Lord of the Flies (The Criterion Collection)
by Peter Brook
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Hugh Edwards, James Aubrey, Roger Elwin, Tom Chapin, Tom GamanDirector: Peter Brook
Brand: BROOK,PETER
Cinematographer: Tom Hollyman
Writer: Peter Brook
Editor: Gerald Feil
Producer: Gerald Feil
Producer: Al Hine
Producer: Lewis M. Allen
Writer: William Golding
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown), Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono; English (Subtitled); English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
Format: DVD, NTSC, Subtitled
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 92 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2000-01-18
Audience Rating: Unrated
Studio: Criterion
Movie Reviews of Lord of the Flies (The Criterion Collection)
Movie Review: Don't Let the Pig Speak to You! Unnoticed cinematography!
Summary: 5 Stars
This film is truly a masterpiece! Unless you're so up on your research, or unless you watched the extra stuff on the DVD, you'd have no idea that it was probably the first big picture which used a zoom lens! Many of the camera shots were extremely complicated since the producers had to invent and tinker around until they could make temporary dolly mechanisms with proper tracks that worked for their sets in Puerto Rico. Dialogue had to be done separately almost every time sinc eethe soun of the sea was so loud and since our video technolgoy was not so advanced. (I don't know of advanced technology can even block the sound of the sea out.) Long, hot hours for all 1st time actors and film people- most people involved in the film didn't realize at the time that the film was risky- limited time slot- all the students hasd to miss 1 month of school, not a day more, and summer vacation.
Another interesting factoid is that this film for the Premier release had the sound all backwards, and it was fixed and played correctly all on time in 1.5 hours. A police escort was provided to have the reel shipped to a UK theater.
The DVD has a "movie version" where Golding himself reads an abridged version of his book while the entire movie plays. There's also another "movie version" where directors and other staff make various comments on the movie. Listening to the readings is probably good enough for "cliff notes" though I would not recommend ever readign only the cliff notes or just watching the video. The book is too good to just read the cliff notes only, and that accentuates the video only more. One thing to noe though is that Golding's readings do not always match up with what is being shown in the movie itself.
In this original version, the pig does not talk because they had to remove many scenes. Most of the scenes removed were due to the film being too long, but the pig talking portion may've been removed because it may have been too hard for people to handle at the time. Even now, the movie's content is questionable for a rating because it's young male children living as savages, and sometimes there are captures with very little clothes. You never see the front when someone is totally undressed, but there may be a quick flash or two or things that you can't really see distinctly. This movie is definitely NOT sexual, but if you are looking for a clean, pure movie, non-realistic movie, or if you are vegetarian, this is probably not a good movie for you to watch.
This version of the movie is very different than the 1990 version, as 1990 is in color, and this version is more raw and more real like Survivor minus all the hype and silliness. I don't remember if Piggy's real name is even mentioned in the book or the 1990 version, but it's definitely not in this version. Most people would say this version is critically much better than the 1990 version as the 1990 version strips away the fact that about half of the boys are from a choir school. American actors will tend to act different than actors from various countries with a UK background, and since the book was written from a UK perspective, in this sense, the 1990 movie loses that degree of originality from the book. There have been other "versions" of the movie, and one mentioned in the extra stuff on this DVD that was so offkilter that they wouldn't even name it "Lord of the Flies." This particular version mentioned even had girls in it and a very happy ending. This is a movie of true value, substance, and realism.
Summary of Lord of the Flies (The Criterion Collection)
Lord of the Flies is famed theater director Peter Brook's daring translation of William Golding's brilliant novel. The story of 30 English schoolboys stranded on an uncharted island at the start of the "next" war, Lord of the Flies is a seminal film of the New American Cinema and a fascinating anti-Hollywood experiment in location filmmaking. As the cast relived Golding's frightening fable, Brook found the cinematic "evidence" of the author's terrifying thesis: there is a beast in us all.In this classic 1963 adaptation of William Golding's novel, a planeload of schoolboys is stranded on a tropical island. They've got food and water; all that's left is to peacefully govern themselves until they're rescued. "After all," says choir leader Jack, "We're English. We're the best in the world at everything!" Unfortunately, living peacefully is not as easy as it seems. Though Ralph is named chief, Jack and the choristers quickly form a clique of their own, using the ever-effective political promise of fun rather than responsibility to draw converts. Director Peter Brook draws some excellent performances out of his young cast; the moment when Ralph realizes that even if he blows the conch for a meeting people might not come is an excruciating one. Well acted and faithfully executed, Lord of the Flies is as compelling today as when first released. --Ali Davis
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