Unman, Wittering and Zigo Blu-ray - David Hemmings / Carolyn Seymour

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S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r

Directed by John Mackenzie
UK 1971

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.

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A new school teacher learns that the previous teacher was killed by his pupils, and he fears the same will happen to him.

Posters

Theatrical Release: June 13th 1971

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Review: Arrow - Region 'A' - Blu-ray

Box Cover		CLICK to order from: Bonus Captures:
Distribution	Arrow - Region 'A' - Blu-ray
Runtime	1:41:51.897
Video	1.85:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 49,330,364,804 bytes Feature: 27,262,907,328 bytes Video Bitrate: 29.96 Mbps Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate Blu-ray:
Audio	LPCM Audio English 1152 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 1152 kbps / 24-bit Commentary: LPCM Audio English 1536 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1536 kbps / 16-bit
Subtitles	English (SDH), None
Features	Release Information: Studio: Arrow 1.85:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 49,330,364,804 bytes Feature: 27,262,907,328 bytes Video Bitrate: 29.96 Mbps Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video Edition Details: • Brand new audio commentary by Sean Hogan and Kim Newman • Brand new appreciation by critic, broadcaster and cultural historian Matthew Sweet (25:45) • Unman, Terhew, Lipstrob and Mrs Ebony, featurette with cast members Michael Howe, Michael Cashman, James Wardroper and Carolyn Seymour looking back at the production (30:13) • The original 1958 recording of Giles Cooper’s radio play (1:13:01) • Original trailer (2:12) • 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 Blu-ray Release Date: August 22nd, 2023 Standard Transparent Blu-ray Case inside slipcase Chapters 13

Comments:

NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: Arrow Blu-ray (August 2023): Arrow have transferred John Mackenzie's Unman, Wittering and Zigo to Blu-ray. It is on a dual-layered disc with a high bitrate. The image quality is strong; blemish-free with consistent textures, true colors and some occasional depth. It looks just fine in 1080P - Arrow's usual high quality. We hope the screen captures below can give you an idea.

NOTE: We have added 60 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Arrow use a linear PCM mono track (24-bit) in the original English language. Unman, Wittering and Zigo has a few aggressive moments although the film builds with suspense situation-ally and there is an atmospheric score by Michael J. Lewis (The Legacy, ffolkes, The Medusa Touch, 11 Harrowhouse, Julius Caesar) adding to the film's creepiness supported adeptly by the lossless transfer. It has clean with consistent dialogue. Arrow offer optional English (SDH) subtitles on their Region 'A' Blu-ray.

The Arrow Blu-ray offers a new commentary by Sean Hogan (author of England's Screaming) and Kim Newman (author of Something More than Night.) They discuss this as an adaptation of the 1958 radio play by the Anglo-Irish playwright Giles Cooper - and the 1967 stage play as well as it being part of Kim's curriculum for GCSE and Standard Grade English coursework in the United Kingdom. They talk about Hemmings, Carolyn Seymour, the first feature film roles of both Michael Kitchen (Dracula AD 1972 and 'Tanner' in a couple of Bond films) and Michael Cashman (EastEnders) as well as comments on the director John Mackenzie and the, at times, purposely ambiguous story. It is very informative exporting the nooks and crannies of the production. There is also a new 26-minute appreciation by critic, broadcaster and cultural historian Matthew Sweet, and a video featurette with Michael Howe, Michael Cashman, James Wardroper and Carolyn Seymour who played, respectively, Unman, Terhew, Lipstrob and Mrs. Ebony, looking back at the production for over 1/2 hour. Arrow include the original 1958 recording of Giles Cooper’s radio play (audio only) that runs 1 1/4 hours, an original trailer and an image gallery of promotion material and stills. The package sports a double sided fold-out poster featuring original and newly commissioned artwork (see above) by Eric Adrian Lee, a reversible sleeve and an illustrated collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the film by Kevin Lyons and Oliver Wake.

John Mackenzie's Unman, Wittering and Zigo is an idiosyncratic 'psychological intimidation' thriller. The title comes from last three students on the class roll-call (although 'Zigo' is always absent.) There is a cult-appeal to interpret the film's oddness in the final 1/4 as it, pretty much, ignores an undeniable attempted group rape. There is also something investigate-able to the student's entendre-ish names; Blisterine, Aggeridge, Borby, Bungabine, Cloistermouth, Cuthbun, Lipstrob etc. as well as teacher 'Ebony'. Themes touch on paranoia and homosexuality with horror elements like the boys acting collectively-evil not unlike Village of the Damned. Unman, Wittering and Zigo has been forgotten about without a decent digital release until now. The stacked Arrow Blu-ray is a definite keeper for an intriguing film offering so much open interpretation. It's a wonderful curiosity. Strongly recommended!

Gary Tooze