Hot Dog... The Movie Blu-ray

We have started a Patreon page with the hopes that some of our followers would be willing to donate a small amount to keep DVDBeaver alive. We are a tiny niche, so your generosity is vital to our existence.

We are talking about a minimum of $0.10 - $0.15 a day, perhaps a quarter (or more) to those who won't miss it from their budget. It equates to buying DVDBeaver a coffee once, twice or a few times a month. You can then participate in our monthly Silent auctions, and have exclusive access to many 'bonus' High Resolution screen captures - both 4K UHD and Blu-ray (see HERE).

To those that are unfamiliar, Patreon is a secure/verified third-party service where users can agree to a monthly donation via credit card or PayPal by clicking the button below.

Search DVDBeaver

S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r

Directed by Peter Markle
USA 1984

Harkin Banks (Patrick Houser) is an American hot-dogger who enters a winter skiing competition and goes pole-to-pole with Rudi (John Patrick Reger), an arrogant Austrian pro who will do anything to win! As Harkin's "Rat Pack" and Rudi's "Rudettes" battle on and off the slopes, Rudi's ultra-sexy ex-girlfriend (Shannon Tweed, Playboy's 1982 Playmate of the Year) sets her sights on Harkin with a few "pointers" of her own. Culminating in a final and dangerous "Chinese Downhill" race, only one will be victorious! See and hear HOT DOG … THE MOVIE the way it was always meant to be in this "Unrated Producer's Cut" of the iconic '80s T&A ski-comedy classic! Remastered in 4K from the uncut 35mm camera negative and remixed in 5.1 surround sound, this is writer/co-producer Mike Marvin's original version of the film containing additional nudity, sex and restored scenes not included in the 1984 theatrical release.

***

Hoping to prove his skill at freestyle skiing, Idaho farm boy Harkin (Patrick Houser) heads to a competition at California's Squaw Valley ski resort, offering a ride to hitchhiking musician Sunny (Tracy N. Smith) on the way. Harkin's main rival in the contest is Rudi (John Patrick Reger), an arrogant Austrian. With guidance from former professional skier Dan (David Naughton), Harkin sets out to win the prize while being pursued by the gorgeous Sylvia (Shannon Tweed), making Sunny jealous.

Posters

Theatrical Release: January 13th, 1984

Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews

Review: Synapse Films - Region 'A' - Blu-ray

Box Cover		CLICK to order from:
Distribution	Synapse Films - Region 'A' - Blu-ray
Runtime	1:38:25.149
Video	1.78:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 41,108,797,016 bytes Feature: 30,176,831,040 bytes Video Bitrate: 33.64 Mbps Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate Blu-ray:
Audio	DTS-HD Master Audio English 3394 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 3394 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 768 kbps / 24-bit) DTS-HD Master Audio English 1527 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1527 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 768 kbps / 24-bit) Commentary: Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps
Subtitles	English (SDH), None
Features	Release Information: Studio: Synapse Films 1.78:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 41,108,797,016 bytes Feature: 30,176,831,040 bytes Video Bitrate: 33.64 Mbps Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video Edition Details: • HOT DOG: THE DOCUMENTARY – An all-new 50 minute featurette 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. (54:36) • Audio commentary with co-producer/writer Mike Marvin. • Original theatrical trailer (2:20), TV spot (0:32), radio spots (2:31), and music video (2:24). • Liner notes by TEEN MOVIE HELL author, Mike McPadden Blu-ray Release Date: February 25th, 2020 Standard Blu-ray Case Chapters 12

Comments:

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