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The Wicker Tree
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Jump to: navigation, search


The Wicker Tree
Wicker tree ver2.jpg
Theatrical release poster

Directed by
Robin Hardy
Produced by
Peter Snell
 Peter Watson Wood
 Alastair Gourlay
Written by
Robin Hardy
Based on
Cowboys for Christ
 by Robin Hardy
Starring
Graham McTavish
Jacqueline Leonard
 Henry Garrett
Honeysuckle Weeks
Clive Russell
Christopher Lee
 Brittania Nicol
Music by
John Scott
 Keith Easdale
Cinematography
Jan Pester
Edited by
Sean Barton
 Ray Lau

Production
 company

British Lion Films

Distributed by
British Lion Films

Release dates

19 July 2011 (Fantasia Film Festival)
27 August 2011 (United Kingdom)


Running time
 90 minutes
Country
United Kingdom
Language
English
Budget
$7.75 million
The Wicker Tree is a 2011 horror film written and directed by British filmmaker Robin Hardy. The film contains many direct parallels and allusions to the 1973 film The Wicker Man, which was also directed by Hardy.[1] The Wicker Tree is neither a sequel nor a remake, but is intended as a companion piece which explores the same themes. It is the second part of The Wicker Man Trilogy. The film premiered at the Fantasia Festival in Montreal, Canada, July 2011 and was released on Blu-ray in the UK on April 30, 2012.[2]


Contents  [hide]
1 Plot
2 Cast
3 Production 3.1 Writing
3.2 Casting
3.3 Filming
4 Reception
5 Home media availability
6 References
7 External links

Plot[edit]
Beth is a successful pop singer and a devout evangelical Christian from Texas, United States. She and her fiance Steve both wear purity rings, and belong to a group known as the "Cowboys for Christ", who travel to "heathen areas" of the world to preach Christianity. The Reverend Moriarty (James Mapes) sends them off to travel to Glasgow, Scotland, hoping to save some souls once there. However, they are shocked when they receive a very negative reception, Beth even being set upon by a large dog.
After performing a concert at a local cathedral, the duo are approached by Sir Lachlan Morrison and his wife Delia, the laird of the small village of Tressock in the Scottish lowlands. They invite Beth and Steve to come back with them to preach, but intend them for a more central part in Tressock's May Day celebration.
Meanwhile, detective Orlando is sent to Tressock, posing as the local police officer, in order to secretly investigate reports of a pagan cult. Orlando discovers that the people of the village worship the ancient Celt goddess Sulis.
Beth and Steve decide to begin their preaching at the May Day celebrations in the village. In an attempt to impress the locals, they agree to becoming the local Queen of the May and the Laddie for the festival, not realising the consequences of their decision and not knowing what awaits them. At the end, both of them are killed in the ritual.
Cast[edit]
Graham McTavish as Sir Lachlan Morrison
Jacqueline Leonard as Delia Morrison
Brittania Nicol as Beth Boothby
Henry Garrett as Steve Thompson
Honeysuckle Weeks as Lolly
Clive Russell as Beame
Prue Clarke as Mary Miller
Leslie Mackie as Daisy
David Plimmer as Jack
Keith Warwick as Donald Dee
Christopher Lee as Old Gentleman
Mark Williams as Paul
Production[edit]
Writing[edit]
In 2002, it was reported that Hardy was working on a film entitled The Riding of the Laddie, said to be in the same genre as The Wicker Man. Sean Astin had signed on as the male lead, with Christopher Lee, LeAnn Rimes and Vanessa Redgrave set to play major roles. Lee had passed the screenplay on to Astin while the two were working on the Lord of the Rings film trilogy. Ewan McGregor also read the script, and requested a cameo appearance. Of the story, Hardy stated, "It's about a certain kind of American innocence abroad featuring two young born-again Christians. They've made a pact not to have sex before marriage, and they come over here like the Mormons and preach door-to-door. It's a thriller; they get sucked into a dark world. We hope to start in September for a 2003 release." The film was to be shot on location near Glasgow and in Oklahoma.[3]
However, Hardy was ultimately unable to secure funding, and the film was cancelled. He then adapted his screenplay into a novel, which was published as Cowboys for Christ. Hardy felt that writing the novel gave him a much clearer idea of what he wanted to do, and he eventually adapted the novel into the screenplay which was used for The Wicker Tree.[4]
Casting[edit]
Originally Hardy wrote the part of Sir Lachlan Morrison for Christopher Lee, who played Lord Summerisle in The Wicker Man. While filming the newest Hammer Production The Resident in New Mexico, Lee injured his back when he tripped over power cables on set. Although very disappointed, Hardy gave the role intended for Lee to Graham McTavish, the actor who had originally been cast as Beame, the Morrisons' butler. Clive Russell plays Beame instead. Lee is still in the film, making a brief cameo appearance as the unnamed "Old Gentleman" who acts as Lachlan's mentor in a flashback. Robin Hardy has stated that fans of The Wicker Man will recognise this character as Lord Summerisle,[5] but Lee himself has contradicted this, stating that they are two unrelated characters.[6]
Joan Collins was originally set to play Lady Delia Morrison when Lee was to play Sir Lachlan Morrison. However, when Lee injured himself and was replaced by the much younger McTavish, Collins was similarly replaced with a younger actress, Jacqueline Leonard.
Filming[edit]
Filming was due to start in September 2007, but the film was delayed for financial reasons. It was later announced the film would shoot from April 2008 in Dumfries and Galloway. A week before the shoot, Dumfries and Galloway Council announced the filming had been stopped due to financial reasons.[7] Filming eventually started in July 2009 in Haddington; Gorebridge; Midlothian; and Dallas.[8]
The Wicker Tree went through several title changes before its release, including The Riding of the Laddie, May Day, and Cowboys for Christ. The film had its premiere[9] at the Fantasia Festival in Montreal in July 2011. Anchor Bay handled U.S. distribution, and the film received a limited release on January 27, 2012. No wide theatrical release date has yet been announced, although it was released on Blu-ray in the UK in April 2012.[9][10][11][12]
Reception[edit]
[icon] This section requires expansion. (October 2014)
Initial reviews from the premiere at Fantasia festival were polarised. The Fangoria review was mildly positive with misgivings: "even as a black comedy, Wicker Tree can’t match the impact of its predecessor. Still, for those fans of Wicker Man who can open their minds to viewing, as Monty Python used to put it, something completely different, the new movie can be appreciated as an entertaining variation on its themes."[11] The Starburst magazine review was negative, remarking that "Sometimes cult films really should be left alone", and, "Prepare to have your hopes dashed however as The Wicker Tree is awful."[13]
The film had a limited U.S. theatrical release in January 2012.[14] In April of that year, Hardy discussed the film's mixed critical reception. "The New York Times’s reviewer said it wasn't as gritty as the original Wicker Man, but it's a thousand times better than the remake. I was quite happy with that." When asked whether he preferred The Wicker Tree to the original version of The Wicker Man, Hardy replied, "No, I really don't."[15]
Home media availability[edit]
Anchor Bay Entertainment released The Wicker Tree on Region 1 and Region 2 DVD and Blu-ray in April 2012.[16][17]
References[edit]
1.Jump up ^ "'Wicker Man' Companion Piece, 'The Wicker Tree', Gets an Official Website". bloody-disgusting.com.
2.Jump up ^ Sarah Dobbs, Robin Hardy interview, SciFiNow (UK), April 20, 2012. Accessed December 4, 2012
3.Jump up ^ Witzig, Jack (14 March 2002; 21 March 2002; 18 April 2002; 25 April 2002). "The Riding of the Laddie". The Cold Spot. Retrieved 13 May 2012. Check date values in: |date= (help)
4.Jump up ^ Applebaum, Stephen (12 April 2012). "The Director of Cult Classic The Wicker Man Returns with the Wicker Tree – Interview With Robin Hardy". Huffington Post. Retrieved 13 May 2012.
5.Jump up ^ Hardy, Robin. "RM-051.mp3 (audio/mpeg Object)". Rue Morgue Radio. Retrieved 12 April 2012. "Well, it is very ambiguous. We don't really know who he is. He's an antecedent, of some kind, of Lachlan's. Lachlan remembers him, when he was a boy. There's a boy painting a bridge, and it may have been Lachlan as a young person. He's remembering this grandfather figure, or this great-grandfather figure – whatever – who the people who are fans of The Wicker Man and the wicker [inaudible], if you like, will of course immediately recognise as Summerisle. But we don't give him a name or anthing. I think in the credits he's just called the old man."
6.Jump up ^ Lee, Christopher (27 December 2011). "Christopher Lee 2011 Christmas Message Part 1". Retrieved 11 April 2012. "The first one that I can think of is The Wicker Tree, in which I make a very brief appearance. I must emphasise this is not a sequel to The Wicker Man. In no way. And I do not play an older Summerisle, or his son, or whatever."
7.Jump up ^ "UK | Scotland | South of Scotland | Cult film sequel shoot called off". news.bbc.co.uk; BBC News. 3 April 2008. Retrieved 2010-07-19.
8.Jump up ^ "Lothian sets the scene for Wicker sequel". Edinburghnews.scotsman.com; Edinburgh Evening News. Retrieved 2010-07-19.
9.^ Jump up to: a b "New Photos and Traier for Wicker Tree". WeGotThisCovered.com
10.Jump up ^ "Preview 2011". FantasiaFestival.com[not in citation given]
11.^ Jump up to: a b Gingold, Michael (July 21, 2011). "Wicker Tree: Fantasia film review". Fangoria.com
12.Jump up ^ "The Wicker Tree Poster is Burning, is Burning, is Burning for You". Shocktillyoudrop.com. Retrieved 2012-01-21.
13.Jump up ^ Holt, Chris (28 August 2011). "The Wicker Tree review" Starburst Magazine
14.Jump up ^ The New York Times, 27 January 2012
15.Jump up ^ Needham, Alex (1 April 2012). "Wicker Man sequel revisits original's murky territory". The Guardian. Retrieved 11 April 2012.
16.Jump up ^ Amazon.com
17.Jump up ^ Amazon.co.uk
External links[edit]
Official website
The Wicker Tree at the Internet Movie Database
The Wicker Tree at AllMovie


[hide]
v ·
 t ·
 e
 
The Wicker Man


Films
The Wicker Man (1973) ·
 The Wicker Man (2006) ·
 The Wicker Tree (2011) ·
 The Wrath of the Gods (2015)
 

Novels
Ritual (1967) ·
 The Wicker Man (1978) ·
 Cowboys for Christ (2006)
 

Music
Soundtrack ·
 "Willow's Song"
 

Miscellaneous
Summerisle ·
 Wickerman Festival
 

  


Categories: 2011 films
English-language films
2011 horror films
British films
British horror films
Paganism in Europe









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The Wicker Tree
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search


The Wicker Tree
Wicker tree ver2.jpg
Theatrical release poster

Directed by
Robin Hardy
Produced by
Peter Snell
 Peter Watson Wood
 Alastair Gourlay
Written by
Robin Hardy
Based on
Cowboys for Christ
 by Robin Hardy
Starring
Graham McTavish
Jacqueline Leonard
 Henry Garrett
Honeysuckle Weeks
Clive Russell
Christopher Lee
 Brittania Nicol
Music by
John Scott
 Keith Easdale
Cinematography
Jan Pester
Edited by
Sean Barton
 Ray Lau

Production
 company

British Lion Films

Distributed by
British Lion Films

Release dates

19 July 2011 (Fantasia Film Festival)
27 August 2011 (United Kingdom)


Running time
 90 minutes
Country
United Kingdom
Language
English
Budget
$7.75 million
The Wicker Tree is a 2011 horror film written and directed by British filmmaker Robin Hardy. The film contains many direct parallels and allusions to the 1973 film The Wicker Man, which was also directed by Hardy.[1] The Wicker Tree is neither a sequel nor a remake, but is intended as a companion piece which explores the same themes. It is the second part of The Wicker Man Trilogy. The film premiered at the Fantasia Festival in Montreal, Canada, July 2011 and was released on Blu-ray in the UK on April 30, 2012.[2]


Contents  [hide]
1 Plot
2 Cast
3 Production 3.1 Writing
3.2 Casting
3.3 Filming
4 Reception
5 Home media availability
6 References
7 External links

Plot[edit]
Beth is a successful pop singer and a devout evangelical Christian from Texas, United States. She and her fiance Steve both wear purity rings, and belong to a group known as the "Cowboys for Christ", who travel to "heathen areas" of the world to preach Christianity. The Reverend Moriarty (James Mapes) sends them off to travel to Glasgow, Scotland, hoping to save some souls once there. However, they are shocked when they receive a very negative reception, Beth even being set upon by a large dog.
After performing a concert at a local cathedral, the duo are approached by Sir Lachlan Morrison and his wife Delia, the laird of the small village of Tressock in the Scottish lowlands. They invite Beth and Steve to come back with them to preach, but intend them for a more central part in Tressock's May Day celebration.
Meanwhile, detective Orlando is sent to Tressock, posing as the local police officer, in order to secretly investigate reports of a pagan cult. Orlando discovers that the people of the village worship the ancient Celt goddess Sulis.
Beth and Steve decide to begin their preaching at the May Day celebrations in the village. In an attempt to impress the locals, they agree to becoming the local Queen of the May and the Laddie for the festival, not realising the consequences of their decision and not knowing what awaits them. At the end, both of them are killed in the ritual.
Cast[edit]
Graham McTavish as Sir Lachlan Morrison
Jacqueline Leonard as Delia Morrison
Brittania Nicol as Beth Boothby
Henry Garrett as Steve Thompson
Honeysuckle Weeks as Lolly
Clive Russell as Beame
Prue Clarke as Mary Miller
Leslie Mackie as Daisy
David Plimmer as Jack
Keith Warwick as Donald Dee
Christopher Lee as Old Gentleman
Mark Williams as Paul
Production[edit]
Writing[edit]
In 2002, it was reported that Hardy was working on a film entitled The Riding of the Laddie, said to be in the same genre as The Wicker Man. Sean Astin had signed on as the male lead, with Christopher Lee, LeAnn Rimes and Vanessa Redgrave set to play major roles. Lee had passed the screenplay on to Astin while the two were working on the Lord of the Rings film trilogy. Ewan McGregor also read the script, and requested a cameo appearance. Of the story, Hardy stated, "It's about a certain kind of American innocence abroad featuring two young born-again Christians. They've made a pact not to have sex before marriage, and they come over here like the Mormons and preach door-to-door. It's a thriller; they get sucked into a dark world. We hope to start in September for a 2003 release." The film was to be shot on location near Glasgow and in Oklahoma.[3]
However, Hardy was ultimately unable to secure funding, and the film was cancelled. He then adapted his screenplay into a novel, which was published as Cowboys for Christ. Hardy felt that writing the novel gave him a much clearer idea of what he wanted to do, and he eventually adapted the novel into the screenplay which was used for The Wicker Tree.[4]
Casting[edit]
Originally Hardy wrote the part of Sir Lachlan Morrison for Christopher Lee, who played Lord Summerisle in The Wicker Man. While filming the newest Hammer Production The Resident in New Mexico, Lee injured his back when he tripped over power cables on set. Although very disappointed, Hardy gave the role intended for Lee to Graham McTavish, the actor who had originally been cast as Beame, the Morrisons' butler. Clive Russell plays Beame instead. Lee is still in the film, making a brief cameo appearance as the unnamed "Old Gentleman" who acts as Lachlan's mentor in a flashback. Robin Hardy has stated that fans of The Wicker Man will recognise this character as Lord Summerisle,[5] but Lee himself has contradicted this, stating that they are two unrelated characters.[6]
Joan Collins was originally set to play Lady Delia Morrison when Lee was to play Sir Lachlan Morrison. However, when Lee injured himself and was replaced by the much younger McTavish, Collins was similarly replaced with a younger actress, Jacqueline Leonard.
Filming[edit]
Filming was due to start in September 2007, but the film was delayed for financial reasons. It was later announced the film would shoot from April 2008 in Dumfries and Galloway. A week before the shoot, Dumfries and Galloway Council announced the filming had been stopped due to financial reasons.[7] Filming eventually started in July 2009 in Haddington; Gorebridge; Midlothian; and Dallas.[8]
The Wicker Tree went through several title changes before its release, including The Riding of the Laddie, May Day, and Cowboys for Christ. The film had its premiere[9] at the Fantasia Festival in Montreal in July 2011. Anchor Bay handled U.S. distribution, and the film received a limited release on January 27, 2012. No wide theatrical release date has yet been announced, although it was released on Blu-ray in the UK in April 2012.[9][10][11][12]
Reception[edit]
[icon] This section requires expansion. (October 2014)
Initial reviews from the premiere at Fantasia festival were polarised. The Fangoria review was mildly positive with misgivings: "even as a black comedy, Wicker Tree can’t match the impact of its predecessor. Still, for those fans of Wicker Man who can open their minds to viewing, as Monty Python used to put it, something completely different, the new movie can be appreciated as an entertaining variation on its themes."[11] The Starburst magazine review was negative, remarking that "Sometimes cult films really should be left alone", and, "Prepare to have your hopes dashed however as The Wicker Tree is awful."[13]
The film had a limited U.S. theatrical release in January 2012.[14] In April of that year, Hardy discussed the film's mixed critical reception. "The New York Times’s reviewer said it wasn't as gritty as the original Wicker Man, but it's a thousand times better than the remake. I was quite happy with that." When asked whether he preferred The Wicker Tree to the original version of The Wicker Man, Hardy replied, "No, I really don't."[15]
Home media availability[edit]
Anchor Bay Entertainment released The Wicker Tree on Region 1 and Region 2 DVD and Blu-ray in April 2012.[16][17]
References[edit]
1.Jump up ^ "'Wicker Man' Companion Piece, 'The Wicker Tree', Gets an Official Website". bloody-disgusting.com.
2.Jump up ^ Sarah Dobbs, Robin Hardy interview, SciFiNow (UK), April 20, 2012. Accessed December 4, 2012
3.Jump up ^ Witzig, Jack (14 March 2002; 21 March 2002; 18 April 2002; 25 April 2002). "The Riding of the Laddie". The Cold Spot. Retrieved 13 May 2012. Check date values in: |date= (help)
4.Jump up ^ Applebaum, Stephen (12 April 2012). "The Director of Cult Classic The Wicker Man Returns with the Wicker Tree – Interview With Robin Hardy". Huffington Post. Retrieved 13 May 2012.
5.Jump up ^ Hardy, Robin. "RM-051.mp3 (audio/mpeg Object)". Rue Morgue Radio. Retrieved 12 April 2012. "Well, it is very ambiguous. We don't really know who he is. He's an antecedent, of some kind, of Lachlan's. Lachlan remembers him, when he was a boy. There's a boy painting a bridge, and it may have been Lachlan as a young person. He's remembering this grandfather figure, or this great-grandfather figure – whatever – who the people who are fans of The Wicker Man and the wicker [inaudible], if you like, will of course immediately recognise as Summerisle. But we don't give him a name or anthing. I think in the credits he's just called the old man."
6.Jump up ^ Lee, Christopher (27 December 2011). "Christopher Lee 2011 Christmas Message Part 1". Retrieved 11 April 2012. "The first one that I can think of is The Wicker Tree, in which I make a very brief appearance. I must emphasise this is not a sequel to The Wicker Man. In no way. And I do not play an older Summerisle, or his son, or whatever."
7.Jump up ^ "UK | Scotland | South of Scotland | Cult film sequel shoot called off". news.bbc.co.uk; BBC News. 3 April 2008. Retrieved 2010-07-19.
8.Jump up ^ "Lothian sets the scene for Wicker sequel". Edinburghnews.scotsman.com; Edinburgh Evening News. Retrieved 2010-07-19.
9.^ Jump up to: a b "New Photos and Traier for Wicker Tree". WeGotThisCovered.com
10.Jump up ^ "Preview 2011". FantasiaFestival.com[not in citation given]
11.^ Jump up to: a b Gingold, Michael (July 21, 2011). "Wicker Tree: Fantasia film review". Fangoria.com
12.Jump up ^ "The Wicker Tree Poster is Burning, is Burning, is Burning for You". Shocktillyoudrop.com. Retrieved 2012-01-21.
13.Jump up ^ Holt, Chris (28 August 2011). "The Wicker Tree review" Starburst Magazine
14.Jump up ^ The New York Times, 27 January 2012
15.Jump up ^ Needham, Alex (1 April 2012). "Wicker Man sequel revisits original's murky territory". The Guardian. Retrieved 11 April 2012.
16.Jump up ^ Amazon.com
17.Jump up ^ Amazon.co.uk
External links[edit]
Official website
The Wicker Tree at the Internet Movie Database
The Wicker Tree at AllMovie


