Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975)

[Akijama]

Picnic at Hanging Rock Blu-ray

Picnic at Hanging Rock Blu-ray Digipack

Picnic at Hanging Rock Blu-ray/REVIEW

Remastered high-definition digital film transfer, supervised and approved by director Peter Weir, with 5.1 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack on the Blu-ray
Extended interview with Weir
New piece on the making of the film, featuring interviews from 2003 with executive producer Patricia Lovell, producers Hal McElroy and Jim McElroy, and cast members
New introduction by film scholar David Thomson, author of The New Biographical Dictionary of Film
A Recollection . . . Hanging Rock 1900 (1975), an on-set documentary hosted by Lovell and featuring interviews with Weir, actor Rachel Roberts, and source novel author Joan Lindsay
Homesdale (1971), an award-winning black comedy by Weir
Trailer
PLUS: A booklet featuring an essay by author Megan Abbott and an excerpt from film critic Marek Haltof’s 1996 book Peter Weir: When Cultures Collide; a new paperback edition of Lindsay’s original novel, previously out of print in the U.S

This sensual and striking chronicle of a disappearance and its aftermath put director Peter Weir on the map and helped usher in a new era of Australian cinema. Set at the turn of the twentieth century, Picnic at Hanging Rock concerns a small group of students from an all-female college and a chaperone, who vanish while on a St. Valentine’s Day outing. Less a mystery than a journey into the mystic, as well as an inquiry into issues of class and sexual repression in Australian society, Weir’s gorgeous, disquieting film is a work of poetic horror whose secrets haunt viewers to this day

[MifuneFan]

Another off the Wacky New Years drawing list

[AlecEiffel]

What a great, creepy movie. I've been waiting for this for a long time now!

[chris_sc77]

Very surprised that the 113 minute documentary "A Dream Within A Dream" IS NOT included.
Wonder why that is not part of the package as that is a terrific supplement from the Region 2 DVD set

[Doctor Jack]

I just went from 6 to midnight.

[donidarko]

One of my all time favorites.....so...so......so......strange....eeri e.....mesmerizing.

Thank you, Criterion!

[Hubunkey]

Originally Posted by chris_sc77

Very surprised that the 113 minute documentary "A Dream Within A Dream" IS NOT included.
Wonder why that is not part of the package as that is a terrific supplement from the Region 2 DVD set

Probally couldn't get the rights at a reasonable price

[rybev]

An excellent film, not sure if I'll double dip straight away as I'm more than happy with the UK release http://blushots.weebly.com/picnic-at-hanging-rock.html

[Aclea]

Originally Posted by chris_sc77

Very surprised that the 113 minute documentary "A Dream Within A Dream" IS NOT included.
Wonder why that is not part of the package as that is a terrific supplement from the Region 2 DVD set

Possibly because at the end of it the various cast and crew round on Weir for spoiling the film for the audience with the re-edit. Even Weir himself admits that directors shouldn't second-guess their work before basically just saying that's what he did anyway. Along with composer Bruce Smeaton dismissing the ending as 'airy fairy,' I'm guessing that dropping that, the deleted ending and only including the inferior director's cut is the price of getting Weir's seal of approval in much the same way that Jules Dassin insisted Criterion not include the alternate UK version of Night and the City on their disc.

[Akijama]

Originally Posted by AlecEiffel

What a great, creepy movie.

Preach, hommie! It's a beautiful and poetic film; very eerie and haunting (helped by a great score). Impeccably shot as well. My fav Weir's film.

[rybev]

I first saw this film late one night, alone in my bedroom and was mesmerised. I can't think of another film that mystifies me as much as this.
It's completely beautiful.

[kuro_sawa]

The criterion DVD is the same directors cut, no? The PQ of the uk bd is great, so this should be as well.

[bigbadwoppet]

Originally Posted by Aclea

Possibly because at the end of it the various cast and crew round on Weir for spoiling the film for the audience with the re-edit. Even Weir himself admits that directors shouldn't second-guess their work before basically just saying that's what he did anyway. Along with composer Bruce Smeaton dismissing the ending as 'airy fairy,' I'm guessing that dropping that, the deleted ending and only including the inferior director's cut is the price of getting Weir's seal of approval in much the same way that Jules Dassin insisted Criterion not include the alternate UK version of Night and the City on their disc.

At the very least they should have included the deleted scenes. VERY disappointed.

[Holmes]

The best home-video news in a long, long time, in my opinion. Peter Weir is my favorite director, and this is one of his most magnificent films. I cannot wait to buy and watch this in June!

[thebard]

Very much looking forward to this. So glad it's finally getting an upgrade.

[Scoot79]

Criterion certainly took their time releasing this one. I got so tired of waiting I imported the Aussie Blu-ray a few years ago. It's region free and it includes the two hour Dream within a Dream documentary from 2004.



I just wish the UK Blu-ray wasn't region locked. I would love to see the seven minutes of footage that was cut from the original 1975 theatrical release.

[theorydo]

I've been waiting for this for a long time now!

[Holmes]

I am glad this includes the early Weir short film Homesdale.

I believe Criterion also has the rights to The Cars That Ate Paris and The Plumber. And, of course, The Last Wave. I wonder if they will ever give those the Blu-ray treatment. "Paris" and The Plumber tend to be combined for home-video release.

[DMRI2006]

Originally Posted by bigbadwoppet

At the very least they should have included the deleted scenes. VERY disappointed.

Passing for that reason. Was hoping the theatrical cut would've been included.

[thebard]

Originally Posted by DMRI2006

Passing for that reason. Was hoping the theatrical cut would've been included.

Is it available on blu at all?