fiction.wikisort.org - Movie

Unman, Wittering and Zigo is a 1971 British thriller film directed by John Mackenzie and starring David Hemmings, Douglas Wilmer and Carolyn Seymour.[1] It is adapted by Simon Raven from Giles Cooper's 1958 radio drama Unman, Wittering and Zigo.[2]

Unman, Wittering and Zigo
Original theatrical poster
Directed by	John Mackenzie
Written by	Simon Raven
Based on	play by Giles Cooper
Produced by	Gareth Wigan
Starring	David Hemmings Douglas Wilmer Carolyn Seymour Hamilton Dyce
Cinematography	Geoffrey Unsworth
Edited by	Fergus McDonell
Music by	Michael J. Lewis
Production companies	Hemmings Mediaarts
Distributed by	Paramount Pictures
Release dates	23 September 1971 (1971-09-23) (UK) June 13, 1971 (1971-06-13) (NYC)
Running time	102 minutes
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English

The movie's title was parodied in Little Britain,^{[citation needed]} and by Rowan Atkinson in a very well-received sketch for one of the early Secret Policeman's Ball concerts for Amnesty International.^{[citation needed]} [3]

Plot

A new teacher arrives at a school and begins to suspect his predecessor was murdered by the pupils, though his suspicions are written off as paranoia. He sets out to prevent the same fate from befalling him.

Cast

• David Hemmings as John Ebony
• Douglas Wilmer as Headmaster
• Carolyn Seymour as Silvia Ebony[4]
• Hamilton Dyce as Mr. Winstanley
• Anthony Haygarth as Cary Farthingale
• Barbara Lott as Mrs. Winstanley
• Donald Gee as Stretton
• David Jackson as Clackworth
• Hubert Rees as Blisterine
• David Auker as Aggeridge
• Tom Morris as Ankerton
• Richard Gill as Borby
• Michael Kitchen as Bungabine
• Nicholas Hoye as Cloistermouth
• Tom Owen as Cuthbun
• Toby Simpson as Hogg
• James Wardroper as Lipstrob
• Clive Gray as Muffett
• Rodney Paulden as Munn Major
• Keith Janess as Orris
• Christopher Moran as Root
• Michael Cashman as Terhew
• Paul Aston as Trimble
• Michael Howe as Unman
• Colin Barrie as Wittering

The closing credits also list Zigo (who never appears in the film) as "absent".

Production

The radio play was adapted for BBC TV in 1965.[5]

Film rights were bought by Mediarts, a new company established in London and Hollywood. It was to be the first of four pictures from the company, the others being the directorial debut of Frederic Raphael, a screenplay by Dory Previn and a script by Odie Hawkins.[6] Paramount agreed to distribute.[7]

David Hemmings made the film without telling Hemdale, the company who had exclusive call on his services. This led to a lawsuit.[8]

Filming

Filming began in August 1970.[9]

The film was set in Cornwall. Some outdoor scenes were filmed at St David's College Llandudno, Wales, and nearby St. Tudno's churchyard, Great Orme, but others and interior scenes were mostly filmed in the buildings of Reading Blue Coat School, Sonning, Berkshire, using some of its pupils as extras during the summer holidays.[10]

Critical reception

The BFI's Screenonline called it "a finely wrought psychological suspense drama."[11]

Leonard Maltin's Movie Guide rates the film three stars, calling it, "[A] nifty little sleeper...creepy, chilling mystery, loaded with twists..."[12]

References

External links

• Unman, Wittering and Zigo at IMDb
• Review of film at New York Times

---