[hide]
v ·
 t ·
 e
 
The Wicker Man


Films
The Wicker Man (1973) ·
 The Wicker Man (2006) ·
 The Wicker Tree (2011) ·
 The Wrath of the Gods (2015)
 

Novels
Ritual (1967) ·
 The Wicker Man (1978) ·
 Cowboys for Christ (2006)
 

Music
Soundtrack ·
 "Willow's Song"
 

Miscellaneous
Summerisle ·
 Wickerman Festival
 

  


Categories: 2011 films
English-language films
2011 horror films
British films
British horror films
Paganism in Europe









Navigation menu



Create account
Log in



Article

Talk









Read

Edit

View history

















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This page was last modified on 22 December 2014, at 18:58.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization.
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Developers
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Powered by MediaWiki
   
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wicker_Tree









The Wicker Man (film series)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
  (Redirected from The Wicker Man Trilogy)
Jump to: navigation, search

The Wicker Man is a series of three horror films (the third of which remains unproduced) created by British author and director Robin Hardy. Hardy announced plans for the trilogy in a 2007 interview with The Guardian newspaper,[1] though the first film in the trilogy, The Wicker Man, was originally made 34 years before, in 1973.
The films are not directly linked to one another, but all deal with the theme of paganism in the modern world.
The 2006 American remake of The Wicker Man is not a part of the series, and Hardy has dissociated himself from it.


Contents  [hide]
1 Films 1.1 The Wicker Man (1973)
1.2 The Wicker Tree (2011)
1.3 The Wrath of the Gods (2015) 1.3.1 Plot
1.3.2 Production
1.3.3 Soundtrack

2 References

Films[edit]
The Wicker Man (1973)[edit]
The Wicker Man was released in 1973. The film was directed by Robin Hardy and written by Anthony Shaffer, who based his screenplay loosely on the David Pinner novel Ritual.
The story follows a Scottish police officer, Sergeant Neil Howie (Edward Woodward), who visits the isolated island of Summerisle in the search for a missing girl named Rowan Morrison. The inhabitants of Summerisle all follow a form of Celtic paganism, which shocks and appalls the devoutly Christian sergeant. Howie discovers that the pagans, led by their laird, Lord Summerisle (Christopher Lee), are planning a human sacrifice in the hopes that it will appease the gods and restore their crops. Believing that Rowan Morrison will be sacrificed, Howie strives to rescue her, only to discover that her supposed disappearance was just a ploy to lure him to the island. The pagans imprison Howie in a wicker man and set it ablaze, burning him to death.
The Wicker Man is generally very highly regarded by critics. Film magazine Cinefantastique described it as "The Citizen Kane of Horror Movies", and in 2004 the magazine Total Film named The Wicker Man the sixth greatest British film of all time. It also won the 1978 Saturn Award for Best Horror Film. A scene from this film was #45 on Bravo's 100 Scariest Movie Moments.
The Wicker Tree (2011)[edit]
In 2006, Robin Hardy published a follow-up novel to The Wicker Man storyline entitled Cowboys for Christ. It follows two young Americans, Beth and Steve, who leave Texas to spread Christianity in Tressock, Scotland. They are welcomed by Sir Lachlan Morrison and his wife, Delia Morrison; unbeknown to Beth and Steve, they are in grave danger from a Celtic pagan community in the village.
A film adaptation, entitled The Wicker Tree, was produced in 2009, with Hardy directing from his own screenplay. It had a film festival showing in 2011.[2] A limited theatrical release occurred in January 2012 in the U.S.,[3] followed by a DVD release in April 2012.[4]
The Wrath of the Gods (2015)[edit]
The Wrath of the Gods is an upcoming romantic black comedy film written and directed by Robin Hardy, and based on Twilight of the Gods, the final part of Richard Wagner's Ring Cycle. The film is currently in pre-production. In this film, "the gods get their comeuppance".[5]
The film was originally intended to be set primarily in Iceland; however, Hardy decided that filming there would be too impractical, and rewrote the script, re-setting the story in Shetland, with some scenes to be shot in Los Angeles. Since Shetland has a largely Scandinavian folklore rather than Celtic, this allows the story to remain focused on Norse mythology.[6]
Plot[edit]
 This section may be confusing or unclear to readers. (June 2012)
The film is divided into two parts. The main protagonists are a young couple, Siegfried and Brynne. Siegfried is handsome but "incredibly stupid", and he has been overtaken by his own hubris and sporting ability. Brynne loves him despite his flaws, and she succeeds in teaching him to make love, in a "triumphal moment".[7] Director Robin Hardy has said that the film is ultimately about "what happens to the gods, not just to the people who are offering sacrifices to them. The gods themselves get sucked into the mêlée in the third film. I looked for a suitable carapace to put that in and the last act of the Ring cycle seems to work very well – and it allows me to mix full-blast Wagner."[7]
Another of the film's key protagonists is Brynne's father, a chief of police. He has a tragic romance with a middle-aged woman, who has been accused of murder in Canada. Director Robin Hardy has stated that the chief of police will have to turn her in because he is an honourable man.[7]
The main antagonist of The Wrath of the Gods is Mr Odin, a one-eyed Hollywood studio executive who decides to create a theme park based on the Norse sagas which originated in Iceland.[7]
Production[edit]
The Wrath of the Gods was originally intended to begin shooting in 2011,[8] but was delayed. Filming is now expected to start as early as June or July 2012.[9] The film will be shot on 35 mm film.[10] Once the film's production is complete, Hardy plans for the sets to become a tourist attraction.[7]
Brynne will be played by Icelandic actress Hatla Williams.[11] Mr Odin will be played by James Mapes, the actor who played Reverend Moriarty in Hardy's previous film, The Wicker Tree.[12] Hardy has stated that he intends to cast French actress Juliette Binoche as the murder suspect.[7]
In a Q&A session at the University of Hertfordshire, at a special screening of The Wicker Man, Robin Hardy confirmed that he intends to begin shooting in the Summer of 2013. [1]
In an interview with ScreenDaily, ahead of the release of 'The Wicker Man: The Final Cut', director Robin Hardy confirmed that he is currently in the opening stages of financing the third film, and hopes to make it next year (2014). [2]
Soundtrack[edit]
The film's score was written by Scottish composer Keith Easdale, and was inspired by Richard Wagner's compositions.[13] Hardy wanted to find amusing ways to implement music in the film. Each of the characters will have their own theme: for example, Brynne will have a light melodic motif. Hardy has compared this to Leonard Bernstein work on West Side Story, where variations on a single melody were used to create many musical themes.[7] Hardy was also inspired by the music of Shetland's Up Helly Aa fire festivals.[9]
References[edit]
1.Jump up ^ Zoe Williams (2012-12-16). "interview, 2007". Guardian. Retrieved 2012-12-20.
2.Jump up ^ July 19th, 2011 • 9:30 pm / Hall Theater help (2011-07-19). "Fantasia Festival". Fantasia Festival. Retrieved 2012-12-20.
3.Jump up ^ New York Times review
4.Jump up ^ Amazon.com
5.Jump up ^ Needham, Alex (1 April 2012). "Wicker Man sequel revisits original's murky territory". The Guardian. Retrieved 15 April 2012.
6.Jump up ^ AintItCoolUK (27 March 2012). "THE WICKER TREE - Robin Hardy Interview 2/2". YouTube. Retrieved 15 April 2012.
7.^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g Turek, Ryan (August 3, 2011). "Exclusive Interview: Wicker Tree's Robin Hardy". Shock Till You Drop. Retrieved April 8, 2012.
8.Jump up ^ "BBC - Wicker Man to light up Aberystwyth horror festival". BBC Mid Wales. Retrieved 15 April 2012.
9.^ Jump up to: a b Griffiths, Rosaling (3 February 2012). "Veteran director of The Wicker Man set to make next film in shetland". The Shetland Times. Retrieved 15 April 2012.
10.Jump up ^ jmauceri (26 January 2012). "A Conversation with Author, Director, Producer, Robin Hardy, on THE WICKER TREE.". Fears Magazine. Retrieved 15 April 2012.
11.Jump up ^ Shaw-Williams, Hannah (27 August 2011). "Robin Hardy Introduces His Next Leading Lady For Follow-Up To The Wicker Tree". Bleeding Cool. Retrieved 15 April 2012.
12.Jump up ^ "James Mapes pictures, bio, movies". Retrieved 15 April 2012.
13.Jump up ^ AndyErupts (10 October 2011). "GRIMMFEST '11 – Andy chats with director Robin Hardy about his "Wicker" films...". AndyErupts.com. Retrieved 15 April 2012.


[hide]
v ·
 t ·
 e
 
The Wicker Man


Films
The Wicker Man (1973) ·
 The Wicker Man (2006) ·
 The Wicker Tree (2011) ·
 The Wrath of the Gods (2015)
 

Novels
Ritual (1967) ·
 The Wicker Man (1978) ·
 Cowboys for Christ (2006)
 

Music
Soundtrack ·
 "Willow's Song"
 

Miscellaneous
Summerisle ·
 Wickerman Festival
 

  


Categories: British films
English-language films
Film trilogies
Horror films by series
Paganism in Europe





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The Wicker Man (film series)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
  (Redirected from The Wicker Man Trilogy)
Jump to: navigation, search

The Wicker Man is a series of three horror films (the third of which remains unproduced) created by British author and director Robin Hardy. Hardy announced plans for the trilogy in a 2007 interview with The Guardian newspaper,[1] though the first film in the trilogy, The Wicker Man, was originally made 34 years before, in 1973.
The films are not directly linked to one another, but all deal with the theme of paganism in the modern world.
The 2006 American remake of The Wicker Man is not a part of the series, and Hardy has dissociated himself from it.


Contents  [hide]
1 Films 1.1 The Wicker Man (1973)
1.2 The Wicker Tree (2011)
1.3 The Wrath of the Gods (2015) 1.3.1 Plot
1.3.2 Production
1.3.3 Soundtrack

