Overview: “Boys will be boys in this scathing psychological thriller set within the hidebound but testosterone-charged confines of a remote coastal British private school, produced by and starring David Hemmings (Blow Up, Deep Red).

John Ebony is the idealistic young schoolmaster who arrives at Chantrey School for Boys on his first assignment, employed to fill the shoes of his predecessor Pelham who has recently been found dead at the bottom of a nearby cliff.

Taking up residence in a cottage in the school’s grounds with his restless young wife Sylvia (Carolyn Seymour), Ebony is eager to make a good impression, but immediately gets off on the wrong foot with his assigned pupils, discovering the boys of class Lower 5B, minus the perpetually absent Zigo, to be unruly and defiant.

However, they might possibly know more about Pelham’s demise than the school’s headmaster and his fellow staff are letting on.

Blu-ray Verdict: Masterfully shot by cinematographer Geoffrey Unsworth (2001: A Space Odyssey) and directed by John Mackenzie (The Long Good Friday), this film adaptation of Giles Cooper’s classic play is presented on home video for the first time ever. Unman, Wittering and Zigo presents a scathing exposé of the kind of environment from which brutish empires are born.

Simply put, albeit a far from simple exposition of a movie, when a school teacher dies in an accident, his replacement quickly begins to suspect his students of murder.

Using its theatrical origins to claustrophobic effect, Unman, Wittering and Zigo very cleverly builds up layer upon layer of tension and menace, as Hemming’s naive and idealistic Mr. Ebony is quickly and easily outclassed by his pupils, seemingly at every turn. Dismissed by his headmaster, and humored by both his wife and a fellow teacher, Ebony is slowly ground into submission by the boys as they repeatedly claim to have killed his predecessor.

However, when the boys attempt an assault on his wife as a way of further controlling Ebony, the web they have spun begins to unravel until eventually another tragedy forces out the truth.

Chilly and chilling, Mackenzie is well-served by his actors, both adult and juvenile. Hemmings captures just the right note of bewilderment and impotence, whilst Seymour turns the potentially thankless role of Mrs. Ebony into a striking portrait of independence, determination and naturalism - her performance during the attempted assault by the boys is quite brilliant.

Standout amongst the boys are Hoye, Owen and Cashman, all conveying stonewall confidence collectively, whilst allowing just the faint trace of fear and uncertainty when separated from their classmates. Unsettling allusions to Ebony’s ambivalence and a vaguely sexual response to his ordeal add to the mix, and only a slightly dissatisfying and unbelievable conclusion mar what is otherwise a deeply disturbing, grown up story.

Highly recommended, even after all these years, especially as a study in movie making, and whereas for the longest time it was very hard to track down a decent copy, now Arrow Films / MVD Visual have lovingly restored it and brought it out on crystalline blu-ray for all our enjoyment.

Limited Edition Special Features:
– High Definition (1080p) Blu-ray presentation
– Original lossless English mono audio
– Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing
– Brand new audio commentary by Sean Hogan and Kim Newman
– Brand new appreciation by critic, broadcaster and cultural historian Matthew Sweet
– Unman, Terhew, Lipstrob and Mrs Ebony, featurette with cast members Michael Howe, Michael Cashman, James Wardroper and Carolyn Seymour looking back at the production
– The original 1958 recording of Giles Cooper’s radio play
– Original trailer
– Image gallery
– Double sided fold-out poster featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Eric Adrian Lee
– Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Eric Adrian Lee
– Illustrated collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the film by Kevin Lyons and Oliver Wake”