tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5361087063517934891.post955952700049868529..comments2024-01-09T05:41:10.873-05:00Comments on The Blue Vial: Unman, Wittering and Zigo (John Mackenzie, 1971)Drew McIntoshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07054307044280470117noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5361087063517934891.post-59184679662433968772021-05-27T07:53:13.073-04:002021-05-27T07:53:13.073-04:00Ahhh - the advantages of a google search! The ori...Ahhh - the advantages of a google search! The original 1958 radio play is available here: https://archive.org/details/unman-wittering-and-zigo-by-giles-cooper-1958 And very good it is too. However, the rather restrained ending is very like that in the film, and - imho - just doesn't quite work....Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15082195052861569292noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5361087063517934891.post-89468544935145492772015-07-02T07:25:04.543-04:002015-07-02T07:25:04.543-04:00I saw this at the bottom half of a double bill on ...I saw this at the bottom half of a double bill on its original release. Does anyone remember what it was paired up with in UK cinemas?. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5361087063517934891.post-42384416312348837052011-04-24T13:54:13.681-04:002011-04-24T13:54:13.681-04:00Just a little info, the film weas partially filmed...Just a little info, the film weas partially filmed at my old school St Davids College, The initial sequence of the fall of the cliff was in fact a polystyrene ball with a camera inbdide and then thrown off the Great Orme just off Llandudno<br />Cheers<br />MartinAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5361087063517934891.post-59929557857694247172011-03-09T15:30:47.140-05:002011-03-09T15:30:47.140-05:00Hey, Ric. Thanks a lot for dropping in and sharing...Hey, Ric. Thanks a lot for dropping in and sharing that information with me. Your take on the movie is very interesting, and really makes me want to get hold of a copy of the original radio play, as a pared down, more subtle version of the story sounds quite appealing. That is also interesting about Dreamworks possibly getting a hold of it, I do think the story could be well served by a modern adaptation, but I fear the over-sensationalism and lack of subtlety you felt in the '71 version is ripe to be completely taken over the edge by Hollywood. Who knows though. I will definitely keep my eyes and ears open.<br /><br />Thanks for pointing out my two errors; I think the island thing was me simply overplaying in my head the comparisons with The Wicker Man, I'm not sure why I stuck that in there. And I definitely meant to say "upper crust", that was a simple typo. I've corrected the review on both fronts.<br /><br />Thanks again, Ric!Drew McIntoshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07054307044280470117noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5361087063517934891.post-38557092986934186322011-03-09T05:44:42.892-05:002011-03-09T05:44:42.892-05:00Hi Drew. Just came across your piece about Unman, ...Hi Drew. Just came across your piece about Unman, Wittering and Zigo. My father Giles Cooper wrote the original 45 minute radio play (broadcast 1958) which he then adapted for TV (broadcast 1965, BBC Italia Prize entry). He then, sadly, died in 1966. His literary agent Gareth Wigan, later a major Hollywood producer, put his first film together with David Hemmings. The screenplay was an unsubtle adaptation by Simon Raven, which we found over-sensational and a bit crude in execution. Nonetheless, the film isn't bad and I wish I could get hold of a copy. <br /><br />Two little things: I'm not sure where you got the "island" idea from: it's just somewhere on the coast (the cliffs in the film are in North Wales)<br /><br />...and I think you mean "upper crust" not crest.<br /><br />There is a rumour of a new horror adaptation coming from Dreamworks, so let me know if you hear anything in the blogosphere<br /><br />Best wishes<br /><br />Ric Cooper<br />ric@riccooper.comRic Coopernoreply@blogger.com