2 References

Films[edit]
The Wicker Man (1973)[edit]
The Wicker Man was released in 1973. The film was directed by Robin Hardy and written by Anthony Shaffer, who based his screenplay loosely on the David Pinner novel Ritual.
The story follows a Scottish police officer, Sergeant Neil Howie (Edward Woodward), who visits the isolated island of Summerisle in the search for a missing girl named Rowan Morrison. The inhabitants of Summerisle all follow a form of Celtic paganism, which shocks and appalls the devoutly Christian sergeant. Howie discovers that the pagans, led by their laird, Lord Summerisle (Christopher Lee), are planning a human sacrifice in the hopes that it will appease the gods and restore their crops. Believing that Rowan Morrison will be sacrificed, Howie strives to rescue her, only to discover that her supposed disappearance was just a ploy to lure him to the island. The pagans imprison Howie in a wicker man and set it ablaze, burning him to death.
The Wicker Man is generally very highly regarded by critics. Film magazine Cinefantastique described it as "The Citizen Kane of Horror Movies", and in 2004 the magazine Total Film named The Wicker Man the sixth greatest British film of all time. It also won the 1978 Saturn Award for Best Horror Film. A scene from this film was #45 on Bravo's 100 Scariest Movie Moments.
The Wicker Tree (2011)[edit]
In 2006, Robin Hardy published a follow-up novel to The Wicker Man storyline entitled Cowboys for Christ. It follows two young Americans, Beth and Steve, who leave Texas to spread Christianity in Tressock, Scotland. They are welcomed by Sir Lachlan Morrison and his wife, Delia Morrison; unbeknown to Beth and Steve, they are in grave danger from a Celtic pagan community in the village.
A film adaptation, entitled The Wicker Tree, was produced in 2009, with Hardy directing from his own screenplay. It had a film festival showing in 2011.[2] A limited theatrical release occurred in January 2012 in the U.S.,[3] followed by a DVD release in April 2012.[4]
The Wrath of the Gods (2015)[edit]
The Wrath of the Gods is an upcoming romantic black comedy film written and directed by Robin Hardy, and based on Twilight of the Gods, the final part of Richard Wagner's Ring Cycle. The film is currently in pre-production. In this film, "the gods get their comeuppance".[5]
The film was originally intended to be set primarily in Iceland; however, Hardy decided that filming there would be too impractical, and rewrote the script, re-setting the story in Shetland, with some scenes to be shot in Los Angeles. Since Shetland has a largely Scandinavian folklore rather than Celtic, this allows the story to remain focused on Norse mythology.[6]
Plot[edit]
 This section may be confusing or unclear to readers. (June 2012)
The film is divided into two parts. The main protagonists are a young couple, Siegfried and Brynne. Siegfried is handsome but "incredibly stupid", and he has been overtaken by his own hubris and sporting ability. Brynne loves him despite his flaws, and she succeeds in teaching him to make love, in a "triumphal moment".[7] Director Robin Hardy has said that the film is ultimately about "what happens to the gods, not just to the people who are offering sacrifices to them. The gods themselves get sucked into the mêlée in the third film. I looked for a suitable carapace to put that in and the last act of the Ring cycle seems to work very well – and it allows me to mix full-blast Wagner."[7]
Another of the film's key protagonists is Brynne's father, a chief of police. He has a tragic romance with a middle-aged woman, who has been accused of murder in Canada. Director Robin Hardy has stated that the chief of police will have to turn her in because he is an honourable man.[7]
The main antagonist of The Wrath of the Gods is Mr Odin, a one-eyed Hollywood studio executive who decides to create a theme park based on the Norse sagas which originated in Iceland.[7]
Production[edit]
The Wrath of the Gods was originally intended to begin shooting in 2011,[8] but was delayed. Filming is now expected to start as early as June or July 2012.[9] The film will be shot on 35 mm film.[10] Once the film's production is complete, Hardy plans for the sets to become a tourist attraction.[7]
Brynne will be played by Icelandic actress Hatla Williams.[11] Mr Odin will be played by James Mapes, the actor who played Reverend Moriarty in Hardy's previous film, The Wicker Tree.[12] Hardy has stated that he intends to cast French actress Juliette Binoche as the murder suspect.[7]
In a Q&A session at the University of Hertfordshire, at a special screening of The Wicker Man, Robin Hardy confirmed that he intends to begin shooting in the Summer of 2013. [1]
In an interview with ScreenDaily, ahead of the release of 'The Wicker Man: The Final Cut', director Robin Hardy confirmed that he is currently in the opening stages of financing the third film, and hopes to make it next year (2014). [2]
Soundtrack[edit]
The film's score was written by Scottish composer Keith Easdale, and was inspired by Richard Wagner's compositions.[13] Hardy wanted to find amusing ways to implement music in the film. Each of the characters will have their own theme: for example, Brynne will have a light melodic motif. Hardy has compared this to Leonard Bernstein work on West Side Story, where variations on a single melody were used to create many musical themes.[7] Hardy was also inspired by the music of Shetland's Up Helly Aa fire festivals.[9]
References[edit]
1.Jump up ^ Zoe Williams (2012-12-16). "interview, 2007". Guardian. Retrieved 2012-12-20.
2.Jump up ^ July 19th, 2011 • 9:30 pm / Hall Theater help (2011-07-19). "Fantasia Festival". Fantasia Festival. Retrieved 2012-12-20.
3.Jump up ^ New York Times review
4.Jump up ^ Amazon.com
5.Jump up ^ Needham, Alex (1 April 2012). "Wicker Man sequel revisits original's murky territory". The Guardian. Retrieved 15 April 2012.
6.Jump up ^ AintItCoolUK (27 March 2012). "THE WICKER TREE - Robin Hardy Interview 2/2". YouTube. Retrieved 15 April 2012.
7.^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g Turek, Ryan (August 3, 2011). "Exclusive Interview: Wicker Tree's Robin Hardy". Shock Till You Drop. Retrieved April 8, 2012.
8.Jump up ^ "BBC - Wicker Man to light up Aberystwyth horror festival". BBC Mid Wales. Retrieved 15 April 2012.
9.^ Jump up to: a b Griffiths, Rosaling (3 February 2012). "Veteran director of The Wicker Man set to make next film in shetland". The Shetland Times. Retrieved 15 April 2012.
10.Jump up ^ jmauceri (26 January 2012). "A Conversation with Author, Director, Producer, Robin Hardy, on THE WICKER TREE.". Fears Magazine. Retrieved 15 April 2012.
11.Jump up ^ Shaw-Williams, Hannah (27 August 2011). "Robin Hardy Introduces His Next Leading Lady For Follow-Up To The Wicker Tree". Bleeding Cool. Retrieved 15 April 2012.
12.Jump up ^ "James Mapes pictures, bio, movies". Retrieved 15 April 2012.
13.Jump up ^ AndyErupts (10 October 2011). "GRIMMFEST '11 – Andy chats with director Robin Hardy about his "Wicker" films...". AndyErupts.com. Retrieved 15 April 2012.


[hide]
v ·
 t ·
 e
 
The Wicker Man


Films
The Wicker Man (1973) ·
 The Wicker Man (2006) ·
 The Wicker Tree (2011) ·
 The Wrath of the Gods (2015)
 

Novels
Ritual (1967) ·
 The Wicker Man (1978) ·
 Cowboys for Christ (2006)
 

Music
Soundtrack ·
 "Willow's Song"
 

Miscellaneous
Summerisle ·
 Wickerman Festival
 

  


Categories: British films
English-language films
Film trilogies
Horror films by series
Paganism in Europe





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 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wicker_Man_(film_series)










Ritual (Pinner novel)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
  (Redirected from Ritual (1967 novel))
Jump to: navigation, search

Ritual

Author
David Pinner
Country
United Kingdom
Language
English
Genre
Horror fiction
Publisher
Hutchinson/Arrow

Publication date
 1967
Media type
Print (hardback & paperback)
Ritual is a horror novel by British actor and author David Pinner, first published in 1967.


Contents  [hide]
1 Plot
2 Writing
3 Reception
4 Adaptations 4.1 Films
4.2 Play
5 References

Plot[edit]
The protagonist of Ritual is an English police officer named David Hanlin. A puritanical Christian, Hanlin is requested to investigate what appears to be the ritualistic murder of a local child in an enclosed rural Cornish village. During his short stay, Hanlin deals with psychological trickery, sexual seduction, ancient religious practices and nightmarish sacrificial rituals.[1][2]
Writing[edit]
When Pinner was 26, he had just written the vampire comedy Fanghorn, and was playing the lead role of Sergeant Trotter in Agatha Christie's The Mousetrap on the West End of London. He decided to write a film treatment that dealt with the occult (like Fanghorn) but which was also a detective story (like The Mousetrap). Film director Michael Winner liked Pinner's Ritual treatment, and considered making it his next film, with English actor John Hurt in mind for the lead role.[3] However, Winner deemed the treatment to be "too full of imagery", and Pinner's agent, Jonathan Clowes, felt that Winner might sit on the project for a long time. The collaboration came to a halt.[4]
Clowes suggested that Pinner instead expand Ritual into a novel, promising that he would get it published. Pinner wrote it in seven weeks, while he was still acting in The Mousetrap. He would write sections of the novel on the tube train on his way into the West End, and even on his dressing room floor. While driving to his agent's office with the only completed copy of Ritual in existence, Pinner accidentally left the manuscript on the roof of the car; it would most likely have fallen off and been lost forever if another driver had not gotten Pinner's attention and alerted him to his mistake.[4][5]
Pinner has recently written the sequel to Ritual which is now available as an ebook entitled The Wicca Woman. The publisher is Endeavour Press and the book is available via Amazon.
Reception[edit]
Bob Stanley of The Guardian wrote that "Ritual's opulent dialogue, with the sickly richness of its countryside, and Pinner's decaying village, can stand alone from the book's illustrious successor. But, be warned, like The Wicker Man, it is quite likely to test your dreams of leaving the city for a shady nook by a babbling brook."[6]
Adaptations[edit]
Films[edit]
In 1973, Ritual was used as the basis for The Wicker Man, a British horror film directed by Robin Hardy and written for the screen by Anthony Shaffer. Edward Woodward stars as the policeman, renamed Sergeant Neil Howie. Pinner discussed the book in a 2011 interview. "I then sold the film rights of the book to Christopher Lee in 1971 – the basic idea and the structure of it was used for The Wicker Man." Pinner has said that he likes the film, but feels that it lacks the humour of the novel. As a result of the film's popularity, Ritual became a much sought-after collector's item, and was being sold for £400 to £500 on eBay. It was not until the 2011 reprint that the novel became widely available.[7]
In 2006, an American version of The Wicker Man was released. It was written and directed by Neil LaBute, and stars Nicolas Cage as the policeman, renamed Edward Malus in this version. The remake credits Ritual as the original basis for the Anthony Shaffer screenplay on which it was based.
Play[edit]
The metafictional stage production An Appointment with the Wicker Man incorporates aspects of both Anthony Shaffer's screenplay for The Wicker Man and David Pinner's novel Ritual, weaving them into a single narrative.[8]
References[edit]
1.Jump up ^ "Ritual by DAVID PINNER". Boomkat.com. March 2011. Retrieved 8 April 2012.
2.Jump up ^ "Burnt Offering – The Cult of the Wicker Man 1/4". YouTube. 6 October 2010. Retrieved 9 April 2012.
3.Jump up ^ "Wicker Man Trivia". Wicker-Man.com. Retrieved 11 April 2012.
4.^ Jump up to: a b Orphan, David (1 December 2011). "David Pinner Interview – The Cult of David Pinner". B-Music Collective. Retrieved 11 April 2012.
5.Jump up ^ "David Pinner". Retrieved 8 April 2012.
6.Jump up ^ "Finders Keepers Records – Shop". Finders Keepers Records.
7.Jump up ^ Gore, Will (22 April 2011). "The author who inspired The Wicker Man...". Surrey Comet. Retrieved 8 April 2012.
8.Jump up ^ "An Appointment with The Wicker Man". National Theatres Scotland. Retrieved 9 April 2012.


[hide]
v ·
 t ·
 e
 
The Wicker Man


Films
The Wicker Man (1973) ·
 The Wicker Man (2006) ·
 The Wicker Tree (2011) ·
 The Wrath of the Gods (2015)
 

Novels
Ritual (1967) ·
 The Wicker Man (1978) ·
 Cowboys for Christ (2006)
 

Music
Soundtrack ·
 "Willow's Song"
 

Miscellaneous
Summerisle ·
 Wickerman Festival
 

  


Categories: 1967 novels
British horror novels
British novels adapted into films
Novels set in Cornwall
Thriller novels
Debut novels






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This page was last modified on 8 August 2014, at 10:36.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization.
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ritual_(Pinner_novel)









Ritual (Pinner novel)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
  (Redirected from Ritual (1967 novel))
Jump to: navigation, search

Ritual

Author
David Pinner
Country
United Kingdom
Language
English
Genre
Horror fiction
Publisher
Hutchinson/Arrow

Publication date
 1967
Media type
Print (hardback & paperback)
Ritual is a horror novel by British actor and author David Pinner, first published in 1967.


Contents  [hide]
1 Plot
2 Writing
3 Reception
4 Adaptations 4.1 Films
4.2 Play
5 References

Plot[edit]
The protagonist of Ritual is an English police officer named David Hanlin. A puritanical Christian, Hanlin is requested to investigate what appears to be the ritualistic murder of a local child in an enclosed rural Cornish village. During his short stay, Hanlin deals with psychological trickery, sexual seduction, ancient religious practices and nightmarish sacrificial rituals.[1][2]
Writing[edit]
When Pinner was 26, he had just written the vampire comedy Fanghorn, and was playing the lead role of Sergeant Trotter in Agatha Christie's The Mousetrap on the West End of London. He decided to write a film treatment that dealt with the occult (like Fanghorn) but which was also a detective story (like The Mousetrap). Film director Michael Winner liked Pinner's Ritual treatment, and considered making it his next film, with English actor John Hurt in mind for the lead role.[3] However, Winner deemed the treatment to be "too full of imagery", and Pinner's agent, Jonathan Clowes, felt that Winner might sit on the project for a long time. The collaboration came to a halt.[4]
Clowes suggested that Pinner instead expand Ritual into a novel, promising that he would get it published. Pinner wrote it in seven weeks, while he was still acting in The Mousetrap. He would write sections of the novel on the tube train on his way into the West End, and even on his dressing room floor. While driving to his agent's office with the only completed copy of Ritual in existence, Pinner accidentally left the manuscript on the roof of the car; it would most likely have fallen off and been lost forever if another driver had not gotten Pinner's attention and alerted him to his mistake.[4][5]
Pinner has recently written the sequel to Ritual which is now available as an ebook entitled The Wicca Woman. The publisher is Endeavour Press and the book is available via Amazon.
Reception[edit]
Bob Stanley of The Guardian wrote that "Ritual's opulent dialogue, with the sickly richness of its countryside, and Pinner's decaying village, can stand alone from the book's illustrious successor. But, be warned, like The Wicker Man, it is quite likely to test your dreams of leaving the city for a shady nook by a babbling brook."[6]
Adaptations[edit]
Films[edit]
In 1973, Ritual was used as the basis for The Wicker Man, a British horror film directed by Robin Hardy and written for the screen by Anthony Shaffer. Edward Woodward stars as the policeman, renamed Sergeant Neil Howie. Pinner discussed the book in a 2011 interview. "I then sold the film rights of the book to Christopher Lee in 1971 – the basic idea and the structure of it was used for The Wicker Man." Pinner has said that he likes the film, but feels that it lacks the humour of the novel. As a result of the film's popularity, Ritual became a much sought-after collector's item, and was being sold for £400 to £500 on eBay. It was not until the 2011 reprint that the novel became widely available.[7]
In 2006, an American version of The Wicker Man was released. It was written and directed by Neil LaBute, and stars Nicolas Cage as the policeman, renamed Edward Malus in this version. The remake credits Ritual as the original basis for the Anthony Shaffer screenplay on which it was based.
Play[edit]
The metafictional stage production An Appointment with the Wicker Man incorporates aspects of both Anthony Shaffer's screenplay for The Wicker Man and David Pinner's novel Ritual, weaving them into a single narrative.[8]
References[edit]
1.Jump up ^ "Ritual by DAVID PINNER". Boomkat.com. March 2011. Retrieved 8 April 2012.
2.Jump up ^ "Burnt Offering – The Cult of the Wicker Man 1/4". YouTube. 6 October 2010. Retrieved 9 April 2012.
3.Jump up ^ "Wicker Man Trivia". Wicker-Man.com. Retrieved 11 April 2012.
4.^ Jump up to: a b Orphan, David (1 December 2011). "David Pinner Interview – The Cult of David Pinner". B-Music Collective. Retrieved 11 April 2012.
5.Jump up ^ "David Pinner". Retrieved 8 April 2012.
6.Jump up ^ "Finders Keepers Records – Shop". Finders Keepers Records.
7.Jump up ^ Gore, Will (22 April 2011). "The author who inspired The Wicker Man...". Surrey Comet. Retrieved 8 April 2012.
8.Jump up ^ "An Appointment with The Wicker Man". National Theatres Scotland. Retrieved 9 April 2012.


[hide]
v ·
 t ·
 e
 
The Wicker Man


Films
The Wicker Man (1973) ·
 The Wicker Man (2006) ·
 The Wicker Tree (2011) ·
 The Wrath of the Gods (2015)
 

Novels
Ritual (1967) ·
 The Wicker Man (1978) ·
 Cowboys for Christ (2006)
 

Music
Soundtrack ·
 "Willow's Song"
 

Miscellaneous
Summerisle ·
 Wickerman Festival
 

  


Categories: 1967 novels
British horror novels
British novels adapted into films
Novels set in Cornwall
Thriller novels
Debut novels






Navigation menu



Create account
Log in



Article

Talk









Read

Edit

View history

















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Recent changes
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What links here
Related changes
Upload file
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Permanent link
Page information
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Cite this page

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Create a book
Download as PDF
Printable version

Languages

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This page was last modified on 8 August 2014, at 10:36.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization.
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Powered by MediaWiki
   
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ritual_(Pinner_novel)








The Wicker Man (2006 film)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search


The Wicker Man
Wicker-man-poster.jpg
Theatrical release poster

Directed by
Neil LaBute
Produced by
Nicolas Cage
Norm Golightly
Avi Lerner
Boaz Davidson
Randall Emmett
John Thompson

Screenplay by
Neil Labute
Based on
The Wicker Man
 by Robin Hardy
Anthony Shaffer Ritual
 by David Pinner
Starring
Nicolas Cage
Ellen Burstyn
Kate Beahan
Frances Conroy
Leelee Sobieski
Molly Parker
Diane Delano

Music by
Angelo Badalamenti
Cinematography
Paul Sarossy
Edited by
Joel Plotch

Production
 company

Alcon Entertainment
Saturn Films
Equity Pictures
Millennium Films
Emmett/Furla Films

Distributed by
Warner Bros. Pictures
Sony Pictures (international)


Release dates

September 1, 2006


Running time
 102 minutes
Country
United States
Language
English
Budget
$40 million[1]
Box office
$38,755,073[1]
The Wicker Man is a 2006 American horror thriller film written and directed by Neil LaBute and starring Nicolas Cage. The film primarily is a remake of the 1973 British cult classic The Wicker Man, but also draws from its source material, David Pinner's 1967 novel Ritual. The film's plot concerns a policeman named Edward Malus who is informed by his ex-fiancée Willow Woodward that their daughter Rowan has disappeared and asks for his assistance in her search. When he arrives at the island where Rowan was last seen he begins to suspect something sinister is afoot with the neo-pagans who reside in the island.
The film received overwhelmingly negative reviews from film critics at the time of its release; critics pointed to the film's unintentional hilarity, weak acting, and poor screenwriting. The film was also a financial flop, grossing $38 million against a $40 million production budget. Since release, it has developed a cult following over the years as an entertaining unintentional comedy.[citation needed] Cage dedicated this film to his friend Johnny Ramone, the guitarist of the band The Ramones, who had died in 2004.


