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Ted Kotcheff's Lost Masterpiece 'Wake in Fright' Restored
29 Apr
Summary
- Director Ted Kotcheff's powerful 1971 film 'Wake in Fright' was nearly lost.
- The film gained cult status due to its rarity and degraded copies.
- A restored version of 'Wake in Fright' is now available on 4K UHD and Blu-ray.
Director Ted Kotcheff, known for a diverse 60-year career spanning multiple genres, helmed the potent Australian thriller 'Wake in Fright' in 1971. The film, a gritty tale of a schoolteacher stranded in a remote, violent outback town, garnered critical acclaim but failed commercially upon release. For many years, 'Wake in Fright' existed in degraded copies, with its original negative believed lost, contributing to its mythic cult status among a select few.
The discovery of the original film elements in the mid-2000s paved the way for its restoration and wider rediscovery. Martin Scorsese championed the film, noting its power and selecting it for a special screening. Now, 'Wake in Fright' is receiving its most significant home video release to date through Arrow Video, featuring a new 4K UHD and Blu-ray transfer.
