Lord of the Flies [Criterion Collection]

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:	0715515108317
Original Release:	1963
Rating:	NR
Source:	Criterion Collection
Region Code:	1
Presentation:	[B&W]
Sound:	[Dolby Digital Mono]
Language:	English
Time:	1:30:00
Sales rank:	16,142

Special Features

Disc One - Audio commentary featuring Director Peter Brook, Producer Lewis Allen, Director of Photography Tom Hollyman, and Feil; Audio recordings of William Golding reading from his novel Lord of the Flies, accompanied by the corresponding scenes from the film; ; Deleted scene, with optional commentary and Golding reading; Interview with Brook from 2008; Collection of behind-the-scenes material, including home movies, screen tests, outtakes, and stills; ; Disc Two; Excerpt from a 1980 episode of The South Bank Show featuring Golding; New interview with Feil; Excerpt from Feil's 1975 documentary The Empty Space, showcasing Brook's theater methods; Living "Lord of the Flies," a piece composed of never-before-seen footage shot by the boy actors during production, with new voice-over by actor Tom Gamam

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

Scene Index

Disc #1 -- Lord of the Flies
1. Opening Credits [4:21]
2. The Conch [11:30]
3. Building The Fire [8:25]
4. Huts And Lizards [2:11]
5. "We Need Meat!" [7:25]
6. "Things Are Beginning To Break Up" [7:59]
7. The Beast [6:50]
8. Faces In The Dark [6:23]
9. Lord Of The Flies [6:39]
10. "Kill The Beast!" [8:07]
11. The Only Ones Left [6:14]
12. Piggy And Castle Rock [5:50]
13. Paradise Lost [8:39]
1. Color Bars
1. Backstory [4:21]
2. Casting and the "British" Element [11:30]
3. The Documentary Feel [8:25]
4. Continuity [2:11]
5. Ralph's Broken Leg [7:25]
6. The Story Takes Shape [7:59]
7. Marines And Piggy's Tale [6:50]
8. Day For Night [6:23]
9. Cast Into Crew [6:39]
10. Frenzy In The Fire [8:07]
11. Editing [6:14]
12. "Not An Underground Film" [5:50]
13. A Parable [8:39]
1. Color Bars
1. Golding's Introduction [4:21]
2. "The Sound Of The Shell" [11:30]
3. "Fire On The Mountain" [8:25]
4. "Huts On The Beach" [2:11]
5. "Painted Faces And Long Hair" [7:25]
6. "Beast From Water" [7:59]
7. "Beast From Air" [6:50]
8. "Shadows And Tall Trees" [6:23]
9. "Gift For The Darkness" [6:39]
10. "A View To A Death" [8:07]
11. "The Shell and the Glasses" [6:14]
12. "Castle Rock" [5:50]
13. "Cry Of The Hunters" [8:39]
1. Color Bars

Menu

Disc #1 -- Lord of the Flies
   Play The Movie
   Chapters
   Commentary
      Commentary: On/Off
      Index
   Novel Reading
      Novel Reading
         On
         Off
      Index
   Supplements
      Behind The Scenes
         Play All
      Deleted Scene
         Play With Soundtrack
         Play With Commentary
         Play With Reading
      Peter Brook
         Play
      Trailer
         Play
Disc #2 -- Lord of the Flies
   The South Bank Show: William Golding
      Play
   Interview With Gerald Feil
      Play
   The Empty Space
      Play
   Living Lord of the Flies
      Play

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