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

ADDITION: Synapse Films Blu-ray (February 2020): Synapse Films have transferred the, "Original Uncut", version of Hot Dog... The Movie to Blu-ray. It is described as a "New 4K restoration of the producer’s uncut version from the recently discovered original 35mm camera negative". The major attribute of the 1.78:1 1080P image are the lush grain textures (the darker interior of the sauna, especially so). It makes the HD presentation look extremely film-like. The visuals are consistent with rich colors and beautiful Squaw Valley, California snow-capped vistas. The video is highly impressive... all the better to ogle Shannon Tweed's ample bosom, I suppose.

On their Blu-ray, Synapse Films offer the option of DTS-HD Master tracks (24-bit) in a 5.1 surround bump or original 2.0 channel mono - both in the original English language. There are skiing effects and a score credited to Peter Bernstein (appropriately Hamburger: The Motion Picture) including Top Of The Hill and Hold Me performed by Clif Magness and pop music from the era including Patti Austin's Do You Love Me?, Duran Duran's Hungry Like the Wolf, Al Jarreau's I Will Be Here For You and other sampled pieces. I noticed a few subtle separations in the robust surround and there is some depth in both tracks but mainly the lossless exports the music adeptly. Synapse Films offer optional English (SDH) subtitles on their Region 'A' Blu-ray.

The Synapse Films Blu-ray has a new audio commentary with Michael Feltcher (of Synapse) moderating co-producer/writer Mike Marvin's comments. Some of the stories about the production are amusing and wild. he goes into detail about the frame rate and heavy camera used to how he and Shannon were born on the same day and that if the film was released today it would probably be NC-17. It's fairly interesting hearing about the 3-hour director's cut, how John Patrick Reger pretended to be German for the casting, 'Broomball', how 'ski ballet' is no longer an event, and how different things were back in the early 80's from sexual norms to the cost of spending a day at the slopes. Also is an all-new 55 minute featurette, Hot Dog... The Documentary, including new interviews with director Peter Markle, co-producer/writer Mike Marvin, and cast members David Naughton, Tracy Smith, John Patrick Reger and Frank Koppala. It sounds like they had fun and many of the cast/crew reflect positively on the experience. There is also an original theatrical trailer, TV spot, radio spots, and music video plus the package has liner notes by TEEN MOVIE HELL author, Mike McPadden.

Hot Dog... The Movie (as opposed to Hot Dog... the Symphony) is fun and the pioneer of its kind for a skiing 'T+A' flic. Much of the early 80's, along with Porky's and its sequels, had many of these similar sex-comedy genre films surface and get VHS rentals. There is some nostalgia value here, for sure. It's probably the biggest attribute along with the beautiful skiing footage and Synapse have produced a complete Blu-ray with impressive a/v, commentary, hour-long documentary and liner notes. If you even remotely keen, you couldn't ask for a better package. Recommended to the fanbase!

Gary Tooze