ADDITION Criterion Blu-ray - June 2013: the 1080P image jumps to life in all the expected areas - superior contrast, sharper, crisper detail, a smattering of grain and more information in the frame. I founds this a hugely improved film experience from the older, flat DVD or more than a decade ago. The transfer is derived from a restored 4K digital film transfer, supervised by editor and cameraman Gerald Feil, ASC. It gave me a great presentation.

Audio is via a linear PCM mono track at 1152 kbps. It exports a bit of bass while remaining authentically flat. The original score is by Raymond Leppard and seems to benefit from the uncompressed transfer. There are optional English subtitles on the region 'A'-locked Blu-ray disc.

Plenty of supplements on the Criterion Blu-ray including the previous audio commentary featuring director Peter Brook, producer Lewis Allen, director of photography Tom Hollyman. This also includes cameraman and editor Gerald Feil who gives a separate 20-minute interview examining specific scenes from the film and discusses some of the technical obstacles that arose during production. Repeated from the 2000 DVD are the collection of behind-the-scenes material, including home movies, screen tests, outtakes, and stills, as well as audio recordings of William Golding reading from his novel Lord of the Flies, accompanied by the corresponding scenes from the film, a 2-minute deleted scene (with optional commentary or 'reading') and 16-minutes of excerpts from Gerald Feil’s 1972 documentary The Empty Space, showing Brook’s methods for creating theater. New for the Blu-ray (and corresponding Criterion 2013 DVD) is a 1/2 hour interview with Brook from 2008 where he discusses his move from theater to film, his approach to adapting Lord of the Flies and the film's complicated production history. We get a 25-minute excerpt from a November 16th, 1980 episode of The South Bank Show featuring Golding reflecting on his childhood, fighting in world war II and the process of writing Lord of the Flies. Living “Lord of the Flies,” is a 6-minute piece composed of never-before-seen footage shot by the boy actors during production, with new voice-over by actor Tom Gaman. There is also a trailer and liner notes booklet featuring an essay by film critic Geoffrey Macnab and an excerpt from Brook’s autobiography The Shifting Poin.

Nice choice to bring to Blu-ray as I had forgotten so much of the film. The film remains a profound and moving experience and we can strongly recommend the stacked Criterion with the advanced a/v.

***

On the DVD: Criterion does it right. The original print which the transfer was taken is from a 35mm 'answer print', which in turn was made from the original negative. It is very strong with excellent contrast. there are moments when damage shows, but overall better than could possibly be hoped for. Original audio is clean. Excellent subtitles and a host of extras. Beautiful and poignant film given its fair due by the greatest DVD production company in the world. 

Gary W. Tooze