Unman, Wittering and Zigo Blu-ray Review
Score: 84
from 3 reviewers
Review Date:
This Arrow release revitalizes 'Unman, Wittering and Zigo' with a superb HD transfer and engaging extras, making it a disturbingly memorable classic.
Disc Release Date
Video: 84
Presented in its original 1.85:1 aspect ratio with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer, Arrow Video's Blu-ray of 'Unman, Wittering and Zigo' achieves strong detail levels and a warm palette despite minor color timing issues and occasional scene roughness, delivering a faithful visual experience.
Audio: 87
Unman, Wittering and Zigo's Blu-ray offers a meticulously restored LPCM Mono audio track, capturing dialogue and Michael J. Lewis' score with clarity. Ambient effects in outdoor scenes are distinctly reverberant, enhancing the viewing experience, making it the definitive audio presentation for home video.
Extra: 82
Engaging commentaries and analytical insights enrich the Blu-ray of 'Unman, Wittering and Zigo,' with standout extras including Dr. Matthew Sweet's exploration of British education's depiction, a captivating 1958 radio play, and nostalgic cast interviews, all complemented by high-quality packaging and an informative booklet.
Movie: 80
Unman, Wittering and Zigo, expertly crafted with David Hemmings's compelling lead performance, is a dark psychological thriller blending the foreboding atmosphere of Gothic horror with a scathing critique of the British educational system. The film, often overshadowed by contemporaries like If…, delivers a disturbingly nuanced commentary on authority and youth.
Video: 84
The Blu-ray presentation of "Unman, Wittering and Zigo" delivers an engaging visual experience thanks to Arrow Video’s competent use of a high-definition master provided by Paramount. The film maintains its original 1.85:1 aspect ratio with a mono audio track, offering a faithful recreation of the source. Although the master may be older, leading to occasional color timing discrepancies, the overall appearance is commendable. The brown hues, inherent in the film's burnished production design, are prominent but are balanced by scenes where the palette shifts to warmer tones, especially in outdoor shots, which exhibit considerable vibrancy.
Detail retention is notably strong throughout the presentation, with fine details such as the textures on clothing, specifically visible in close-ups of herringbone patterns, being particularly impressive. There are minor imperfections present in the form of transient roughness during some darker scenes. Despite the film being over five decades old, these instances do not significantly detract from the viewing experience. Film grain, a critical component in maintaining the cinematic texture, appears well-preserved alongside the color palette. Any signs of wear such as scratches or tears are minimal and do not hinder the overall quality.
Arrow Video has effectively revitalized this classic, ensuring that any inherent aging elements do not overshadow its visual clarity. This release is arguably the best "Unman, Wittering and Zigo" has looked for home viewing, offering a visually satisfying retrospective on the film’s unique aesthetic and serving fans with a commendable presentation.
Audio: 87
The Blu-ray release of "Unman, Wittering and Zigo" boasts an LPCM Mono audio track, delivering a faithful and authentic presentation of its original soundtrack. While the film is predominantly dialogue-driven, the audio captures the nuances of conversations with clarity and precision, ensuring that every word is intelligible. The soundtrack effectively supports the film's atmospheric tension through Michael J. Lewis' sparse yet captivating score, which enhances the emotional landscape without overpowering the narrative.
Notably, the PCM track adeptly handles the environmental sounds inherent to the film’s setting, particularly during outdoor scenes near the cliff. The ambient sounds, such as water crashing against rocks, are reverberant and add a layer of immersion to these sequences, showcasing the mono track's capacity to render detailed soundscapes. Importantly, the audio presentation is remarkably clean, with minimal distortion, hissing, or other artifacts such as crackling and popping, thereby preserving the film’s auditory integrity.
For viewers desiring a complete understanding of the dialogue, optional English subtitles are available, ensuring accessibility without compromising the listening experience. This release is likely the pinnacle of audio quality for this classic title on home video, offering an enriching experience that remains true to its origins while enhancing auditory enjoyment through modern technology.
