Unman, Wittering and Zigo (film)


Unman, Wittering and Zigo is a 1971 British thriller film directed by John Mackenzie and starring David Hemmings, Douglas Wilmer and Carolyn Seymour. It is adapted by Simon Raven from Giles Cooper's 1958 radio drama Unman, Wittering and Zigo.
The movie's title was parodied in Little Britain, and by Rowan Atkinson in a very well-received sketch for one of the early Secret Policeman's Ball concerts for Amnesty International.

Premise

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

The radio play was adapted for BBC TV in 1965.
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 Frederick Raphael, a screenplay by Dory Previn and a script by Odie Hawkins. Paramount agreed to distribute.
Filming began in August 1970.
The film was set in Cornwall. Some outdoor scenes were filmed in Llandudno, Wales, 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.
David Hemmings made the film without telling Hemdale, the company who had exclusive call on his services. This led to a lawsuit.

Critical reception

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