UK: Picnic at Hanging Rock (Peter Weir, 1975)

[Vaughan]

Well, come June 30th this is getting a 3-Disc R2 release.

What say you all?

No cover art yet - but here's the Amazon page:

amazon.co.uk: Picnic at Hanging Rock (Second Sight Films UK DVD)

[groon]

Vaughan - the cover art has been online for a few weeks.. check the link out:

Picnic at Hanging Rock R2 Deluxe Edition in June

The new news about this set on the dvdtimes press release is Second Sights statement about the original version being cropped -

* This longer original version of the film has been brought to DVD using the best elements available. A new transfer of the film was not possible however an archive master was discovered. Although anamorphic widescreen this was found to have a small degree of image cropping. While not usual practice for Second Sight to present a film in such a way, given the lack of any viable alternative the decision was made to undertake restoration work and include this version as a bonus feature, giving the viewer a now rare chance to see the original theatrical release.

Criterion were rumoured to have a new PAHR in the works, but I'm going for the Second Sight release.

[Vaughan]

Oh! I didn't know that. Here it is for those who don't want to click (Source the link groon gives above)



And you're right, Criterion are coming up with a single disc release too:



Special Features:

- The long awaited director’s cut of the film, with a new widescreen transfer and a new 5.1 surround mix
- The original theatrical trailer
- Liner notes by Vincent Canby
- Subtitles for the deaf and hearing impaired

You can find it AT CRITERION

[groon]

Thats the old [non-anamorphic] Criterion release that came out a few years back.
There were rumours that Criterion were going to revisit PAHR - but I've not heard any official word.

[WaveCrest]

Did anyone here post a non-spoiler review of this film on the old ABUK forum? I'm interested in getting this film.

[groon]

Got this from amazon today - glad I held off getting the R4 SE - the pq on the original version looks pretty good [although slightly cropped - see above]
Three disc slip case digi pack - no booklet.
There's a short review of this set here.

[stuhh]

I just watched this yesterday for the first time. This film has always been inextricably linked in my mind with Nicolas Roeg’s Walkabout. There is obviously some common ground: they’re both set in Australia, they both focus on school children, and they both contain some fairly inexplicable sequences. But I’d say Walkabout packs more of a punch, and that film contains some very powerful and disturbing images, beyond the animal slaughter. But I think Picnic will grow more on the viewer, so I’ll have to check out the ‘original’ version.