Contents  [hide]
1 Plot
2 Cast
3 Reception 3.1 Box office
3.2 Critical reception
3.3 Accolades
4 Home media
5 References
6 External links

Plot[edit]
Policeman Edward Malus (Nicolas Cage) receives news from his ex-fiancée, Willow Woodward (Kate Beahan), that their daughter, Rowan (Erika Shaye Gair), is missing. He gets a pilot (Matthew Walker) to take him to an island off the coast of Washington where a group of neo-pagans live.
The island is led by Sister SummersIsle (Ellen Burstyn), an elderly woman who is worshipped as a goddess. Sister SummersIsle explains to Malus that her ancestors had left England to avoid persecution, only to settle near Salem and find renewed persecution in the Salem witch trials, before arriving on this island. Sister SummersIsle explains that their population is predominately female as they choose the strongest stock—evading Malus's concern about the birth of unwanted males. The economy of the island relies on the production of local honey, which Malus learns has declined recently.
Malus asks the villagers about Rowan, but they give him evasive answers. He later sees two men carrying a large bag that appears to be dripping blood, and then he finds a fresh, unmarked grave in the churchyard. The grave turns out to only contain a burned doll, but Malus finds Rowan's sweater in the churchyard.
At the village school, teacher Sister Rose (Molly Parker) tries to prevent Malus from seeing the class register. When he sees that Rowan's name has been crossed out he becomes enraged at the teacher's and Rowan's classmates' lies. Rose demands Malus talk outside and, after a short discussion of the island people's view of death, Rose explains that Rowan is "letting it snow". Malus asks how Rowan died and Sister Rose tells him first that "She'll burn to death". When Malus catches the tense she used, Sister Rose corrects herself quickly, saying, "She burned to death", and rushes back to her class.
On the day of the ritual, Malus frantically searches the village for Rowan. He attacks Sister Beech (Diane Delano), who has a bear costume for the ritual. Malus incapacitates Sister Honey (Leelee Sobieski) dons the bear suit and joins the parade led by Sister SummersIsle.
The parade ends at the site of the festival. Rowan is tied to a large tree, about to be burned. Malus rescues Rowan and they run away through the woods, but Rowan leads him back to Sister SummersIsle. Sister SummersIsle thanks Rowan for her help, and Malus realizes that the search for Rowan was a trap. Sister Willow is Sister SummersIlse's daughter, and his fate was sealed many years ago, when Sister Willow chose him. The villagers attack Malus and overpower him. Malus is held down and his legs are broken at the knee. A wire mesh helmet is placed over his head and live bees are poured in. Malus shouts "Oh, no, not the bees! Not the bees!" After he passes out, the helmet is removed and he is revived with a shot of epinephrine. Throughout all this, he keeps asking how can he be a good sacrifice if he does not believe in their religion. The women carry him to a giant wicker man and shut him inside. Rowan sets fire to the wicker man and Malus is sacrificed. The crowd chants "The drone must die!", believing that Malus's sacrifice will restore their honey production.
Six months later, Sisters Willow and Honey enter a bar and start talking with two off-duty police officers (James Franco and Jason Ritter). The women invite them to go home with them, presumably in hopes of using them as Malus was. The buzzing of bees and screaming from Edward Malus can be heard as the film fades to black.
Cast[edit]
Nicolas Cage as Edward Malus
Ellen Burstyn as Sister SummersIsle
Kate Beahan as Sister Willow Woodward
Leelee Sobieski as Sister Honey
Frances Conroy as Dr. T.H. Moss
Molly Parker as Sister Rose / Sister Thorn
Diane Delano as Sister Beech
Mary Black as Sister Oak
Christine Willes as Sister Violet
Erika Shaye Gair as Rowan Woodward
Michael Wiseman as Officer Pete
David Purvis as Ivy
Sophie Hough as Daisy
Aaron Eckhart as Truck Stop Patron
George A. Murphy as Virginity Protector
Matthew Walker as Sea Plane Pilot
James Franco as Bar Guy #1
Jason Ritter as Bar Guy #2
Reception[edit]
Box office[edit]
As of November 16, 2006, the worldwide box office receipts for the film totalled $38,775,073 with $23,649,127 of the receipts earned in North America, making the film a financial flop.[2]
Critical reception[edit]
The film was not screened in advance for critics though upon release the film received mainly negative reviews from film critics. The film holds a 15% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 105 reviews. The consensus says, "Puzzlingly misguided, Neil LaBute's update The Wicker Man struggles against unintentional comedy and fails."[3] On At the Movies, the film received two thumbs down from Richard Roeper and Aisha Tyler, although they both said the film was "entertainingly bad". The film was not without its positive reviews, however, as film critic Owen Gleiberman of Entertainment Weekly, saw the film in a more positive light, with Gleiberman saying that director Neil LaBute brought some "innovation" over the original film.[4]
The original film's director, Robin Hardy, had expressed skepticism over the Hollywood remake, and had his lawyers make Warner Bros. remove his name from the remake's promotional material. According to Hardy, he was given writing credit for the screenplay, when he had not received any for the original. Christopher Lee, who played Lord Summerisle in the original film, commented: "I don't believe in remakes. You can make a follow up to a film, but to remake a movie with such history and success just doesn't make sense to me."[5]
Cage himself acknowledged that the movie was "absurd." He remarked in 2010: "There is a mischievous mind at work on The Wicker Man, you know? You know what I mean? And I finally kind of said, 'I might have known that the movie was meant to be absurd.' But saying that now after the fact is OK, but to say it before the fact is not, because you have to let the movie have its own life."[6] In February 2012, Cage gave a live webchat with fans to promote Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance. When asked what roles from his career he would most like to revisit, Cage responded, "I would like to hook up with one of the great Japanese filmmakers, like the master that made Ringu, and I would like to take The Wicker Man to Japan, except this time he's a ghost."[7]
Accolades[edit]
The film garnered five Golden Raspberry Award nominations, for Worst Picture, Worst Actor (Cage), Worst Screenplay, Worst Remake, and Worst On-Screen Couple (Cage and his bearsuit).
Home media[edit]
The film was released on DVD on December 19, 2006, with an unrated alternate ending included. The movie continues in the same way as the theatrical version, except the credits begin after the wicker man's burning head falls off, omitting the "6 months later" scene. However, it adds the famous bee torture scene, which has become an internet meme.
The Blu-ray of the film was released on January 30, 2007.
The "Not the bees!" scene became famous on the Internet after a compilation video of scenes from the DVD was posted on YouTube.[8]
References[edit]
1.^ Jump up to: a b "the wicker man". Box Office Mojo.
2.Jump up ^ "Box office earnings". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 22 August 2011.
3.Jump up ^ The Wicker Man at Rotten Tomatoes
4.Jump up ^ Owen Gleiberman (30 August 2006). "The Wicker Man Movie Review". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 22 August 2011.
5.Jump up ^ "Scotsman.com News". The Scotsman (Edinburgh). 11 September 2005.
6.Jump up ^ Drew McWeeny (7 April 2010). "Interview with Nicolas Cage". HitFix. Retrieved 22 August 2011.
7.Jump up ^ Cage, Nicolas (February 2012). "Exclusive Nicolas Cage Webchat". Retrieved 10 April 2012.
8.Jump up ^ Lisa Eadicicco (February 20, 2012). "'Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance' Flops Opening Weekend, the Best and Worst of Nicolas Cage". International Business Times.
External links[edit]
 Wikiquote has quotations related to: The Wicker Man (2006 film)
The Wicker Man at the Internet Movie Database
The Wicker Man at AllMovie
The Wicker Man at Box Office Mojo
The Wicker Man at Rotten Tomatoes


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The Wicker Man (2006 film)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search


The Wicker Man
Wicker-man-poster.jpg
Theatrical release poster

Directed by
Neil LaBute
Produced by
Nicolas Cage
Norm Golightly
Avi Lerner
Boaz Davidson
Randall Emmett
John Thompson

Screenplay by
Neil Labute
Based on
The Wicker Man
 by Robin Hardy
Anthony Shaffer Ritual
 by David Pinner
Starring
Nicolas Cage
Ellen Burstyn
Kate Beahan
Frances Conroy
Leelee Sobieski
Molly Parker
Diane Delano

Music by
Angelo Badalamenti
Cinematography
Paul Sarossy
Edited by
Joel Plotch

Production
 company

Alcon Entertainment
Saturn Films
Equity Pictures
Millennium Films
Emmett/Furla Films

Distributed by
Warner Bros. Pictures
Sony Pictures (international)


Release dates

September 1, 2006


Running time
 102 minutes
Country
United States
Language
English
Budget
$40 million[1]
Box office
$38,755,073[1]
The Wicker Man is a 2006 American horror thriller film written and directed by Neil LaBute and starring Nicolas Cage. The film primarily is a remake of the 1973 British cult classic The Wicker Man, but also draws from its source material, David Pinner's 1967 novel Ritual. The film's plot concerns a policeman named Edward Malus who is informed by his ex-fiancée Willow Woodward that their daughter Rowan has disappeared and asks for his assistance in her search. When he arrives at the island where Rowan was last seen he begins to suspect something sinister is afoot with the neo-pagans who reside in the island.
The film received overwhelmingly negative reviews from film critics at the time of its release; critics pointed to the film's unintentional hilarity, weak acting, and poor screenwriting. The film was also a financial flop, grossing $38 million against a $40 million production budget. Since release, it has developed a cult following over the years as an entertaining unintentional comedy.[citation needed] Cage dedicated this film to his friend Johnny Ramone, the guitarist of the band The Ramones, who had died in 2004.


Contents  [hide]
1 Plot
2 Cast
3 Reception 3.1 Box office
3.2 Critical reception
3.3 Accolades
4 Home media
5 References
6 External links

Plot[edit]
Policeman Edward Malus (Nicolas Cage) receives news from his ex-fiancée, Willow Woodward (Kate Beahan), that their daughter, Rowan (Erika Shaye Gair), is missing. He gets a pilot (Matthew Walker) to take him to an island off the coast of Washington where a group of neo-pagans live.
The island is led by Sister SummersIsle (Ellen Burstyn), an elderly woman who is worshipped as a goddess. Sister SummersIsle explains to Malus that her ancestors had left England to avoid persecution, only to settle near Salem and find renewed persecution in the Salem witch trials, before arriving on this island. Sister SummersIsle explains that their population is predominately female as they choose the strongest stock—evading Malus's concern about the birth of unwanted males. The economy of the island relies on the production of local honey, which Malus learns has declined recently.
Malus asks the villagers about Rowan, but they give him evasive answers. He later sees two men carrying a large bag that appears to be dripping blood, and then he finds a fresh, unmarked grave in the churchyard. The grave turns out to only contain a burned doll, but Malus finds Rowan's sweater in the churchyard.
At the village school, teacher Sister Rose (Molly Parker) tries to prevent Malus from seeing the class register. When he sees that Rowan's name has been crossed out he becomes enraged at the teacher's and Rowan's classmates' lies. Rose demands Malus talk outside and, after a short discussion of the island people's view of death, Rose explains that Rowan is "letting it snow". Malus asks how Rowan died and Sister Rose tells him first that "She'll burn to death". When Malus catches the tense she used, Sister Rose corrects herself quickly, saying, "She burned to death", and rushes back to her class.
On the day of the ritual, Malus frantically searches the village for Rowan. He attacks Sister Beech (Diane Delano), who has a bear costume for the ritual. Malus incapacitates Sister Honey (Leelee Sobieski) dons the bear suit and joins the parade led by Sister SummersIsle.
The parade ends at the site of the festival. Rowan is tied to a large tree, about to be burned. Malus rescues Rowan and they run away through the woods, but Rowan leads him back to Sister SummersIsle. Sister SummersIsle thanks Rowan for her help, and Malus realizes that the search for Rowan was a trap. Sister Willow is Sister SummersIlse's daughter, and his fate was sealed many years ago, when Sister Willow chose him. The villagers attack Malus and overpower him. Malus is held down and his legs are broken at the knee. A wire mesh helmet is placed over his head and live bees are poured in. Malus shouts "Oh, no, not the bees! Not the bees!" After he passes out, the helmet is removed and he is revived with a shot of epinephrine. Throughout all this, he keeps asking how can he be a good sacrifice if he does not believe in their religion. The women carry him to a giant wicker man and shut him inside. Rowan sets fire to the wicker man and Malus is sacrificed. The crowd chants "The drone must die!", believing that Malus's sacrifice will restore their honey production.
Six months later, Sisters Willow and Honey enter a bar and start talking with two off-duty police officers (James Franco and Jason Ritter). The women invite them to go home with them, presumably in hopes of using them as Malus was. The buzzing of bees and screaming from Edward Malus can be heard as the film fades to black.
Cast[edit]
Nicolas Cage as Edward Malus
Ellen Burstyn as Sister SummersIsle
Kate Beahan as Sister Willow Woodward
Leelee Sobieski as Sister Honey
Frances Conroy as Dr. T.H. Moss
Molly Parker as Sister Rose / Sister Thorn
Diane Delano as Sister Beech
Mary Black as Sister Oak
Christine Willes as Sister Violet
Erika Shaye Gair as Rowan Woodward
Michael Wiseman as Officer Pete
David Purvis as Ivy
Sophie Hough as Daisy
Aaron Eckhart as Truck Stop Patron
George A. Murphy as Virginity Protector
Matthew Walker as Sea Plane Pilot
James Franco as Bar Guy #1
Jason Ritter as Bar Guy #2
Reception[edit]
Box office[edit]
As of November 16, 2006, the worldwide box office receipts for the film totalled $38,775,073 with $23,649,127 of the receipts earned in North America, making the film a financial flop.[2]
Critical reception[edit]
The film was not screened in advance for critics though upon release the film received mainly negative reviews from film critics. The film holds a 15% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 105 reviews. The consensus says, "Puzzlingly misguided, Neil LaBute's update The Wicker Man struggles against unintentional comedy and fails."[3] On At the Movies, the film received two thumbs down from Richard Roeper and Aisha Tyler, although they both said the film was "entertainingly bad". The film was not without its positive reviews, however, as film critic Owen Gleiberman of Entertainment Weekly, saw the film in a more positive light, with Gleiberman saying that director Neil LaBute brought some "innovation" over the original film.[4]
The original film's director, Robin Hardy, had expressed skepticism over the Hollywood remake, and had his lawyers make Warner Bros. remove his name from the remake's promotional material. According to Hardy, he was given writing credit for the screenplay, when he had not received any for the original. Christopher Lee, who played Lord Summerisle in the original film, commented: "I don't believe in remakes. You can make a follow up to a film, but to remake a movie with such history and success just doesn't make sense to me."[5]
Cage himself acknowledged that the movie was "absurd." He remarked in 2010: "There is a mischievous mind at work on The Wicker Man, you know? You know what I mean? And I finally kind of said, 'I might have known that the movie was meant to be absurd.' But saying that now after the fact is OK, but to say it before the fact is not, because you have to let the movie have its own life."[6] In February 2012, Cage gave a live webchat with fans to promote Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance. When asked what roles from his career he would most like to revisit, Cage responded, "I would like to hook up with one of the great Japanese filmmakers, like the master that made Ringu, and I would like to take The Wicker Man to Japan, except this time he's a ghost."[7]
Accolades[edit]
The film garnered five Golden Raspberry Award nominations, for Worst Picture, Worst Actor (Cage), Worst Screenplay, Worst Remake, and Worst On-Screen Couple (Cage and his bearsuit).
Home media[edit]
The film was released on DVD on December 19, 2006, with an unrated alternate ending included. The movie continues in the same way as the theatrical version, except the credits begin after the wicker man's burning head falls off, omitting the "6 months later" scene. However, it adds the famous bee torture scene, which has become an internet meme.
The Blu-ray of the film was released on January 30, 2007.
The "Not the bees!" scene became famous on the Internet after a compilation video of scenes from the DVD was posted on YouTube.[8]
References[edit]
1.^ Jump up to: a b "the wicker man". Box Office Mojo.
2.Jump up ^ "Box office earnings". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 22 August 2011.
3.Jump up ^ The Wicker Man at Rotten Tomatoes
4.Jump up ^ Owen Gleiberman (30 August 2006). "The Wicker Man Movie Review". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 22 August 2011.
5.Jump up ^ "Scotsman.com News". The Scotsman (Edinburgh). 11 September 2005.
6.Jump up ^ Drew McWeeny (7 April 2010). "Interview with Nicolas Cage". HitFix. Retrieved 22 August 2011.
7.Jump up ^ Cage, Nicolas (February 2012). "Exclusive Nicolas Cage Webchat". Retrieved 10 April 2012.
8.Jump up ^ Lisa Eadicicco (February 20, 2012). "'Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance' Flops Opening Weekend, the Best and Worst of Nicolas Cage". International Business Times.
External links[edit]
 Wikiquote has quotations related to: The Wicker Man (2006 film)
The Wicker Man at the Internet Movie Database
The Wicker Man at AllMovie
The Wicker Man at Box Office Mojo
The Wicker Man at Rotten Tomatoes


