ADDITION: Signal One Blu-ray - April 2007 - The1080P image, on a dual-layered disc with a max'ed out bitrate, is absolutely gorgeous. The SD was strong and the Blu-ray is outstanding in the higher resolution. Colors and contrast are so impressive supporting brilliant detail - so strong you can see the actor's make-up in close-ups. The Magus is filled with the breathtaking scenery of Mallorca, Islas Baleares, Spain. The film is beautiful and the Blu-ray supports an outstanding, rich, lush, image chock-full of impressive depth. 

Signal One stay authentic with a linear PCM mono track (24-bit) that is equal to the strong video with an healthy, subtle, score by John Dankworth (10 Rillington Place, Sands of the Kalahari, The Last Grenade, Losey's Accident, The Criminal and The Servant among his credits). The audio is, likewise, very pleasing in lossless - augmenting the film experience, There are optional English subtitles on the Region 'B' Blu-ray disc.

Signal One stack the package with extras including two Fiction Factory bonus features; the 23-minute Guy Green: A Life Behind the Camera is a never-before-seen interview from 2003 in which the director looks back on his amazing career, while Enchanted Island is described as "a 20-minute documentary on Guy Green’s controversial 1968 film THE MAGUS, adapted from the bestselling John Fowles. In the documentary, it is the director’s son, Michael, who takes us back to the summer of 1967 and gives a first-hand account of how the Spanish island of Mallorca and its gorgeous beaches stood in for the fictitious Greek isle described in Fowles’ novel. There is also a fascinating, and highly personal piece entitled John Fowles: The Literary Magus running almost 23-minutes with those who knew him commenting on the enigmatic individual. We get interviews with DoP Billy Williams who talks about filming The Magus for a dozen minutes, set designer, Tim Hutchinson talks about his work on The Magus, and hair stylist Stephanie Kaye comments for under 6-minutes. There is also an original theatrical trailer and a second disc DVD is included (Dual Format).

A challenging, never boring, film from the pen of John Fowles. I admit I saw significantly more than  my SD viewing years ago. I think it would be a lesser film without the strong cast. The Magus is a fascinating film with themes of mortality, love, fantasy, haunting pasts... and mystery. I'm keen to tackle it again one day in the future, if only to see the magnificent scenery and hypnotic Candy Bergen glowing in 1080P. Let's not forget Anna Karina - and the strange relationship of Caine and Quinn.

This Signal One Blu-ray is a real experience and the extensive extras add true value to bolster appreciation. Absolutely recommended!

***

ON THE DVD: A beautiful 2.35:1 progressive transfer that I could have taken screen captures of all day. Colors are bright and defined and the overall image has some strong detail. The mono audio is a little weak, sounding echoy at times - generally though it is consistent and certainly clear enough to make out all the dialogue. I didn't listen to the stereo track, but suspect it is superior. There are optional subtitles in English or Spanish.

 There is a 20 minute featurette, with many people discussing Fowles and the novel; The Magus. It recounts how highly revered the author still is but nothing of the film is mentioned.

I can't really recommend the film as most will be infuriated with it, but the DVD is certainly up to scratch - a brilliant 16X9 image, an interesting featurette and at a fairly reasonable price.

Gary W. Tooze