Lord of the Flies [Criterion Collection] [Blu-ray]

Director: Peter Brook Peter Brook

Overview

This is the first film version of the popular novel by William Golding. A group of boys from a blue-blooded, upper crust London finishing school board a plane to escape an impending aerial attack. The plane has engine trouble, the pilot is killed, and over three dozen boys take refuge on an uncharted tropical island. The boys gather to elect a chief, but the group splits into two factions. Both groups revert to animalistic killing and cannibalistic rituals in the absence of adult supervision and a structured society as they struggle to survive. The youthful cream of the crop sours quickly in this scathing social commentary about the thin line that separates humans from animals.

Product Details

Release Date:	07/16/2013
UPC:	0715515108218
Original Release:	1963
Rating:	NR
Source:	Criterion Collection
Presentation:	[B&W]
Language:	English
Time:	1:30:00
Sales rank:	11,002

Special Features

New, restored 4K digital film transfer, supervised by Gerald Feil

Uncompressed monaural soundtrack

Audio commentary featuring director Peter Brook and more

Audio recordings of William Golding reading from his novel Lord of the Flies

Deleted scene, with optional commentary and reading by Golding

Interview with Brook from 2008

Collection of behind-the-scenes material

New interview with Feil

Excerpt from Feil's 1972 documentary The Empty Space

Something Queer in the Warehouse, a piece composed of never-before-seen footage

Trailer

PLUS: A booklet featuring an essay by film critic Geoffrey Macnab#sthash.yxS7tILm.dpuf

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

James Aubrey	Ralph
Tom Chapin	Jack
Hugh Edwards	Piggy
Roger Elwin	Roger
Tom Gaman	Simon
Roger Allen	Piers
David Brunjes	Donald
Peter Davy	Peter
Kent Fletcher	Percival Wemys Madison
Nicholas Hammond	Robert
Christopher Harris	Bill
Alan Heaps	Neville,Howard
Burnes Hollyman	Douglas
Andrew Horne	Matthew,Lance,Leslie
Erik Jordan	Actor
Peter Ksiezopolski	Francis
Anthony McCall-Hudson	Morris
Malcolm Rodker	Harold
David St. Clair	George
Rene Sanfiorenzo Jr.	Charles
Jeremy Scuse	Rowland
John Stableford	Digby
Nicholas Valkenburg	Rupert,Robin
Edward Valencia	Frederick
John Walsh	Michael,Percy,Actor,Actor
Jerome Willis	Henry
Surtees Twins	Sam & Eric
Raymond Leppard	Composer

Technical Credits

Peter Brook

Peter Brook	Director,Screenwriter
Al Hine	Executive Producer
Lewis M. Allen	Producer

Editorial Reviews

Director Peter Brooks' depiction of William Golding's novel is appropriately dark and dreary; he is able to attain the perfect balance of innocence and hedonism needed to bring this adventure/morality tale to life. The children are played primarily by non-actors, giving the film a much-needed natural feel. Some might view the lack of budget and amateurish acting as a flaw, but when compared to Harry Hook's more polished, higher-budgeted 1990 adaptation, it is clear Brooks' version is truer to the source material. The images Brooks puts forth in his film are as shocking and startling as they were in the novel, in part due to the naiveté of the actors. Piggy's Hugh Edwards physical appearance is just as Golding described him, as is Ralph James Aubry. Creating an accurate film adaptation of a well received novel is no easy task, but Brooks has done a wonderful job of visualizing this classic novel.

All Movie Guide - Laura Abraham