[show]
v ·
 t ·
 e
 
Films directed by Neil LaBute
















[show]
v ·
 t ·
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The Wicker Man































[show]
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Categories: 2006 films
English-language films
American films
2006 horror films
Alcon Entertainment films
American horror films
Horror film remakes
Films directed by Neil LaBute
Films shot in Vancouver
Nu Image films
Supernatural horror films
Warner Bros. films
Film scores by Angelo Badalamenti
Emmett/Furla/Oasis Films films






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This page was last modified on 1 February 2015, at 17:32.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization.
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wicker_Man_(2006_film)








The Wicker Man (1973 film)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search


The Wicker Man
TheWickerMan UKrelease Poster.jpg
Theatrical release poster

Directed by
Robin Hardy
Produced by
Peter Snell
Written by
Anthony Shaffer
Based on
Ritual
 by David Pinner
Starring
Edward Woodward
Britt Ekland
Diane Cilento
Ingrid Pitt
Christopher Lee
Music by
Paul Giovanni
Cinematography
Harry Waxman
Edited by
Eric Boyd-Perkins

Production
 company

British Lion Films

Distributed by
British Lion Films

Release dates

December 1973


Running time
 87 minutes[1]
Country
United Kingdom
Language
English
Budget
£500,000[2]
The Wicker Man is a 1973 British mystery horror film directed by Robin Hardy and written by Anthony Shaffer. The film stars Edward Woodward, Christopher Lee, Diane Cilento, Ingrid Pitt, and Britt Ekland. Paul Giovanni composed the soundtrack. The story was inspired by David Pinner's 1967 novel Ritual and centres on the visit of Police Sergeant Neil Howie to the isolated island of Summerisle, in search of a missing girl. Howie, a devout Christian, is appalled to find that the inhabitants of the island have abandoned Christianity and now practise a form of Celtic paganism.
The Wicker Man is generally well-regarded by critics and has achieved cult status among fans. Film magazine Cinefantastique described it as "The Citizen Kane of horror movies", and in 2004 the magazine Total Film named The Wicker Man the sixth greatest British film of all time. It also won the 1978 Saturn Award for Best Horror Film. The burning Wicker Man scene was No. 45 on Bravo's 100 Scariest Movie Moments. During the 2012 Summer Olympics opening ceremony, the film was included as part of a sequence that celebrated British cinema. In 2013, a copy of the original U.S. theatrical version was digitally restored and released.
In 1989, Shaffer wrote a script treatment for The Loathsome Lambton Worm, a direct sequel with fantasy elements. Hardy had no interest in the project, and it was never produced. In 2006, an ill-received[3] American remake was released, from which Hardy and others involved with the original have dissociated themselves. In 2011, a spiritual sequel entitled The Wicker Tree was released to mixed reviews. This film was also directed by Hardy, and featured Lee in a cameo appearance. Hardy is currently developing his next film, The Wrath of the Gods, which will complete The Wicker Man Trilogy.[4][5]


Contents  [hide]
1 Plot
2 Cast
3 Production 3.1 Background
3.2 Casting
3.3 Filming
3.4 Music
4 Distribution 4.1 Restorations
4.2 Home media
5 Reception
6 Related productions
7 References
8 External links

Plot[edit]
Sergeant Howie journeys to the remote Hebridean island, Summerisle, to investigate the disappearance of a young girl, Rowan Morrison. Howie, a devout Christian, is disturbed to find the islanders paying homage to the pagan Celtic gods of their ancestors. They practice open copulation in the fields, include children as part of the May Day celebrations, teach children of the phallic association of the maypole, and place frogs in their mouths to cure sore throats. The Islanders, including Rowan's mother, attempt to thwart his investigation by claiming that Rowan never existed.



 The (real) Summer Isles from Ben Mòr Coigach
While staying at the Green Man Inn, Howie notices a series of photographs celebrating the annual harvest, each image featuring a young girl as the May Queen. The photograph of the latest celebration is suspiciously missing; the landlord tells him it was broken. The landlord's daughter, Willow, attempts to seduce Howie, but he refuses to have premarital sex.
After seeing Rowan's burial plot, Howie meets the island leader, Lord Summerisle, grandson of a Victorian agronomist. Lord Summerisle explains that his grandfather developed strains that would prosper in Scotland's climate, and encouraged the belief that old gods would use the new strains to deliver the islanders from a meager livelihood.
Howie finds the missing harvest photograph, showing Rowan standing amidst empty boxes. His research reveals that when there's a poor harvest, the islanders make a sacrifice to ensure that the next will be bountiful. He comes to the conclusion that Rowan is alive and has been chosen for sacrifice. During the May Day celebration, Howie knocks out and ties up the innkeeper so he can steal his costume (that of Punch, the fool) and infiltrate the parade. When it seems the villagers are about to sacrifice Rowan, he cuts her free and flees with her. They're intercepted by the islanders, to whom Rowan happily returns.
They reveal Rowan is not the sacrifice - Howie is. He fits their criteria: he came of his own free will, by representing The Law has "the power of a king", is a virgin, and is a fool. The villagers force him inside a giant wicker man statue, set it ablaze and surround it, singing the Middle English folk song "Sumer Is Icumen In." Inside the wicker man, a terrified Howie recites Psalm 23, and prays to God. He damns the islanders as the wicker man collapses in flames, revealing the setting sun.
Cast[edit]
Edward Woodward as Sgt. Howie
Christopher Lee as Lord Summerisle
Diane Cilento as Miss Rose
Britt Ekland as Willow MacGregor
Ingrid Pitt as Librarian
Lindsay Kemp as Alder MacGregor (the landlord)
Russell Waters as Harbour Master
Aubrey Morris as Old Gardener/Gravedigger
Irene Sunter as May Morrison
Donald Eccles as T.H. Lennox
Walter Carr as School Master
Roy Boyd as Broome
Peter Brewis as Musician
Geraldine Cowper as Rowan Morrison
John Sharp as Doctor Ewan
John Hallam as Police Constable McTaggart
Tony Roper as Postman
Production[edit]
Background[edit]
In the early 1970s, the actor Christopher Lee was a Hammer Horror regular, best known for his roles in a series of successful films, beginning with The Curse of Frankenstein (as the monster, 1957). Lee wanted to break free of this image and take on more interesting acting roles. He met with screenwriter Anthony Shaffer, and they agreed to work together. Film director Robin Hardy and British Lion head Peter Snell became involved in the project. Shaffer had a series of conversations with Hardy, and the two decided that it would be fun to make a horror film centering on "old religion", in sharp contrast to the Hammer films they had both seen as horror film fans.[6]
Shaffer read the David Pinner novel Ritual, in which a devout Christian policeman is called to investigate what appears to be the ritual murder of a young girl in a rural village, and decided that it would serve well as the source material for the project. Pinner originally wrote Ritual as a film treatment for director Michael Winner, who had John Hurt in mind as a possible star.[7] Winner eventually declined the project, so Pinner's agent convinced him to write Ritual as a novel instead.[8] Shaffer and Lee paid Pinner £15,000 for the rights to the novel, and Shaffer set to work on the screenplay. However, he soon decided that a direct adaptation would not work well, and began to craft a new story, using only the basic outline of the novel.[9]
Shaffer wanted the film to be "a little more literate" than the average horror picture. The focus of the film was crystallised when he "finally hit upon the abstract concept of sacrifice". The image of the wicker man, which gave the filmmakers their title, was taken from one sentence in Julius Caesar's account of his wars in what is now France. Caesar claimed that the local tribes there had executed their most serious criminals by burning them alive in a huge man-shaped sculpture of woven twigs. For Shaffer, this was "the most alarming and imposing image that I had ever seen".[10] The idea of a confrontation between a modern Christian and a remote, pagan community continued to intrigue Shaffer, who performed painstaking research on paganism. Brainstorming with Hardy, they conceived the film as presenting the pagan elements objectively and accurately, accompanied by authentic music and a believable, contemporary setting.[11] One of their main resources was The Golden Bough, a study of mythology and religion written by Scottish anthropologist James Frazer.[12]
Casting[edit]



