TALES OF ADVENTURE: COLLECTION 6

Known widely for their robust box sets, Imprint Films takes special care in curating these often-epic packages of classic cinema for their diverse catalogue, and one of the earliest is Tales of Adventure, with Collection 6 now available on Blu-ray. Under a theme of combat and survival against the odds, four classics, Counter-Attack (1945), Abandon Ship (1957), King Rat (1965), and The Bridge at Remagen (1969), span the end of World War II to the early years of the American New Wave in Hollywood.

Following a daring raid in the dead of night on a German command post by Russian soldiers, Counter-Attack confines the viewers to a basement sealed from the world above. Paul Muni stars a paratrooper, Alexei Kulkov, who, along with a local guide, Elenko (Marguerite Chapman), is trapped with a group of German soldiers; one of whom is an officer holding information vital to the titular counter-attack that looms above. Despite the action only bookending the film, this battle of wits between Alexei and his captive Germans makes for a solid and slightly unconventional war movie. Muni is terrific in the lead role, who’s tough but often jovial with his funny little preoccupation with a dictionary that he carries around.

While not a war film directly, Abandon Ship! throws us into the water following the sinking of a cruise liner after it collides with an old sea mine, presumably a deadly remnant from the Battle of the Atlantic. Tyrone Power, in one of his last film roles, stars as Captain Alec Holmes, who, along with an overcrowded lifeboat of survivors, awaits rescue. With supplies limited and dead wait hindering efforts to be found, themes of morality dominate the plot, which is a little heavy-handed, often coming off as melodramatic. However, it’s well made for such a small feature and a lot grimmer than one would expect from a studio film of the time.

George Segal is at his absolute best in King Rat as a low-ranking American POW, Corporal King, in a Japanese prison camp, who, through hustling and good old-fashioned street smarts, lives in luxury by comparison to his fellow prisoners, immune to rank and persecution. Interestingly, there are homosexual undertones present between King and a British soldier, Marlow, who’s enamoured by King’s prowess. While we are removed from the action of the outside world, there’s a lot that happens behind the barbed wire, which is thoroughly entertaining. Ultimately, this is a bittersweet story about the bonds and friendship formed while in captivity, which are instantly severed upon war’s end.

Last but certainly not least is The Bridge at Remagen, which feels like a closing chapter for the traditional Hollywood war film. It’s set during the final months of World War II, but conveys a Vietnam War sentiment as exhausted soldiers from both sides fight over a bridge that leads into occupied Germany. George Segal again stars, leading the charge as Lieutenant Phil Hartman, along with his buddy and second in command, Sgt Angelo, played beautifully by the intimidating Ben Gazzara. The Bridge at Remagen offers the notion of a sympathetic Nazi officer, played by Robert Vaughn. It’s a hard pill to swallow at first, but Vaughn’s performance puts him in the mindset of a man who can no longer tell who the enemy is; disheartened by a regime that promised everything but delivered nothing but death.

SPECIAL FEATURES & SPECS

COUNTER-ATTACK

1080p High-definition presentation on Blu-ray
Theatrical Trailer
Audio English LPCM 2.0 Mono
Aspect Ratio 1.33:1
Optional English HOH Subtitles

ABANDON SHIP!

1080p High-definition presentation on Blu-ray
Audio English LPCM 2.0 Mono
Aspect Ratio 1.33:1
Optional English HOH Subtitles

KING RAT

1080p High-definition presentation on Blu-ray
Audio English LPCM 2.0 Mono
Aspect Ratio 1.78:1
Optional English HOH Subtitles

THE BRIDGE AT REMAGEN

1080p High-definition presentation on Blu-ray
NEW Audio Commentary by filmmaker/historians Steve Mitchell & Steven Jay Rubin (2025)
NEW To Cast a Skyward Gaze: Making the Case for John Guillermin – Video Essay by film historian Daniel Kremer (2025)
Archival interview with actor Ben Gazzara
Archival interview with actor George Segal
Isolated Music Track
Theatrical Trailer
Audio English LPCM 2.0 Mono
Aspect Ratio 2.35:1
Optional English HOH Subtitles

Given that this is an “adventure” specific boxset, it’s extremely appropriate that the sole commentary is moderated by two individuals who share an obvious affection for the genre. Steve Mitchell and Steven Jay Rubin approach The Bridge at Remagen from the angle of war cinema in general, often referencing similarities to previous works or highlighting areas of historical accuracy. For insight into the filmography of director John Guillermin, David Kremer delivers a solid video essay that focuses on recurring themes in his oeuvre. – by Hannah Lynch

VIDEO AND AUDIO

Three out of the four titles are in black and white: Counter-Attack, Abandon Ship, and King Rat, and each varies in quality despite the standard 1080p presentation. I found that Abandon Ship! was overall the most consistent as it appeared quite sharp, and offered the highest amount of detail, while King Rat is on the softer side of HD and has fairly low contrast levels. Counter Attack looked the best with its inky blacks, but it does appear too dark at times. Whether that was intended or not, some night scenes have very low visibility.

The Bridge at Remagen, I dare say, looks noticeably better than its previous release under the now-defunct label, Twilight Time. Colour appears brighter, and I consider the LPCM 2.0 Mono a significant upgrade from the 1.0 DTS-HD audio. Dialogue is no longer painfully low in volume, and the audio scope is far more balanced. The same can be said for the previous three titles. There is no substitute for uncompressed audio when watching classic films.

Tales of Adventure: Collection 6 is certainly as advertised, and while I would have preferred four war pictures, it did give three underrated classics their overdue Blu-ray debut. The box features fantastic artwork with an orange and brown colour scheme, and like a trusty ammo box, it’s made to last.

TALES OF ADVENTURE: COLLECTION 6
(1945-1969, director: Various)