4K Review: PRISCILLA, QUEEN OF THE DESERT (1994)

Imprint Films owned the month of December with four worldwide debut releases on 4K Ultra HD, which included one of Australia’s most iconic and fashionable classics, The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert – Available now in Limited Edition dual-format release that comes packaged in a 3D lenticular hard box that features the image of, ”a cock in a frock on a rock” times three.

Two working drag queens accompanied by a transgender woman travel from Sydney across the Outback to Alice Springs in Australia’s Red Center, aboard a spruced-up tour bus sarcastically Christened, Priscilla.

Director Stephan Elliott, who made his debut the previous year with the bizarre Phil Collins vehicle, Frauds, is a unique filmmaker with a hyper sense of reality that becomes increasingly prominent throughout his filmography. Yet Priscilla by and in large is relatively restrained in that regard. Elliott focuses his skill on creating a film that ingrains a positive portrayal of LGBT culture into the Australian zeitgeist that extends to the continent itself, also merging with Dreamtime spirits.

Our three protagonists, Anthony, Adam and Bernadette, played by Hugo Weaving, Guy Pearce and Terence Stamp respectively are literally stopped in their tracks as they’re greeted by the great expanse of desert. The profound sense of wonder they experience translates to their costumes and performance, often mimicking reptilian wildlife.

Bigotry is not far behind, which rears its ugly head on a few occasions during the story, but it’s faced head-on and in hilariously satisfying fashion. While stranded the trio find common ground with local Aboriginals and later an ally in Bob (Bill Hunter), a friendly and accepting mechanic who joins the adventure.

While the A to B narrative is basic, it’s the various detours that give the story substance, but honestly, it’s really about the performances from the three stars. Hugo Weaving is very sincere as Anthony, who wears his heart on his sleeve and has a maternal quality that’s direct to his younger friend and fellow drag queen. Despite coming across as very stereotypical, Guy Pearce is very convincing as Adam. He’s loud, obnoxious, and provocative, and when he and Anthony get into a gossip session, they become a hysterical collective. Terence Stamp as the melancholic Bernadette gives a genuine performance. The light romance between her and Bob adds depth of feeling to a story that carries a theme of identity and discovery.

SPECIAL FEATURES

DISC 1 4K UHD

NEW Dolby Vision presentation on 4K UHD, restored from the original 35mm negative by Imprint Films
Audio Commentary by director Stephan Elliott
Original Aspect Ratio 2.35:1
Audio English DTS-HD 5.1 Surround + LPCM 2.0 Stereo
Optional English Subtitles

DISC 2 BLU-RAY

1080p High-definition presentation on Blu-ray of the 4K restoration
Audio Commentary by director Stephan Elliott
Theatrical Trailer
Original Aspect Ratio 2.35:1
Audio English DTS-HD 5.1 Surround + LPCM 2.0 Stereo
Optional English Subtitles

DISC 3 BLU-RAY – DOCUMENTARY + EXTRAS

Between a Frock and a Hard Place – Feature Documentary (2015)
NEW Priscilla: A Celebration for Everybody – interview with writer/director Stephan Elliott (2024)
NEW The Average Little Boy – interview with actor Mark Holmes (2024)
Birth of a Queen – featurette
Behind The Bus: Priscilla With Her Pants Down – featurette
Tidbits from the Set – featurette
Ladies Please – featurette
Backstage – extended featurette
Deleted Scenes
The Bus from Blooperville – outtakes
Original Australian Theatrical Trailer
US Teaser Trailers
Photo Gallery

Keeping up with the general vibe of “go big or go home”, this edition of Priscilla comes loaded with special features ranging from old SD on-set interviews, turn-of-the-century DVD supplements, and two new interviews. Perhaps most enticing is the inclusion of the 2015 documentary, Between a Frock and a Hard Place. Featuring all major cast and crew and narrated by Terence Stamp this film manages to explore Priscilla’s historical impact in a brief, but informative hour runtime.

In a near-30-minute new interview, director Stephan Elliot catalogues all the major obstacles he faced before, while, and after making Priscilla. Despite his challenges, the director remains proud of his work and sounds enthusiastic about a sequel (which he only talks about briefly). Despite being one of his only film credits, Mark Holmes looks back fondly on his experience filming Priscilla as a nine-year-old boy and explains how his appreciation for it only grew as he entered adulthood. – by Hannah Lynch

VIDEO AND AUDIO

I’m still adjusting to the 4K format, but I believe it best serves classic titles, whereas I find many new releases to be somewhat of an assault on the senses. Bullet Train is a good example. The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert has certainly met expectations and it’s reassuring to know that Imprint’s restoration has been supervised by the film’s director, Stephan Elliott.

Having recently watched an HD stream of the film on Amazon Prime, which looked perfectly fine, the 4K presentation is a whole different experience. Much of the film takes place in the harsh Australian Outback, which means texture and vivid colour from a video standpoint, which Ultra HD displays in a level of detail that seems almost impossible at times. However, skin tones often appear very bright and undersaturated. It’s more noticeable on close-up shots but it is a peculiar trend that I’m started to see with 4K transfers. Home Alone 2 has a very similar appearance via its stream on Disney Plus. You can make the argument that colours look more natural, which they do and overall, the film has never looked more fabulous.

Imprint has included a Blu-ray copy for good measure, which is sourced from the same 4K restoration. Naturally, the print lacks the level of sharpness, but it’s night and day compared to Roadshow’s original DVD release from 2004, which was closer in quality to VHS than it was to standard definition.

10th Anniversary Collector’s Edtion DVD, Roadshow Entertainment

1080p Presentation (4K Restoration), Imprint Films

Available on both the 4K and Blu-ray disks is DTS-HD 5.1 Surround and an optional LPCM 2.0 Stereo track. To get the most out of your purchase, opt for 5.1 audio, which adds dimension to the picture and many finer sounds you would not have previously with lesser editions of the film.

The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert elevated Australian cinema. Its echo can still be heard to this day. Imprint Films could not have given a more fitting treatment for the film’s milestone 30^th Anniversary and it’s also available on DVD which too takes advantage of the new restoration.

THE ADVENTURES OF PRISCILLA, QUEEN OF THE DESERT
(1994, director: Stephan Elliott)