Christopher Lee, who has appeared in over 275 motion pictures, considers The Wicker Man his best film.[13]
Television actor Edward Woodward was cast in the role of Sergeant Neil Howie after the part was declined by both Michael York and David Hemmings.[14] In Britain, Woodward was best known for the role of Callan, which he played from 1967 to 1972. After The Wicker Man, Woodward went on to receive international attention for his roles in the 1980 film Breaker Morant and the 1980s TV series The Equalizer.
After Shaffer saw her on the stage, he lured Diane Cilento out of semi-retirement to play the town's schoolmistress.[14] (They lived together in Queensland from 1975, and married in 1985.) Ingrid Pitt, another British horror film veteran, was cast as the town librarian and registrar. The Swedish actress Britt Ekland was cast as the innkeeper's lascivious daughter, although a body double was used for her naked scenes and her dialogue was later dubbed.[15] She mimed Willow's Song which was sung by Scottish singer Annie Ross.[16]
Filming[edit]
The film was produced at a time of crisis for the British film industry. The studio in charge of production, British Lion Films, was in financial trouble and was bought by wealthy businessman John Bentley. To convince the unions that he was not about to asset-strip the company, Bentley needed to get a film into production quickly. This meant that The Wicker Man, a film set during spring, actually began filming in October 1972: artificial leaves and blossoms had to be glued to trees in many scenes. The production was kept on a small budget.[14] Christopher Lee was extremely keen to get the film made; he and others worked on the production without pay. While filming took place, British Lion was bought by EMI Films.
The film was shot almost entirely in the small Scottish towns of Gatehouse of Fleet, Newton Stewart, Kirkcudbright and a few scenes in the village of Creetown in Dumfries and Galloway, as well as Plockton in Ross-shire. Some scenes were filmed in and around the Isle of Whithorn, where the owners of the castle, Elizabeth McAdam McLaughland and David Wheatley, plus several other local people featured in various scenes.[17] Culzean Castle in Ayrshire and its grounds were also used for much of the shooting. Some of the opening flying shoots feature the Isle of Skye, including the spectacular pinnacles of The Old Man of Storr and the Quiraing. The amphibious aircraft that takes Sergeant Howie from the religious certainties of the mainland to the ancient beliefs of the island was a Thurston Teal, owned and flown in the aerial sequences by Christopher Murphy. The end burning of the Wicker Man occurred at Burrow Head (on a caravan site). According to Britt Ekland, some animals did actually perish inside the Wicker Man,[18] whereas Robin Hardy said in an interview that great care was taken to ensure that the animals were in no danger of being hurt during this scene and that they were not inside the Wicker Man when it was set on fire.[19]
Music[edit]
Main article: The Wicker Man soundtrack
The film's soundtrack often forms a major component of the narrative, just as with other important arthouse films of the era such as Donald Cammell and Nicolas Roeg's Performance.[20] Songs accompany many important scenes, such as the plane's arrival, Willow's dancing, the maypole dance, the girls jumping through fire, the search of the houses, the procession, and the final burning scene. Indeed, according to Seamus Flannery in a subsequent documentary, director Robin Hardy surprised the cast by suddenly announcing midway through filming that they were making a "musical".
Composed, arranged and recorded by Paul Giovanni and Magnet, the soundtrack contains folk songs performed by characters in the film. The songs vary between traditional songs, original Giovanni compositions and even nursery rhyme in "Baa, Baa, Black Sheep".
"Willow's Song" has been covered or sampled by various rock music bands. It was covered by the Sneaker Pimps as "How Do", and can be heard in the movie Hostel (2005). The song is also included on their 1996 release "Becoming X". The band has also covered "Gently Johnny" as "Johnny" and is featured as a B-Side on their "Roll On" (1996) single. It also was covered by Faith and the Muse on their 2003 album The Burning Season. The Mock Turtles released a version of the song on their album Turtle Soup.
The songs on the soundtrack were not actual cult songs used by pagans. All the songs were composed by Paul Giovanni, except in instances where he used well-known lyrics such as the words from the rhyme "Baa, Baa, Black Sheep". The song sung by the cultists of Summer Isle at the end of the film, "Sumer Is Icumen In" is a mid-13th century song about nature in spring.
Distribution[edit]
By the time of the film's completion the studio had been bought by EMI, and British Lion was managed by Michael Deeley. The DVD commentary track states that studio executives suggested a more "upbeat" ending to the film, in which a sudden rain puts the flames of the wicker man out and spares Howie's life, but this suggestion was refused. Hardy subsequently had to remove about 20 minutes of scenes on the mainland, early investigations, and (to Lee's disappointment) some of Lord Summerisle's initial meeting with Howie.[14]
A copy of a finished, 99-minute film[21] was sent to American film producer Roger Corman in Hollywood to make a judgment of how to market the film in the USA. Corman recommended an additional 13 minutes be cut from the film. (Corman did not acquire US release rights, and eventually Warner Bros. test-marketed the film in drive-ins.) In Britain, the film was ordered reduced to roughly 87 minutes, with some narrative restructuring, and released as the "B" picture on a double bill with Don't Look Now. Despite Lee's claims that the cuts had adversely affected the film's continuity, he urged local critics to see the film, even going so far as to offer to pay for their seats.
Restorations[edit]
During the mid-1970s, Hardy made inquiries about the film, hoping to restore it to his original vision. Along with Lee and Shaffer, Hardy searched for his original version or raw footage. Both of these appeared to have been lost. Alex Cox said that the negative "ended up in the pylons that support the M4 motorway" in his Moviedrome introduction of 1988.[22] Hardy remembered that a copy of the film, prior to Deeley's cuts, was sent to Roger Corman; it turned out that Corman still had a copy, possibly the only existing print of Hardy's version. The US rights had been sold by Warner Bros. to a small firm called Abraxas, managed by film buff Stirling Smith and critic John Alan Simon. Stirling agreed to an American re-release of Hardy's reconstructed version. Hardy restored the narrative structure, some of the erotic elements which had been excised, and a very brief pre-title segment of Howie on the mainland (appearing at a church with his fiancée). A 96-minute restored version was released in January 1979,[14] again to critical acclaim. Strangely, the original full-length film was available in the US on VHS home video from Media Home Entertainment (and later, Magnum) during the 1980s and 1990s. This video included additional, early scenes in Howie's police station that Hardy had left out of the 1979 version.
During 2001, the film's new worldwide rights owners, Canal+, began an effort to release the full-length film. Corman's full-length film copy had been lost, but a telecine transfer to 1-inch videotape existed. With this copy, missing elements were combined with film elements from the previous versions. (In particular, additional scenes of Howie on the mainland were restored, showing the chaste bachelor to be the object of gossip at his police station, and establishing his rigidly devout posture.) The DVD "Extended version" released by Canal+ (with Anchor Bay Entertainment handling US DVD distribution) is this hybrid version, considered the longest and closest version to Hardy's original, 99-minute version of the film.[14] A two-disc limited edition set was sold with both the shortened, theatrical release version and the newly restored extended version, and a retrospective documentary, The Wicker Man Enigma.[23] In 2005, Inside The Wicker Man author Allan Brown revealed he had discovered a series of stills taken on-set during the film's production showing the shooting of a number of sequences from the script that had never been seen before; indeed, it had never been certain that these scenes had actually been filmed. They include a scene in which Howie closes a mainland pub that is open after hours, has an encounter with a prostitute, receives a massage from Willow McGregor and observes a brutal confrontation between Oak and a villager in The Green Man pub. These images were featured in a revised edition of the book Inside The Wicker Man.
Anchor Bay Entertainment released a limited edition wooden box of The Wicker Man. Fifty thousand two-disc sets were made, of which 20 were signed by actors Lee and Woodward, writer Shaffer, producer Snell, and director Hardy.
In June 2007, Lee discussed the lost original cut of the film. "I still believe it exists somewhere, in cans, with no name. I still believe that. But nobody's ever seen it since, so we couldn't re-cut it, re-edit it, which was what I wanted to do. It would have been ten times as good."[24]
European distributors of the film StudioCanal began a Facebook campaign in 2013 to find missing material, which culminated in the discovery of a 92-minute 35mm print at the Harvard Film Archive. This print had previously been known as the "Middle Version" and was itself assembled from a 35mm print of the original edit Robin Hardy had made in the United Kingdom in 1973, but which was never released.[25] Robin Hardy believes that the original edit will probably never be found, saying, "Sadly, it seems as though this has been lost forever. However, I am delighted that a 1979 Abraxas print has been found as I also put together this cut myself, and it crucially restores the story order to that which I had originally intended." [25]
Hardy reported in July 2013[26] that Studiocanal intended to restore and release the most complete version possible of the film. Rialto Pictures announced that they were to release the new digital restoration in North American cinemas on 27 September 2013.[27] This new version was also released on DVD on 13 October 2013.[28] It is 91 minutes long, shorter than the director's cut but longer than the theatrical cut, and is known as The Wicker Man: The Final Cut.[28]
Home media[edit]
The Final Cut (UK) Blu-ray[29] features Burnt Offering: The Cult of the Wicker Man, Worshipping The Wicker Man, The Music of The Wicker Man, interviews with director Robin Hardy and actor Christopher Lee, a restoration comparison, and the theatrical trailer. The second disc features both the UK theatrical cut and the director's cut, along with an audio commentary on the director's cut and a making-of for the commentary. The third disc is the film's soundtrack:
Track listing1.Corn Rigs (2:37)
2.The Landlord's Daughter (2:40)
3.Gently Johnny (3:33)
4.Maypole (2:46)
5.Fire Leap (1:29)
6.The Tinker of Rye (1:52)
7.Willow's Song (4:43)
8.Procession (2:17)
9.Chop Chop (1:44)
10.Lullaby (0:58)
11.Festival / Mirie It Is / Summer is A-comen In (4:30)
12.Opening Music / Loving Couples / The Ruined Church (4:17)
13.Masks / Hobby Horse (1:25)
14.Searching for Rowan (2:23)
15.Appointment with the Wicker Man (1:18)
16.Sunset (1:05)
Reception[edit]
The Wicker Man had moderate success and won first prize in the 1974 Festival of Fantastic Films in Paris, but largely slipped into obscurity. In 1977 the American film magazine Cinefantastique devoted a commemorative issue to the film,[30] asserting that the film is "the Citizen Kane of horror movies" – an oft-quoted phrase attributed to this issue.[31]
In 2003, the Crichton Campus of the University of Glasgow in Dumfries, Dumfries and Galloway hosted a three-day conference on The Wicker Man.[32] The conference led to two collections of articles about the film.
In 2006, The Wicker Man ranked 45th on Bravo's 100 Scariest Movie Moments.[33]
Decades after its release, the film still receives positive reviews from critics and is considered one of the best films of 1973.[34][35] The film currently holds an 90% "Fresh" rating on the review aggregate website Rotten Tomatoes.[36] In 2008, The Wicker Man was ranked by Empire Magazine as 485th of The 500 Greatest Movies of All Time.[37] Christopher Lee considers The Wicker Man his best film.[13] Edward Woodward meanwhile has said that The Wicker Man is one of his favourite films and that the character of Howie was the best part he ever played. In addition to Lee's admiration of the final shot of the film (of the collapsing Wicker man), Woodward said that it is the best final shot of any film ever made.[38]
In his 2010 BBC documentary series A History of Horror, writer and actor Mark Gatiss referred to the film as a prime example of a short-lived subgenre he called "folk horror", grouping it with 1968's Witchfinder General and 1971's Blood on Satan's Claw.[39][40]
Related productions[edit]
Novel
A novel based on and expanding upon the 1973 film, also titled The Wicker Man, was released in 1978. It was written by Hardy and Shaffer.
Possible sequel
In 1989, Shaffer wrote a thirty-page film script treatment entitled The Loathsome Lambton Worm, a direct sequel to The Wicker Man, for producer Lance Reynolds.[41] It would have been more fantastical in subject matter than the original film, and relied more heavily on special effects. In this continuation of the story, which begins immediately after the ending of the first film, Sergeant Neil Howie is rescued from the burning Wicker Man by a group of police officers from the mainland. Howie sets out to bring Lord Summerisle and his pagan followers to justice,[4] but becomes embroiled in a series of challenges which pit the old gods against his own Christian faith. The script culminates in a climactic battle between Howie and a fire-breathing dragon – the titular Lambton Worm – and ends with a suicidal Howie plunging to his death from a cliff while tied to two large eagles.[42] Shaffer's sequel was never produced, but his treatment, complete with illustrations, was eventually published in the companion book Inside The Wicker Man.[43]
Hardy was not asked to direct the sequel, and never read the script, as he did not like the idea of Howie surviving the sacrifice, or the fact that the actors would have aged by twenty to thirty years between the two films.[44] In May 2010, Hardy discussed The Loathsome Lambton Worm. "I know Tony did write that, but I don't think anyone particularly liked it, or it would have been made."[45]
Remake
An American remake of the same name, starring Nicolas Cage and Ellen Burstyn, and directed by Neil LaBute, was released on 1 September 2006. Hardy expressed concern about the remake.[46] After its release, Hardy simply described it as a different film rather than a remake.[47] The remake was panned critically and was a failure at the box office. Today, it has a significant cult following as an unintentional comedy, with several scenes on YouTube boasting Cage brutalising various women throughout and terrorising children, a fan-made comedy trailer of the film, and more.[48]
Stage production
A stage adaptation was announced for the 2009 Edinburgh Festival Fringe,[49] and was directed by Andrew Steggall. The production was based on Anthony Shaffer's original The Wicker Man script and David Pinner's novel Ritual. Robin Hardy gave input on the project, and original songs and music from the film were supervised by Gary Carpenter, the original music director.[50][51] Workshop rehearsals were held at The Drill Hall in London in March 2008,[52] and a casting call was held in Glasgow in May 2009.[53] After three weeks at the Pleasance in Edinburgh in August 2009, the production was to visit the Perth Rep, the Eden Court Theatre in Inverness, and then have a short run at Citizen's Theatre in Glasgow, with hopes for a run in London in 2010.[54] However, in July 2009 it was announced that the production had been cancelled, three weeks before it had been due to preview.[55]
The National Theatre of Scotland then produced a musical adaptation of The Wicker Man called An Appointment with the Wicker Man. Written by Greg Hemphill and Donald McCleary, the story involves a local community's attempt to stage a Wicker Man play.[56]
Spiritual sequel
In 2011, a spiritual sequel entitled The Wicker Tree was released. It was directed by Hardy and featured an appearance by Lee. Hardy first published the story as a novel, under the name Cowboys for Christ. First announced in April 2000, filming on the project began on 19 July 2009 according to IMDb. It follows two young American Christian evangelists who travel to Scotland; like Woodward's character in The Wicker Man, the two Americans are virgins who encounter a pagan laird and his followers.[57]
Those involved in the production of the film have given conflicting statements regarding the identity of Christopher Lee's character, referred to only as "Old Gentleman" in the credits. Writer–director Robin Hardy has stated that the ambiguity was intentional, but that fans of The Wicker Man will immediately recognise Lee's character as Lord Summerisle.[58] Lee himself has contradicted this, stating that the two are not meant to be the same character, and that The Wicker Tree is not a sequel in any way.[59]
Possible graphic novel
As a former artist, Hardy has expressed great interest in the medium of comics, and is currently planning a graphic novel which retells the story of The Wicker Man, based on his own storyboards for the film. Hardy is in talks with yet unnamed artists to work on the project, as he finds it too difficult to make the characters look consistent from one panel to the next, and is busy producing and directing The Wrath of the Gods, the third installment of The Wicker Man Trilogy. He intended the graphic novel and the new film to be released at the same time in autumn 2013; however as of autumn 2014 neither has been released. [60]
References[edit]
1.Jump up ^ "THE WICKER MAN (X)". British Lion Films. British Board of Film Classification. 23 August 1973. Retrieved 3 September 2013.
2.Jump up ^ Murray, Andy; Rolston, Lorraine (2008). Studying The Wicker Man. Studying Films Series. Columbia University Press. p. 13. ISBN 9781903663103. "Although the company agreed to take the film on, the producers were under instruction to keep to a tight budget of the film under £500,000, small even by early 1970s standards."
3.Jump up ^ The Wicker Man (2006) has a 15% rating on Rotten Tomatoes: The Wicker Man (2006) – Ratings Rotten Tomatoes
4.^ Jump up to: a b "The Wicker Man : Part 2". AnthonyShaffer.co.uk.
5.Jump up ^ Turek, Ryan (3 August 2011). "Exclusive Interview: Wicker Tree's Robin Hardy". Shock Till You Drop. Retrieved 8 April 2012.
6.Jump up ^ Stephen Applebaum "The Wicker Man: Caught in the crossfire", The Independent, 18 August 2006
7.Jump up ^ "Wicker Man Trivia". Wicker-Man.com. Retrieved 11 April 2012.
8.Jump up ^ Orphan, David (1 December 2011). "David Pinner Interview - The Cult of David Pinner". B-Music Collective. Retrieved 11 April 2012.
9.Jump up ^ Gore, Will (22 April 2011). "The author who inspired The Wicker Man...". Surrey Comet. Retrieved 11 April 2012.
10.Jump up ^ Lori Anderson "Worship at the feet of The Wicker Man", The Scotsman, 21 Septemberv 2013
11.Jump up ^ Brown, Allan. "An Appointment with the Wicker Man – preview, theatre listings and showing times". s1play.com. Retrieved 8 April 2012.
12.Jump up ^ Melanie J. Wright Religion and Film: An Introduction, London: IB Tauris, 2000, p.87
13.^ Jump up to: a b "The Total Film Interview - Christopher Lee". Total Film. 1 May 2005. Archived from the original on 2007-06-12. Retrieved 25 August 2013.
14.^ Jump up to: a b c d e f Philips, Steve (2002). "The various versions of The Wicker Man". Steve's Web Page. Retrieved 2006-12-11.
15.Jump up ^ "'The Wicker Man' - the Film". Retrieved 8 August 2014.
16.Jump up ^ "Playing with fire: The Wicker Man musical". Retrieved 8 August 2014.
17.Jump up ^ "The Wicker Man". The Wicker Man. Retrieved 2012-12-20.
18.Jump up ^ "Summerisle (The Wicker Man)". World Reviewer. Retrieved 2012-12-20.
19.Jump up ^ Unsworth, Cathi (April 2007). "Robin Hardy – Burning the Man – The director of The Wicker Man talks about the film's enduring appeal". Fortean Times.
20.Jump up ^ Sean H. Stewart. "10 of the Most Underrated Horror Scores!". BloodyDisgusting.
21.Jump up ^ Kermode, Mark. "Something Wicker This Way Comes". Channel4. Retrieved 2009-01-30.
22.Jump up ^ Cox, Alex. "Moviedrome – Wicker Man – Alex Cox intro". YouTube. Retrieved 2009-02-20.
23.Jump up ^ The Wicker Man Enigma 2001 documentary on the film's production and releases. at the Internet Movie Database
24.Jump up ^ Lee, Christopher (21 March 2002). "Christopher Lee talks about The Wicker Man". YouTube. Retrieved 9 April 2012.
25.^ Jump up to: a b "RESTORED VERSION OF "THE WICKER MAN" TO BE RELEASED IN UK THEATRES - Celebrating Films of the 1960s & 1970s". Cinemaretro.com. Retrieved 2013-12-29.
26.Jump up ^ Robin Hardy announces results of The Wicker Man appeal - original print found Moviemail website, 22 July 2013. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
27.Jump up ^ British cult classic 'The Wicker Man' to be released in theaters LA Times website, 27 August 2013
28.^ Jump up to: a b "The Wicker Man: The Final Cut DVD review". SciFiNow. Retrieved 2013-12-29.
29.Jump up ^ "Rewind @ www.dvdcompare.net - Wicker Man (The) (Blu-ray) (1973)". Dvdcompare.net. Retrieved 2014-08-09.
30.Jump up ^ The Wicker Man Issue, Cinefantastique, 1977 (Vol. 6 No. 3).
31.Jump up ^ "Google search for quote". Retrieved 2009-01-30.
32.Jump up ^ Dr. Benjamin Franks, Lecturer Conferences: The Wicker Man: Readings Rituals and Reactions, July 2003. http://gla.ac.uk; University of Glasgow. Retrieved 2010-05-30.
33.Jump up ^ "The 100 Scariest Movie Moments". Bravo TV. 27 October 2006. Archived from the original on 2007-10-30. Retrieved 2010-05-30.
34.Jump up ^ Dirks, Tim (2010) The Greatest Films of 1973 filmsite.org; American Movie Channel. Retrieved 2010-05-30.
35.Jump up ^ (anonymous) Most Popular Feature Films Released In 1973 imdb.com; Amazon.com. Retrieved 2010-05-30.
36.Jump up ^ Wicker Man (1973) ratings Rotten Tomatoes.
37.Jump up ^ "The 500 Greatest Movies of All Time". empireonline.com. Empire Magazine. Retrieved 2009-01-30.
38.Jump up ^ Christopher Lee, Edward Woodward, DVD Commentary, December 2001. Studio Canal DVD
39.Jump up ^ Clarke, Donald. "Mark Gatiss's History of Horror". Irish Times.com. Retrieved 2010-11-02.
40.Jump up ^ "A History of Horror with Mark Gatiss – Home Counties Horror Ep 2/3". BBC. 2010-10-18.
41.Jump up ^ "Unproduced". AnthonyShaffer.co.uk. Retrieved 9 April 2012.
42.Jump up ^ Smith, Adrian (12 May 2012). "Review : "The Wicker Tree comes to DVD and Blu-ray - Celebrating Films of the 1960s & 1970s". Cinema Retro. Retrieved 13 May 2012.
43.Jump up ^ "Wicker Man Revisited...". Scots Whay Hae!. 28 August 2010. Retrieved 9 August 2012.
44.Jump up ^ Applebaum, Stephen (12 April 2012). "The Director of Cult Classic The Wicker Man Returns With the Wicker Tree - Interview With Robin Hardy". Huffington Post. Retrieved 13 May 2012.
45.Jump up ^ Gingold, Michael (9 May 2010). "Robin Hardy Grows "THE WICKER TREE"". Fangoria. Retrieved 10 April 2012.
46.Jump up ^ Pendreigh, Brian (2005-09-11). "Wicker Man director is flaming furious over Hollywood remake". Retrieved 2009-01-30.
47.Jump up ^ nqure (2006-09-04). "Original Wickerman Screening + Q+A with Robin Hardy". IMDb Boards. Retrieved 2009-01-30.
48.Jump up ^ Best Scenes From "The Wicker Man" on YouTube
49.Jump up ^ Edinburgh Fringe Programme Launched, STV News, 10 June 2009
50.Jump up ^ Wicker Man Set for Stage Crossover???, WhatsOnStage.com, 8 February 2008
51.Jump up ^ The Motion Group website, March 2008, via archive.org
52.Jump up ^ Brian Pendreigh, The Wicker Man and the Showgirl, Scotland on Sunday, 8 March 2008
53.Jump up ^ Brian Pendreigh, Wicker Man rewoven for the Fringe stage, Daily Mail, 26 May 2009
54.Jump up ^ The Wicker Man, The Musical, Wild Hunt blog, 11 June 2009
55.Jump up ^ The Wicker Man Facebook page, 10 July 2009
56.Jump up ^ Hickling, Alfred (15 February 2012). "Playing with fire: The Wicker Man musical". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 February 2012.
57.Jump up ^ Buckley, Heather. "Exclusive: A Night with The Wicker Man / The Wicker Tree Footage Premiere Report". DreadCentral.
58.Jump up ^ Hardy, Robin. "RM-051.mp3 (audio/mpeg Object)". Rue Morgue Radio. Retrieved 12 April 2012. "Well, it is very ambiguous. We don't really know who he is. He's an antecedent, of some kind, of Lachlan's. Lachlan remembers him, when he was a boy. There's a boy painting a bridge, and it may have been Lachlan as a young person. He's remembering this grandfather figure, or this great-grandfather figure – whatever – who the people who are fans of The Wicker Man and the wicker [inaudible], if you like, will of course immediately recognise as Summerisle. But we don't give him a name or anything. I think in the credits he's just called the old man."
59.Jump up ^ Lee, Christopher (27 December 2011). "Christopher Lee 2011 Christmas Message Part 1". Retrieved 11 April 2012. "The first one that I can think of is The Wicker Tree, in which I make a very brief appearance. I must emphasise this is not a sequel to The Wicker Man. In no way. And I do not play an older Summerisle, or his son, or whatever."
60.Jump up ^ Ashby, Devon (23 April 2012). "Paganism is in Christianity: Robin Hardy on 'The Wicker Tree'". CraveOnline. Retrieved 13 May 2012.
Brown, Allan (2000). Inside the Wicker Man: The Morbid Ingenuities. Sidgwick & Jackson. ISBN 978-0-283-06355-8.
Catterall, Ali; Simon Wells (2002). Your Face Here: British Cult Movies Since the Sixties. Fourth Estate. ISBN 978-0-00-714554-6.
External links[edit]
 Wikiquote has quotations related to: The Wicker Man
The Wicker Man at the Internet Movie Database
The Wicker Man at Rotten Tomatoes
Information on the 2009 stage adaptation of the film
Information about the Various Versions of The Wicker Man
Trunk Records release information