Extras: 82
The Blu-ray extras of "Unman, Wittering and Zigo" offer a comprehensive exploration of the film's cultural and historical context. The commentary by Sean Hogan and Kim Newman provides an engaging discussion about the film’s origins and its enduring legacy. Dr. Matthew Sweet's featurette, "An Unruly Education," delivers an insightful analysis of British education narratives within the film. The segment "Unman, Lipstrob & Terhew + Mrs. Ebony" features cast interviews, offering personal anecdotes from the film's production. Additionally, the 1958 radio play is presented in a visually creative manner with film stills, showcasing the stark difference between audio and visual storytelling. The packaging is curated with attention to detail, including a reversible sleeve, a mini poster, and an informative booklet by Arrow.
Extras included in this disc:
- Commentary by Sean Hogan and Kim Newman: In-depth discussion on film's origins and legacy.
- An Unruly Education: Analysis of the film's educational themes by Dr. Matthew Sweet.
- Unman, Lipstrob & Terhew + Mrs. Ebony: Cast interviews detailing production experiences.
- Unman, Wittering and Zigo 1958 Radio Play: Audio drama played to film stills.
- Trailer: Original promotional material.
- Image Gallery: Collection of stills from the film.
- Reversible Sleeve and Mini Poster: Includes newly commissioned artwork and original poster art.
- Booklet: Features essays by film historians with engaging insights.
Movie: 80
"Unman, Wittering and Zigo," a film adaptation of Giles Cooper's celebrated radio play, transports viewers to the darkly atmospheric halls of an English boarding school for boys. Released in 1971, this psychological thriller sidestepped mainstream attention akin to if..., yet remains a compelling critique of the British educational and class systems. David Hemmings leads as John Ebony, a novice teacher whose initial idealism is rapidly eroded by the sinister machinations of his students. The narrative pivots around the chilling revelation by the notorious class of Lower 5B that they murdered Ebony's predecessor. As Ebony's attempts to address these suspicions are stonewalled by indifferent leadership, the viewer is immersed in burgeoning tension underscored by vivid imagery of ominous cliffs and shadowed hallways.
The screenplay by Simon Raven effectively adapts Cooper's work, blending raw edge with Gothic sensibilities reminiscent of Hammer Horror films. Even amidst sinister allegories of devolution akin to Lord of the Flies, it posits these behaviors as byproducts of deeply ingrained educational and societal structures. John Mackenzie's deft direction amplifies this sense of foreboding through an evocative visual style initiated with a haunting POV sequence of Pelham's fateful fall, building a consistent atmosphere maintained by cinematographer Geoffrey Unsworth. Hemmings delivers a standout performance, capturing Ebony's increasingly beleaguered demeanor as he grapples with both internal doubts and external threats.
Supporting performances bolster this chilling examination of authority and rebellion. Douglas Wilmer embodies the inefficacious headmaster, while Carolyn Seymour makes a strong debut as Ebony’s wife Silvia, embodying vulnerability amid growing peril. The ensemble cast, featuring the diverse temperaments of Lower 5B, brings rich texture to a tale that chillingly blurs the lines between refinement and brutality. Though overshadowed initially, this Blu-Ray release revives a film that compellingly showcases its unsettling reflection on institutional corruption and latent youthful depravity.
Total: 84
"Unman, Wittering and Zigo," a long-overlooked film adaptation, emerges as an underrated gem that has been skillfully revitalized by Arrow Video's Blu-ray release. This debut on Blu-ray is a tribute to the masterful direction seen in other celebrated films yet inexplicably retained limited exposure post its original release. Thankfully, Arrow Video's remarkable efforts in providing a high-definition transfer and an array of special features are praiseworthy, showcasing the film's thought-provoking narrative and unsettling atmosphere in pristine visual detail.
The Blu-ray edition delivers impressive technical prowess; the HD transfer highlights cinematographic subtleties while maintaining the original essence of the film. Audio tracks, although initially constrained by age, enhance the dialogues delivered by a compelling ensemble cast. Additional content enriches this package, featuring a reversible insert and double-sided poster with original and newly commissioned artwork, essays by noted film critics, and the original radio play that inspired the film. Collectively, these supplements provide substantial context and value to this release, appealing to both new audiences and long-time admirers.
