Unman, Wittering and Zigo (1971) (Arrow Video)

[MifuneFan]

Arrow will be releasing Unman, Wittering and Zigo (1971) on Blu-ray in August.

• High Definition (1080p) Blu-ray presentation
• Original lossless English mono audio
• Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing
• Brand new audio commentary by Sean Hogan and Kim Newman
• Brand new appreciation by critic, broadcaster and cultural historian Matthew Sweet
• Unman, Terhew, Lipstrob and Mrs Ebony, featurette with cast members Michael Howe, Michael Cashman, James Wardroper and Carolyn Seymour looking back at the production
• The original 1958 recording of Giles Cooper’s radio play
• Original trailer
• Image gallery
• Double sided fold-out poster featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Eric Adrian Lee
• Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Eric Adrian Lee
• Illustrated collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the film by Kevin Lyons and Oliver Wake

Boys will be boys in this scathing psychological thriller set within the hidebound but testosterone-charged confines of a remote coastal British private school, produced by and starring David Hemmings (Blow Up, Deep Red).

John Ebony is the idealistic young schoolmaster who arrives at Chantrey School for Boys on his first assignment, employed to fill the shoes of his predecessor Pelham who has recently been found dead at the bottom of a nearby cliff. Taking up residence in a cottage in the school’s grounds with his restless young wife Sylvia (Carolyn Seymour), Ebony is eager to make a good impression, but immediately gets off on the wrong foot with his assigned pupils, discovering the boys of class Lower 5b, minus the perpetually absent Zigo, to be unruly and defiant. However, they might possibly know more about Pelham’s demise than the school’s headmaster and his fellow staff are letting on.

Masterfully shot by cinematographer Geoffrey Unsworth (2001: A Space Odyssey) and directed by John Mackenzie (The Long Good Friday), this film adaptation of Giles Cooper’s classic play is presented on home video for the first time ever. Unman, Wittering and Zigo presents a scathing exposé of the kind of environment from which brutish empires are born.

[BarnDoor]

This is a terrific, unnerving film, one that would play well with Absolution and Child's Play (1972). Excited to see deep cuts like this from Arrow's Paramount deal.

[dylrichard02]

This sounds very interesting, maybe the only one I'm in for this month, we'll see!

[bonehica]

This one definitely intrigues me. Pretty sure I will be picking this one up.

[Matt89]

Never even heard of this before but it sounds interesting. Might have to check it out.

[Jaymole]

A fantastic announcement!! One of my most wanted movies for many, many years.

[dressedtokill]

Fantastic announcement. However, why is it that these Paramount licensed titles are always old transfers? Kino is able to restore them, so why can't Arrow do the same?

[BarnDoor]

Originally Posted by dressedtokill

Fantastic announcement. However, why is it that these Paramount licensed titles are always old transfers? Kino is able to restore them, so why can't Arrow do the same?

Does this even have an 'old' HD master available digitally? The version I saw on Amazon UK a few years back was SD and looked rough (and UK digital versions are still all in SD). I imagine this will be a revelation compared to previous versions (ditto Fighting Back).

[OceanBlue]

Undecided about the third film noirs boxset announced by Arrow earlier today. This announcement though I'm certainly interested in (remembering the discussion thread in the UK & Ireland sub-forum). Curious to know if this film, along with Black Sunday and Fighting Back (also both Arrow US-only Blu-ray releases) are eventually going to get UK releases by another boutique label. Following reading the discussion from a few weeks ago in the North America thread for Black Sunday, I was convinced that the Arrow US-only release of that film would be worth getting (it also using an existing master).

[whiteberry]

Review:
https://www.mondo-digital.com/unman.html

[JRcanReid]

Just received my dispatch from Diabolik. I dare say it's quite an improvement over the standard def streamer from Amazon.

A good story told well. Nothing too flashy or earth-shattering, but it draws you in and keeps you invested. The students are appropriately smug and creepy and you will no doubt want to see them punished.

In summary, I'm glad to own it. G'day guvnah. Tally-Ho. Pip-Pip! Right.

[dodgysteve]

"Brand new appreciation by critic, broadcaster and cultural historian Matthew Sweet"

Arrow really should do better than this.

His analysis, as usual, is shallow and obvious, entirely lacking in intellectual rigour. Citing just Tom Brown's Schooldays, Will Hay and If.... as exemplars of British artistic attitudes to Public Schools is just lazy, and displays leftist narrative bias that's oh-so-predictable from a "veteran" of The Independent and the BBC.

Shoulda got Kim Newman or Kat Ellinger to do it - at least they do their research and speak beyond the safe and bleedin' obvious.

[DukeTogo84]

Just finished watching this. The PQ quality is top notch and looks great. Movie is also really strong and man those kids are really frustrating. You really want them to get knocked upside the head. David Hemmings was a pretty good actor and always pretty shocked that he was the announcer in Gladiator as his voice and physique completely changed.

[seentv]

With this release, and 'The Haunting of Julia', some of my holy grail titles are finally being released. Just need 'Deadly Strangers' (1974) and 'Our Mother's House' (1967), then my life is complete!

[Reddington]

Beaver's review:

http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film11/blu-...go_blu-ray.htm

$19.99 on Amazon right now, so just ordered as a blind buy.

To be honest, I'd never even heard of it until I read the review. The Long Good Friday is in my Top 10, so very interested to see this earlier film from John Mackenzie. Also interested to see how it compares thematically to Sidney Lumet's Child's Play, which I found quite harrowing.

[OceanBlue]

Originally Posted by DukeTogo84

Just finished watching this. The PQ quality is top notch and looks great. Movie is also really strong and man those kids are really frustrating. You really want them to get knocked upside the head. David Hemmings was a pretty good actor and always pretty shocked that he was the announcer in Gladiator as his voice and physique completely changed.

Thanks for posting your comments/observations on Arrow's US Blu-ray release of Unman, Wittering and Zigo, Duke. Pre-ordered my copy directly from Arrow US (should be shipping soon).

Originally Posted by seentv

With this release, and 'The Haunting of Julia', some of my holy grail titles are finally being released. Just need 'Deadly Strangers' (1974) and 'Our Mother's House' (1967), then my life is complete!

Eventually I'll be getting the BFI's release of The Haunting of Julia. Deadly Strangers has been on my wishlist for a long time.

[Jackie Scanlon]

Purchased from the US store (I'm in the UK) and they took my money yesterday, but I've just received a message saying there's a delay with shipping and they'll notify me when there's an update.

My first time ordering from the US store...