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Categories: 1973 films
English-language films
1973 horror films
1970s thriller films
British films
British horror films
British mystery films
British thriller films
Screenplays by Anthony Shaffer
Directorial debut films
Films based on horror novels
Films based on thriller novels
Films set in country houses
Films set in Scotland
Films set on beaches
Films set on islands
Films shot in Scotland
Paganism in Europe
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Religious horror films
Sacrifice
British Lion Films films






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The Wicker Man (1973 film)
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The Wicker Man
TheWickerMan UKrelease Poster.jpg
Theatrical release poster

Directed by
Robin Hardy
Produced by
Peter Snell
Written by
Anthony Shaffer
Based on
Ritual
 by David Pinner
Starring
Edward Woodward
Britt Ekland
Diane Cilento
Ingrid Pitt
Christopher Lee
Music by
Paul Giovanni
Cinematography
Harry Waxman
Edited by
Eric Boyd-Perkins

Production
 company

British Lion Films

Distributed by
British Lion Films

Release dates

December 1973


Running time
 87 minutes[1]
Country
United Kingdom
Language
English
Budget
£500,000[2]
The Wicker Man is a 1973 British mystery horror film directed by Robin Hardy and written by Anthony Shaffer. The film stars Edward Woodward, Christopher Lee, Diane Cilento, Ingrid Pitt, and Britt Ekland. Paul Giovanni composed the soundtrack. The story was inspired by David Pinner's 1967 novel Ritual and centres on the visit of Police Sergeant Neil Howie to the isolated island of Summerisle, in search of a missing girl. Howie, a devout Christian, is appalled to find that the inhabitants of the island have abandoned Christianity and now practise a form of Celtic paganism.
The Wicker Man is generally well-regarded by critics and has achieved cult status among fans. Film magazine Cinefantastique described it as "The Citizen Kane of horror movies", and in 2004 the magazine Total Film named The Wicker Man the sixth greatest British film of all time. It also won the 1978 Saturn Award for Best Horror Film. The burning Wicker Man scene was No. 45 on Bravo's 100 Scariest Movie Moments. During the 2012 Summer Olympics opening ceremony, the film was included as part of a sequence that celebrated British cinema. In 2013, a copy of the original U.S. theatrical version was digitally restored and released.
In 1989, Shaffer wrote a script treatment for The Loathsome Lambton Worm, a direct sequel with fantasy elements. Hardy had no interest in the project, and it was never produced. In 2006, an ill-received[3] American remake was released, from which Hardy and others involved with the original have dissociated themselves. In 2011, a spiritual sequel entitled The Wicker Tree was released to mixed reviews. This film was also directed by Hardy, and featured Lee in a cameo appearance. Hardy is currently developing his next film, The Wrath of the Gods, which will complete The Wicker Man Trilogy.[4][5]


Contents  [hide]
1 Plot
2 Cast
3 Production 3.1 Background
3.2 Casting
3.3 Filming
3.4 Music
4 Distribution 4.1 Restorations
4.2 Home media
5 Reception
6 Related productions
7 References
8 External links

Plot[edit]
Sergeant Howie journeys to the remote Hebridean island, Summerisle, to investigate the disappearance of a young girl, Rowan Morrison. Howie, a devout Christian, is disturbed to find the islanders paying homage to the pagan Celtic gods of their ancestors. They practice open copulation in the fields, include children as part of the May Day celebrations, teach children of the phallic association of the maypole, and place frogs in their mouths to cure sore throats. The Islanders, including Rowan's mother, attempt to thwart his investigation by claiming that Rowan never existed.



 The (real) Summer Isles from Ben Mòr Coigach
While staying at the Green Man Inn, Howie notices a series of photographs celebrating the annual harvest, each image featuring a young girl as the May Queen. The photograph of the latest celebration is suspiciously missing; the landlord tells him it was broken. The landlord's daughter, Willow, attempts to seduce Howie, but he refuses to have premarital sex.
After seeing Rowan's burial plot, Howie meets the island leader, Lord Summerisle, grandson of a Victorian agronomist. Lord Summerisle explains that his grandfather developed strains that would prosper in Scotland's climate, and encouraged the belief that old gods would use the new strains to deliver the islanders from a meager livelihood.
Howie finds the missing harvest photograph, showing Rowan standing amidst empty boxes. His research reveals that when there's a poor harvest, the islanders make a sacrifice to ensure that the next will be bountiful. He comes to the conclusion that Rowan is alive and has been chosen for sacrifice. During the May Day celebration, Howie knocks out and ties up the innkeeper so he can steal his costume (that of Punch, the fool) and infiltrate the parade. When it seems the villagers are about to sacrifice Rowan, he cuts her free and flees with her. They're intercepted by the islanders, to whom Rowan happily returns.
They reveal Rowan is not the sacrifice - Howie is. He fits their criteria: he came of his own free will, by representing The Law has "the power of a king", is a virgin, and is a fool. The villagers force him inside a giant wicker man statue, set it ablaze and surround it, singing the Middle English folk song "Sumer Is Icumen In." Inside the wicker man, a terrified Howie recites Psalm 23, and prays to God. He damns the islanders as the wicker man collapses in flames, revealing the setting sun.
Cast[edit]
Edward Woodward as Sgt. Howie
Christopher Lee as Lord Summerisle
Diane Cilento as Miss Rose
Britt Ekland as Willow MacGregor
Ingrid Pitt as Librarian
Lindsay Kemp as Alder MacGregor (the landlord)
Russell Waters as Harbour Master
Aubrey Morris as Old Gardener/Gravedigger
Irene Sunter as May Morrison
Donald Eccles as T.H. Lennox
Walter Carr as School Master
Roy Boyd as Broome
Peter Brewis as Musician
Geraldine Cowper as Rowan Morrison
John Sharp as Doctor Ewan
John Hallam as Police Constable McTaggart
Tony Roper as Postman
Production[edit]
Background[edit]
In the early 1970s, the actor Christopher Lee was a Hammer Horror regular, best known for his roles in a series of successful films, beginning with The Curse of Frankenstein (as the monster, 1957). Lee wanted to break free of this image and take on more interesting acting roles. He met with screenwriter Anthony Shaffer, and they agreed to work together. Film director Robin Hardy and British Lion head Peter Snell became involved in the project. Shaffer had a series of conversations with Hardy, and the two decided that it would be fun to make a horror film centering on "old religion", in sharp contrast to the Hammer films they had both seen as horror film fans.[6]
Shaffer read the David Pinner novel Ritual, in which a devout Christian policeman is called to investigate what appears to be the ritual murder of a young girl in a rural village, and decided that it would serve well as the source material for the project. Pinner originally wrote Ritual as a film treatment for director Michael Winner, who had John Hurt in mind as a possible star.[7] Winner eventually declined the project, so Pinner's agent convinced him to write Ritual as a novel instead.[8] Shaffer and Lee paid Pinner £15,000 for the rights to the novel, and Shaffer set to work on the screenplay. However, he soon decided that a direct adaptation would not work well, and began to craft a new story, using only the basic outline of the novel.[9]
Shaffer wanted the film to be "a little more literate" than the average horror picture. The focus of the film was crystallised when he "finally hit upon the abstract concept of sacrifice". The image of the wicker man, which gave the filmmakers their title, was taken from one sentence in Julius Caesar's account of his wars in what is now France. Caesar claimed that the local tribes there had executed their most serious criminals by burning them alive in a huge man-shaped sculpture of woven twigs. For Shaffer, this was "the most alarming and imposing image that I had ever seen".[10] The idea of a confrontation between a modern Christian and a remote, pagan community continued to intrigue Shaffer, who performed painstaking research on paganism. Brainstorming with Hardy, they conceived the film as presenting the pagan elements objectively and accurately, accompanied by authentic music and a believable, contemporary setting.[11] One of their main resources was The Golden Bough, a study of mythology and religion written by Scottish anthropologist James Frazer.[12]
Casting[edit]



