seas has many aggressive scenes from fist fights, rifle shots to shooting harpoons. There are the sounds of fishing boats etc. The score was credited to Leo Shuken (Sturges' Sullivan's Travels, The Miracle of Morgan's Creek) and Roy Webb, who has hundreds of film music credits to his name, mainly with RKO Pictures including Crossfire, Clash by Night, I Married a Witch, This Is Cinerama, Easy Living, The Window, Fixed Bayonets, Journey Into Fear, I Walked with a Zombie, The Ghost Ship, Bedlam, etc. sounding clean and supportive of the film's action and scenery. Kino offer optional English subtitles on their Region 'A' Blu-ray.

The Kino Blu-ray offers a new commentary by film historian David Del Valle (author of Lost Horizons Beneath the Hollywood Sign) and film historian/archivist Stan Shaffer. They talk about the original; Spawn of the North, Robert Ryan's depth and his admiration for Gregory Peck, Brian Keith, Jan Sterling (Ace in the Hole), director Jerry Hopper and other details of the film's plot and production. David tells us that Van Heflin was meant to star alongside Ryan and Jan Sterling. However, he pulled out just before filming and was replaced by Brian Keith, who was, in turn, playing the role that was filled by Gene Barry (Verne Williams.) It was an excellent commentary loaded with details of older Hollywood. There are a handful of trailers although none for Alaska Seas. The package has an appealing alt-artwork reversible sleeve (see below,)

Jerry Hopper's Alaska Seas is another vintage adventure released on Blu-ray by Kino. With the character Matt Kelly (Robert Ryan) recently released from jail (illegal killing of seals), his redemption, and the unusual love-triangle with Nicki Jackson (Jan Sterling) make for possibilities that Alaska Seas also leans to a romance, melodrama or even a Noir. The backdrop of glaciers, desperate union-bonded salmon fishing in Alaska - works to a certain extent but there isn't much back-story on the characters that I think would have helped. It's short at just over 1 1/4 hours but there are positives - mostly the performances - hunky Brian Keith, confused but sexy Sterling and mercenary Ryan. The commentary helped my appreciation but the film doesn't get a full endorsement. To each his own.

Gary Tooze