The Wicker Man (Robin Hardy, 1973) (Merged)

[silverbird]

I bought this yesterday and found that the documentary had been edited,the interview with Britt Ekland is missing (when she is talking about the body double used in the film) is anybody else's copy not got this ? The doc was shown on CH4 & FILMFOUR in FULL ! so why is this full version NOT on the dvd.This reminds me of The Exorcist dvd,in which the "Fear of God" doc was also edited but the FULL 74min version WAS on video !.

[Vaughan]

Someone mentions the body double, can't recall who.

[tigon]

Someone does mention it, i have the original anchor bay region one and as far as memory serves both documentarys are the same.

[Narshty]

I think they're two entirely different documentaries actually. One is by Mark Kermode, the other is by David Gregory/Blue Underground.

I missed the Channel 4 one, so they might share some of the same footage, but I did note it was substantially longer.

[se7en45]

It's on ITV-1 at 11:00pm - 12:50am

THE WICKER MAN

[Vaughan]

I've got it on DVD ANY time

[christats]

I also have the Wicker man on Anchor Bay Region 2.Cannot concentrate on the TV showing tonight because of all the ####ing fireworks going off my neighbours garden.
I have heard rumours that even the extended Anchor Bay edition is not totally complete.That there was an old US tape that was a bit longer.Also that a total complete print ended up dumped under a motorway when the studio who made itwas having a spring clean.Anyone know of Wicker man rumours?

[Squid]

I have the Studio Canal two disc SE. The interviews clear up some of the missing footage questions. Some reels did end up as landfill and on the long version of the two disc set (99 mins), extra footage has been spliced in (including a hysterical scene of Christopher Lee talking to snails and wearing a dress). Some of the added footage is a bit rough but I think it's the most complete version available. You can read up on the footage question and on the general history of the making and release at this very cool website:

http://www.steve-p.org/wm/

Squid

[42ndStreetFreak]

Just rumours..the 'AB' release is the longest.

The extened cut is ESSENTIAL. Some great scenes were cut, including the wonderful virginity sacrifice/"Gentely johhny" sequence that also includes a great dialogue scene with Lee.

A film so damn near perfect it brings a tear to your eye.

Lee loves this film and you can see why.
He gives a superbly crafted performance..self sure and certain in his beliefs but never arrogant.

Given the harsh character Woodward is given, it's to his credit that he manages to keep the viewer sympathetic to his overall 'mission' if not his attitudes.

The excellent songs play a vital part to the films atmosphere (be it in the free and joyous rites that go on on the island, like the fertility dance, to highlighting the erotic aspects, like the superb "Gently Johnny" song linking to the excellent scene where Summerisle bring the virgin boy to Willow) and help create the very mood and 'feel' of the islanders and their way of life.
And Eckland's scene was fantastic. It was all part of the movie and all part of the Islanders cruel game.

One of the finest films Britian ever made, Horror or not.

To those that like the music the NEW CD release of the entire soundtrack (not the older one which was low quality and missing songs due to it being taken from the cinema version) is a must have.

A true masterwork and a shining gem in the crown of British horror.

[harry2]

The two disc Studio Canal release has both "versions" even though there are apparently several running around the US and Canada. It has an even higher profile over there, or at least it did in the 80's and 90's. There are several books on the film.

[Dave Jay]

Said it before and I'll say it again - I prefer the shorter version.

[42ndStreetFreak]

Said it before and I'll say it again - I prefer the shorter version.

Oh dear!
no no...the truly wonderful sequences of Lee bringing the virgin boy to Willow and his wonderful speech about animals and God and the terrific 'Gently Johhny' sequence/song are truly essential material.

[Vaughan]

I like this film, I really do. I enjoy just about everything about it, as a matter of fact. However, some people seem to want to talk about it as though it is the best British horror film ever - and personally there are many films I'd put above it. It does a lot of things well, but it doesn't really excel at anything. Like The Sixth Sense, once you know the ending, it is somehow diminished.

Still, not to say it's bad at all. It's very good, and certainly a worthy film to own. The daft music gets on my nerves though - I know people who covert that too. Mad men.

[42ndStreetFreak]

I like this film, I really do. I enjoy just about everything about it, as a matter of fact. However, some people seem to want to talk about it as though it is the best British horror film ever - and personally there are many films I'd put above it. It does a lot of things well, but it doesn't really excel at anything. Like The Sixth Sense, once you know the ending, it is somehow diminished.

Still, not to say it's bad at all. It's very good, and certainly a worthy film to own. The daft music gets on my nerves though - I know people who covert that too. Mad men.

The music is great...and is another vital part of the film. This is a film so near perfect in what it does and how it is made (in it's extended version) that it's always a joy to watch.

And i truly think this is in the top 5 best Brit horror films ever made aong with "Witchfinder General", "Blood on Satan's Claw", "Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell" and "twins of Evil"....
Yes, you did read them correctly!

[Dave Jay]

Funnily enough, I watched BLOOD ON SATAN'S CLAW again last night and bleedin' loved it. Controversial statement number two has to be that I much prefer it to WITCHFINDER GENERAL - which is a film I always really WANT to love but it just doesn't quite do it for me...

[christats]

I like witchfinder general,but tend to agree with the views of the people in the interviews on the extras.Its more of a sadistic English Western,not very scary but full of horseback chases and posses hunting people down.The longer version of the wicker man is better,I followed the plot and understood the policemans character more.Pity they had to use video inserts.

[Dave Jay]

What's to understand? We get that he's a commited Christian. The longer version just labours the point...

[42ndStreetFreak]

What's to understand? We get that he's a commited Christian. The longer version just labours the point...

Brilliant scenes like these...

the truly wonderful sequences of Lee bringing the virgin boy to Willow and his wonderful speech about animals and God and the terrific 'Gently Johhny' sequence/song are truly essential material.

Are not labouring anything.

[Dave Jay]

'Gently Johnny' is featured in the shorter version too... I don't feel that Chris Lee is in any way the most important part of the film... And the added scenes outside of Summer Isle are all extraneous and stiffly acted. But hey - each to their own, man...

We do at least agree on one thing - it's an amazing film with a SUBLIME soundtrack...

[James Lee]

Gently Johnny is not in the short version but was in the "Middle" version, the one that was released in the states in the 70's.