Chances are if you're acquainted with films about British schools, it's because of titles like "If....", "Goodbye Mr. Chips," or "The Browning Version," rather than the film currently under discussion. This Arrow Video release may hopefully help to ameliorate the strange lack of renown this film has because it's rather viscerally disturbing and ironically quite memorable. Technical merits are generally solid, and the supplements are very enjoyable. Recommended.
Blu-ray.com review by Jeffrey KauffmanRead review here
Video: 80
While there is a tendency toward brown hues, something that's only emphasized by a burnished production design featuring the wood clad halls of the school, in a number of scenes the palette warms considerably,...
Audio: 80
That said, there are a number of sequences that take place outside, including several by that aforementioned cliff, where ambient environmental sounds like the water crashing into the rocks can be quite...
Extras: 80
Commentary by Sean Hogan and Kim Newman An Unruly Education (HD; 25:45) is a really interesting analysis of the film by Dr. Matthew Sweet, who also contextualizes things by talking about British education...
Movie: 80
British terminology and/or vernacular can be a bit of an issue for us brain dead Americans in terms of understanding "private" vs. "public" schools, as both descriptors are at least at times interchangeable...
Total: 80
Chances are if you're acquainted with films about British schools, it's because of outings like the aforementioned If. . ., or other productions ranging from Goodbye Mr. Chips to The Browning Version,...
The Digital Bits review by Stuart Galbraith IVRead review here
Video: 95
Audio: 95
Extras: 95
Movie: 90
John Ebony (Hemmings) has abandoned an unrewarding career in advertising to teach at Chantry, a second-rate but public (private, in American terms) school for boys....
Total: 94
Arrow Video provided only a check disc for this review, but included in the final release is a reversible insert and double-sided poster featuring the original theatrical poster on one side and new artwork...
Home Theater Forum review by t1g3r5fanRead review here
Video: 90
Although over 50 years have passed since the initial release, Arrow has done a terrific job in bringing the film to home video here with likely the best it will ever look visually....
Audio: 100
Dialogue, sound mix and Michael J. Lewis’ sparse, yet tense film score is presented faithfully with minimal cases of distortion, hissing, crackling and popping present....
Extras: 80
An Unruly Education (25:45) – Critic, broadcaster and cultural historian Matthew Sweet shares his appreciation of the movie and the work of Giles Cooper in this new featurette....
Movie: 80
As the school’s oblivious headmaster, Douglas Wilmer makes a great example of the ineffective and indifferent leadership at the school that allows the boys of Lower 5B to go wild; best known for inhabiting...
Total: 90
Arrow Video should absolutely be commended for bringing this long unavailable movie to Blu-ray at last, with a terrific HD transfer and a decent slate of special features, including the original recording...
Director: John Mackenzie
Actors: David Hemmings, Carolyn Seymour, Douglas Wilmer
PlotA young schoolteacher named John Ebony arrives at a coastal boarding school to replace a recently deceased teacher. Eager to start fresh, he takes over a class of unruly boys who seem unusually confident and lack discipline. As Ebony attempts to assert his authority and implement his teaching style, he is met with strange and unsettling behavior from his students. The boys display an unnerving level of maturity and seem to harbor secrets beyond their years. Their previous teacher's mysterious death looms over the school, with rumors hinting at foul play. Ebony grows increasingly uneasy when the students begin dropping hints that they had a role in their former master’s demise, casting suspicion and dread across the classroom.
As Ebony delves deeper into the strange dynamics of the class, he finds himself wrapped in a game of psychological manipulation. The boys' whispered conversations and cryptic remarks suggest a profound, hidden agenda. Through mounting tension and the pressure of maintaining control, Ebony struggles with paranoia and the sinister possibility that his life may also be in danger. Feeling trapped between unraveling mystery and potential threat, he contemplates how to address these disconcerting revelations without falling victim to their apparent malevolence. The eerie atmosphere escalates as trust erodes and suspense thickens, leading him toward a dark confrontation with unsettling truths that may connect back to the school's guarded secrets.
Writers: Simon Raven, Giles Cooper
Release Date: 23 Sep 1971
Runtime: 102 min
Rating: GP
Country: United Kingdom
Language: English