Christopher Lee, who has appeared in over 275 motion pictures, considers The Wicker Man his best film.[13]
Television actor Edward Woodward was cast in the role of Sergeant Neil Howie after the part was declined by both Michael York and David Hemmings.[14] In Britain, Woodward was best known for the role of Callan, which he played from 1967 to 1972. After The Wicker Man, Woodward went on to receive international attention for his roles in the 1980 film Breaker Morant and the 1980s TV series The Equalizer.
After Shaffer saw her on the stage, he lured Diane Cilento out of semi-retirement to play the town's schoolmistress.[14] (They lived together in Queensland from 1975, and married in 1985.) Ingrid Pitt, another British horror film veteran, was cast as the town librarian and registrar. The Swedish actress Britt Ekland was cast as the innkeeper's lascivious daughter, although a body double was used for her naked scenes and her dialogue was later dubbed.[15] She mimed Willow's Song which was sung by Scottish singer Annie Ross.[16]
Filming[edit]
The film was produced at a time of crisis for the British film industry. The studio in charge of production, British Lion Films, was in financial trouble and was bought by wealthy businessman John Bentley. To convince the unions that he was not about to asset-strip the company, Bentley needed to get a film into production quickly. This meant that The Wicker Man, a film set during spring, actually began filming in October 1972: artificial leaves and blossoms had to be glued to trees in many scenes. The production was kept on a small budget.[14] Christopher Lee was extremely keen to get the film made; he and others worked on the production without pay. While filming took place, British Lion was bought by EMI Films.
The film was shot almost entirely in the small Scottish towns of Gatehouse of Fleet, Newton Stewart, Kirkcudbright and a few scenes in the village of Creetown in Dumfries and Galloway, as well as Plockton in Ross-shire. Some scenes were filmed in and around the Isle of Whithorn, where the owners of the castle, Elizabeth McAdam McLaughland and David Wheatley, plus several other local people featured in various scenes.[17] Culzean Castle in Ayrshire and its grounds were also used for much of the shooting. Some of the opening flying shoots feature the Isle of Skye, including the spectacular pinnacles of The Old Man of Storr and the Quiraing. The amphibious aircraft that takes Sergeant Howie from the religious certainties of the mainland to the ancient beliefs of the island was a Thurston Teal, owned and flown in the aerial sequences by Christopher Murphy. The end burning of the Wicker Man occurred at Burrow Head (on a caravan site). According to Britt Ekland, some animals did actually perish inside the Wicker Man,[18] whereas Robin Hardy said in an interview that great care was taken to ensure that the animals were in no danger of being hurt during this scene and that they were not inside the Wicker Man when it was set on fire.[19]
Music[edit]
Main article: The Wicker Man soundtrack
The film's soundtrack often forms a major component of the narrative, just as with other important arthouse films of the era such as Donald Cammell and Nicolas Roeg's Performance.[20] Songs accompany many important scenes, such as the plane's arrival, Willow's dancing, the maypole dance, the girls jumping through fire, the search of the houses, the procession, and the final burning scene. Indeed, according to Seamus Flannery in a subsequent documentary, director Robin Hardy surprised the cast by suddenly announcing midway through filming that they were making a "musical".
Composed, arranged and recorded by Paul Giovanni and Magnet, the soundtrack contains folk songs performed by characters in the film. The songs vary between traditional songs, original Giovanni compositions and even nursery rhyme in "Baa, Baa, Black Sheep".
"Willow's Song" has been covered or sampled by various rock music bands. It was covered by the Sneaker Pimps as "How Do", and can be heard in the movie Hostel (2005). The song is also included on their 1996 release "Becoming X". The band has also covered "Gently Johnny" as "Johnny" and is featured as a B-Side on their "Roll On" (1996) single. It also was covered by Faith and the Muse on their 2003 album The Burning Season. The Mock Turtles released a version of the song on their album Turtle Soup.
The songs on the soundtrack were not actual cult songs used by pagans. All the songs were composed by Paul Giovanni, except in instances where he used well-known lyrics such as the words from the rhyme "Baa, Baa, Black Sheep". The song sung by the cultists of Summer Isle at the end of the film, "Sumer Is Icumen In" is a mid-13th century song about nature in spring.
Distribution[edit]
By the time of the film's completion the studio had been bought by EMI, and British Lion was managed by Michael Deeley. The DVD commentary track states that studio executives suggested a more "upbeat" ending to the film, in which a sudden rain puts the flames of the wicker man out and spares Howie's life, but this suggestion was refused. Hardy subsequently had to remove about 20 minutes of scenes on the mainland, early investigations, and (to Lee's disappointment) some of Lord Summerisle's initial meeting with Howie.[14]
A copy of a finished, 99-minute film[21] was sent to American film producer Roger Corman in Hollywood to make a judgment of how to market the film in the USA. Corman recommended an additional 13 minutes be cut from the film. (Corman did not acquire US release rights, and eventually Warner Bros. test-marketed the film in drive-ins.) In Britain, the film was ordered reduced to roughly 87 minutes, with some narrative restructuring, and released as the "B" picture on a double bill with Don't Look Now. Despite Lee's claims that the cuts had adversely affected the film's continuity, he urged local critics to see the film, even going so far as to offer to pay for their seats.
Restorations[edit]
During the mid-1970s, Hardy made inquiries about the film, hoping to restore it to his original vision. Along with Lee and Shaffer, Hardy searched for his original version or raw footage. Both of these appeared to have been lost. Alex Cox said that the negative "ended up in the pylons that support the M4 motorway" in his Moviedrome introduction of 1988.[22] Hardy remembered that a copy of the film, prior to Deeley's cuts, was sent to Roger Corman; it turned out that Corman still had a copy, possibly the only existing print of Hardy's version. The US rights had been sold by Warner Bros. to a small firm called Abraxas, managed by film buff Stirling Smith and critic John Alan Simon. Stirling agreed to an American re-release of Hardy's reconstructed version. Hardy restored the narrative structure, some of the erotic elements which had been excised, and a very brief pre-title segment of Howie on the mainland (appearing at a church with his fiancée). A 96-minute restored version was released in January 1979,[14] again to critical acclaim. Strangely, the original full-length film was available in the US on VHS home video from Media Home Entertainment (and later, Magnum) during the 1980s and 1990s. This video included additional, early scenes in Howie's police station that Hardy had left out of the 1979 version.
During 2001, the film's new worldwide rights owners, Canal+, began an effort to release the full-length film. Corman's full-length film copy had been lost, but a telecine transfer to 1-inch videotape existed. With this copy, missing elements were combined with film elements from the previous versions. (In particular, additional scenes of Howie on the mainland were restored, showing the chaste bachelor to be the object of gossip at his police station, and establishing his rigidly devout posture.) The DVD "Extended version" released by Canal+ (with Anchor Bay Entertainment handling US DVD distribution) is this hybrid version, considered the longest and closest version to Hardy's original, 99-minute version of the film.[14] A two-disc limited edition set was sold with both the shortened, theatrical release version and the newly restored extended version, and a retrospective documentary, The Wicker Man Enigma.[23] In 2005, Inside The Wicker Man author Allan Brown revealed he had discovered a series of stills taken on-set during the film's production showing the shooting of a number of sequences from the script that had never been seen before; indeed, it had never been certain that these scenes had actually been filmed. They include a scene in which Howie closes a mainland pub that is open after hours, has an encounter with a prostitute, receives a massage from Willow McGregor and observes a brutal confrontation between Oak and a villager in The Green Man pub. These images were featured in a revised edition of the book Inside The Wicker Man.
Anchor Bay Entertainment released a limited edition wooden box of The Wicker Man. Fifty thousand two-disc sets were made, of which 20 were signed by actors Lee and Woodward, writer Shaffer, producer Snell, and director Hardy.
In June 2007, Lee discussed the lost original cut of the film. "I still believe it exists somewhere, in cans, with no name. I still believe that. But nobody's ever seen it since, so we couldn't re-cut it, re-edit it, which was what I wanted to do. It would have been ten times as good."[24]
European distributors of the film StudioCanal began a Facebook campaign in 2013 to find missing material, which culminated in the discovery of a 92-minute 35mm print at the Harvard Film Archive. This print had previously been known as the "Middle Version" and was itself assembled from a 35mm print of the original edit Robin Hardy had made in the United Kingdom in 1973, but which was never released.[25] Robin Hardy believes that the original edit will probably never be found, saying, "Sadly, it seems as though this has been lost forever. However, I am delighted that a 1979 Abraxas print has been found as I also put together this cut myself, and it crucially restores the story order to that which I had originally intended." [25]
Hardy reported in July 2013[26] that Studiocanal intended to restore and release the most complete version possible of the film. Rialto Pictures announced that they were to release the new digital restoration in North American cinemas on 27 September 2013.[27] This new version was also released on DVD on 13 October 2013.[28] It is 91 minutes long, shorter than the director's cut but longer than the theatrical cut, and is known as The Wicker Man: The Final Cut.[28]
Home media[edit]
The Final Cut (UK) Blu-ray[29] features Burnt Offering: The Cult of the Wicker Man, Worshipping The Wicker Man, The Music of The Wicker Man, interviews with director Robin Hardy and actor Christopher Lee, a restoration comparison, and the theatrical trailer. The second disc features both the UK theatrical cut and the director's cut, along with an audio commentary on the director's cut and a making-of for the commentary. The third disc is the film's soundtrack:
Track listing1.Corn Rigs (2:37)
2.The Landlord's Daughter (2:40)
3.Gently Johnny (3:33)
4.Maypole (2:46)
5.Fire Leap (1:29)
6.The Tinker of Rye (1:52)
7.Willow's Song (4:43)
8.Procession (2:17)
9.Chop Chop (1:44)
10.Lullaby (0:58)
11.Festival / Mirie It Is / Summer is A-comen In (4:30)
12.Opening Music / Loving Couples / The Ruined Church (4:17)
13.Masks / Hobby Horse (1:25)
14.Searching for Rowan (2:23)
15.Appointment with the Wicker Man (1:18)
16.Sunset (1:05)
Reception[edit]
The Wicker Man had moderate success and won first prize in the 1974 Festival of Fantastic Films in Paris, but largely slipped into obscurity. In 1977 the American film magazine Cinefantastique devoted a commemorative issue to the film,[30] asserting that the film is "the Citizen Kane of horror movies" – an oft-quoted phrase attributed to this issue.[31]
In 2003, the Crichton Campus of the University of Glasgow in Dumfries, Dumfries and Galloway hosted a three-day conference on The Wicker Man.[32] The conference led to two collections of articles about the film.
In 2006, The Wicker Man ranked 45th on Bravo's 100 Scariest Movie Moments.[33]
Decades after its release, the film still receives positive reviews from critics and is considered one of the best films of 1973.[34][35] The film currently holds an 90% "Fresh" rating on the review aggregate website Rotten Tomatoes.[36] In 2008, The Wicker Man was ranked by Empire Magazine as 485th of The 500 Greatest Movies of All Time.[37] Christopher Lee considers The Wicker Man his best film.[13] Edward Woodward meanwhile has said that The Wicker Man is one of his favourite films and that the character of Howie was the best part he ever played. In addition to Lee's admiration of the final shot of the film (of the collapsing Wicker man), Woodward said that it is the best final shot of any film ever made.[38]
In his 2010 BBC documentary series A History of Horror, writer and actor Mark Gatiss referred to the film as a prime example of a short-lived subgenre he called "folk horror", grouping it with 1968's Witchfinder General and 1971's Blood on Satan's Claw.[39][40]
Related productions[edit]
Novel
A novel based on and expanding upon the 1973 film, also titled The Wicker Man, was released in 1978. It was written by Hardy and Shaffer.
Possible sequel
In 1989, Shaffer wrote a thirty-page film script treatment entitled The Loathsome Lambton Worm, a direct sequel to The Wicker Man, for producer Lance Reynolds.[41] It would have been more fantastical in subject matter than the original film, and relied more heavily on special effects. In this continuation of the story, which begins immediately after the ending of the first film, Sergeant Neil Howie is rescued from the burning Wicker Man by a group of police officers from the mainland. Howie sets out to bring Lord Summerisle and his pagan followers to justice,[4] but becomes embroiled in a series of challenges which pit the old gods against his own Christian faith. The script culminates in a climactic battle between Howie and a fire-breathing dragon – the titular Lambton Worm – and ends with a suicidal Howie plunging to his death from a cliff while tied to two large eagles.[42] Shaffer's sequel was never produced, but his treatment, complete with illustrations, was eventually published in the companion book Inside The Wicker Man.[43]
Hardy was not asked to direct the sequel, and never read the script, as he did not like the idea of Howie surviving the sacrifice, or the fact that the actors would have aged by twenty to thirty years between the two films.[44] In May 2010, Hardy discussed The Loathsome Lambton Worm. "I know Tony did write that, but I don't think anyone particularly liked it, or it would have been made."[45]
Remake
An American remake of the same name, starring Nicolas Cage and Ellen Burstyn, and directed by Neil LaBute, was released on 1 September 2006. Hardy expressed concern about the remake.[46] After its release, Hardy simply described it as a different film rather than a remake.[47] The remake was panned critically and was a failure at the box office. Today, it has a significant cult following as an unintentional comedy, with several scenes on YouTube boasting Cage brutalising various women throughout and terrorising children, a fan-made comedy trailer of the film, and more.[48]
Stage production
A stage adaptation was announced for the 2009 Edinburgh Festival Fringe,[49] and was directed by Andrew Steggall. The production was based on Anthony Shaffer's original The Wicker Man script and David Pinner's novel Ritual. Robin Hardy gave input on the project, and original songs and music from the film were supervised by Gary Carpenter, the original music director.[50][51] Workshop rehearsals were held at The Drill Hall in London in March 2008,[52] and a casting call was held in Glasgow in May 2009.[53] After three weeks at the Pleasance in Edinburgh in August 2009, the production was to visit the Perth Rep, the Eden Court Theatre in Inverness, and then have a short run at Citizen's Theatre in Glasgow, with hopes for a run in London in 2010.[54] However, in July 2009 it was announced that the production had been cancelled, three weeks before it had been due to preview.[55]
The National Theatre of Scotland then produced a musical adaptation of The Wicker Man called An Appointment with the Wicker Man. Written by Greg Hemphill and Donald McCleary, the story involves a local community's attempt to stage a Wicker Man play.[56]
Spiritual sequel
In 2011, a spiritual sequel entitled The Wicker Tree was released. It was directed by Hardy and featured an appearance by Lee. Hardy first published the story as a novel, under the name Cowboys for Christ. First announced in April 2000, filming on the project began on 19 July 2009 according to IMDb. It follows two young American Christian evangelists who travel to Scotland; like Woodward's character in The Wicker Man, the two Americans are virgins who encounter a pagan laird and his followers.[57]
Those involved in the production of the film have given conflicting statements regarding the identity of Christopher Lee's character, referred to only as "Old Gentleman" in the credits. Writer–director Robin Hardy has stated that the ambiguity was intentional, but that fans of The Wicker Man will immediately recognise Lee's character as Lord Summerisle.[58] Lee himself has contradicted this, stating that the two are not meant to be the same character, and that The Wicker Tree is not a sequel in any way.[59]
Possible graphic novel
As a former artist, Hardy has expressed great interest in the medium of comics, and is currently planning a graphic novel which retells the story of The Wicker Man, based on his own storyboards for the film. Hardy is in talks with yet unnamed artists to work on the project, as he finds it too difficult to make the characters look consistent from one panel to the next, and is busy producing and directing The Wrath of the Gods, the third installment of The Wicker Man Trilogy. He intended the graphic novel and the new film to be released at the same time in autumn 2013; however as of autumn 2014 neither has been released. [60]
References[edit]
1.Jump up ^ "THE WICKER MAN (X)". British Lion Films. British Board of Film Classification. 23 August 1973. Retrieved 3 September 2013.
2.Jump up ^ Murray, Andy; Rolston, Lorraine (2008). Studying The Wicker Man. Studying Films Series. Columbia University Press. p. 13. ISBN 9781903663103. "Although the company agreed to take the film on, the producers were under instruction to keep to a tight budget of the film under £500,000, small even by early 1970s standards."
3.Jump up ^ The Wicker Man (2006) has a 15% rating on Rotten Tomatoes: The Wicker Man (2006) – Ratings Rotten Tomatoes
4.^ Jump up to: a b "The Wicker Man : Part 2". AnthonyShaffer.co.uk.
5.Jump up ^ Turek, Ryan (3 August 2011). "Exclusive Interview: Wicker Tree's Robin Hardy". Shock Till You Drop. Retrieved 8 April 2012.
6.Jump up ^ Stephen Applebaum "The Wicker Man: Caught in the crossfire", The Independent, 18 August 2006
7.Jump up ^ "Wicker Man Trivia". Wicker-Man.com. Retrieved 11 April 2012.
8.Jump up ^ Orphan, David (1 December 2011). "David Pinner Interview - The Cult of David Pinner". B-Music Collective. Retrieved 11 April 2012.
9.Jump up ^ Gore, Will (22 April 2011). "The author who inspired The Wicker Man...". Surrey Comet. Retrieved 11 April 2012.
10.Jump up ^ Lori Anderson "Worship at the feet of The Wicker Man", The Scotsman, 21 Septemberv 2013
11.Jump up ^ Brown, Allan. "An Appointment with the Wicker Man – preview, theatre listings and showing times". s1play.com. Retrieved 8 April 2012.
12.Jump up ^ Melanie J. Wright Religion and Film: An Introduction, London: IB Tauris, 2000, p.87
13.^ Jump up to: a b "The Total Film Interview - Christopher Lee". Total Film. 1 May 2005. Archived from the original on 2007-06-12. Retrieved 25 August 2013.
14.^ Jump up to: a b c d e f Philips, Steve (2002). "The various versions of The Wicker Man". Steve's Web Page. Retrieved 2006-12-11.
15.Jump up ^ "'The Wicker Man' - the Film". Retrieved 8 August 2014.
16.Jump up ^ "Playing with fire: The Wicker Man musical". Retrieved 8 August 2014.
17.Jump up ^ "The Wicker Man". The Wicker Man. Retrieved 2012-12-20.
18.Jump up ^ "Summerisle (The Wicker Man)". World Reviewer. Retrieved 2012-12-20.
19.Jump up ^ Unsworth, Cathi (April 2007). "Robin Hardy – Burning the Man – The director of The Wicker Man talks about the film's enduring appeal". Fortean Times.
20.Jump up ^ Sean H. Stewart. "10 of the Most Underrated Horror Scores!". BloodyDisgusting.
21.Jump up ^ Kermode, Mark. "Something Wicker This Way Comes". Channel4. Retrieved 2009-01-30.
22.Jump up ^ Cox, Alex. "Moviedrome – Wicker Man – Alex Cox intro". YouTube. Retrieved 2009-02-20.
23.Jump up ^ The Wicker Man Enigma 2001 documentary on the film's production and releases. at the Internet Movie Database
24.Jump up ^ Lee, Christopher (21 March 2002). "Christopher Lee talks about The Wicker Man". YouTube. Retrieved 9 April 2012.
25.^ Jump up to: a b "RESTORED VERSION OF "THE WICKER MAN" TO BE RELEASED IN UK THEATRES - Celebrating Films of the 1960s & 1970s". Cinemaretro.com. Retrieved 2013-12-29.
26.Jump up ^ Robin Hardy announces results of The Wicker Man appeal - original print found Moviemail website, 22 July 2013. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
27.Jump up ^ British cult classic 'The Wicker Man' to be released in theaters LA Times website, 27 August 2013
28.^ Jump up to: a b "The Wicker Man: The Final Cut DVD review". SciFiNow. Retrieved 2013-12-29.
29.Jump up ^ "Rewind @ www.dvdcompare.net - Wicker Man (The) (Blu-ray) (1973)". Dvdcompare.net. Retrieved 2014-08-09.
30.Jump up ^ The Wicker Man Issue, Cinefantastique, 1977 (Vol. 6 No. 3).
31.Jump up ^ "Google search for quote". Retrieved 2009-01-30.
32.Jump up ^ Dr. Benjamin Franks, Lecturer Conferences: The Wicker Man: Readings Rituals and Reactions, July 2003. http://gla.ac.uk; University of Glasgow. Retrieved 2010-05-30.
33.Jump up ^ "The 100 Scariest Movie Moments". Bravo TV. 27 October 2006. Archived from the original on 2007-10-30. Retrieved 2010-05-30.
34.Jump up ^ Dirks, Tim (2010) The Greatest Films of 1973 filmsite.org; American Movie Channel. Retrieved 2010-05-30.
35.Jump up ^ (anonymous) Most Popular Feature Films Released In 1973 imdb.com; Amazon.com. Retrieved 2010-05-30.
36.Jump up ^ Wicker Man (1973) ratings Rotten Tomatoes.
37.Jump up ^ "The 500 Greatest Movies of All Time". empireonline.com. Empire Magazine. Retrieved 2009-01-30.
38.Jump up ^ Christopher Lee, Edward Woodward, DVD Commentary, December 2001. Studio Canal DVD
39.Jump up ^ Clarke, Donald. "Mark Gatiss's History of Horror". Irish Times.com. Retrieved 2010-11-02.
40.Jump up ^ "A History of Horror with Mark Gatiss – Home Counties Horror Ep 2/3". BBC. 2010-10-18.
41.Jump up ^ "Unproduced". AnthonyShaffer.co.uk. Retrieved 9 April 2012.
42.Jump up ^ Smith, Adrian (12 May 2012). "Review : "The Wicker Tree comes to DVD and Blu-ray - Celebrating Films of the 1960s & 1970s". Cinema Retro. Retrieved 13 May 2012.
43.Jump up ^ "Wicker Man Revisited...". Scots Whay Hae!. 28 August 2010. Retrieved 9 August 2012.
44.Jump up ^ Applebaum, Stephen (12 April 2012). "The Director of Cult Classic The Wicker Man Returns With the Wicker Tree - Interview With Robin Hardy". Huffington Post. Retrieved 13 May 2012.
45.Jump up ^ Gingold, Michael (9 May 2010). "Robin Hardy Grows "THE WICKER TREE"". Fangoria. Retrieved 10 April 2012.
46.Jump up ^ Pendreigh, Brian (2005-09-11). "Wicker Man director is flaming furious over Hollywood remake". Retrieved 2009-01-30.
47.Jump up ^ nqure (2006-09-04). "Original Wickerman Screening + Q+A with Robin Hardy". IMDb Boards. Retrieved 2009-01-30.
48.Jump up ^ Best Scenes From "The Wicker Man" on YouTube
49.Jump up ^ Edinburgh Fringe Programme Launched, STV News, 10 June 2009
50.Jump up ^ Wicker Man Set for Stage Crossover???, WhatsOnStage.com, 8 February 2008
51.Jump up ^ The Motion Group website, March 2008, via archive.org
52.Jump up ^ Brian Pendreigh, The Wicker Man and the Showgirl, Scotland on Sunday, 8 March 2008
53.Jump up ^ Brian Pendreigh, Wicker Man rewoven for the Fringe stage, Daily Mail, 26 May 2009
54.Jump up ^ The Wicker Man, The Musical, Wild Hunt blog, 11 June 2009
55.Jump up ^ The Wicker Man Facebook page, 10 July 2009
56.Jump up ^ Hickling, Alfred (15 February 2012). "Playing with fire: The Wicker Man musical". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 February 2012.
57.Jump up ^ Buckley, Heather. "Exclusive: A Night with The Wicker Man / The Wicker Tree Footage Premiere Report". DreadCentral.
58.Jump up ^ Hardy, Robin. "RM-051.mp3 (audio/mpeg Object)". Rue Morgue Radio. Retrieved 12 April 2012. "Well, it is very ambiguous. We don't really know who he is. He's an antecedent, of some kind, of Lachlan's. Lachlan remembers him, when he was a boy. There's a boy painting a bridge, and it may have been Lachlan as a young person. He's remembering this grandfather figure, or this great-grandfather figure – whatever – who the people who are fans of The Wicker Man and the wicker [inaudible], if you like, will of course immediately recognise as Summerisle. But we don't give him a name or anything. I think in the credits he's just called the old man."
59.Jump up ^ Lee, Christopher (27 December 2011). "Christopher Lee 2011 Christmas Message Part 1". Retrieved 11 April 2012. "The first one that I can think of is The Wicker Tree, in which I make a very brief appearance. I must emphasise this is not a sequel to The Wicker Man. In no way. And I do not play an older Summerisle, or his son, or whatever."
60.Jump up ^ Ashby, Devon (23 April 2012). "Paganism is in Christianity: Robin Hardy on 'The Wicker Tree'". CraveOnline. Retrieved 13 May 2012.
Brown, Allan (2000). Inside the Wicker Man: The Morbid Ingenuities. Sidgwick & Jackson. ISBN 978-0-283-06355-8.
Catterall, Ali; Simon Wells (2002). Your Face Here: British Cult Movies Since the Sixties. Fourth Estate. ISBN 978-0-00-714554-6.
External links[edit]
 Wikiquote has quotations related to: The Wicker Man
The Wicker Man at the Internet Movie Database
The Wicker Man at Rotten Tomatoes
Information on the 2009 stage adaptation of the film
Information about the Various Versions of The Wicker Man
Trunk Records release information


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Categories: 1973 films
English-language films
1973 horror films
1970s thriller films
British films
British horror films
British mystery films
British thriller films
Screenplays by Anthony Shaffer
Directorial debut films
Films based on horror novels
Films based on thriller novels
Films set in country houses
Films set in Scotland
Films set on beaches
Films set on islands
Films shot in Scotland
Paganism in Europe
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Religious horror films
Sacrifice
British Lion Films films






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This page was last modified on 1 February 2015, at 17:51.
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wicker_Man_(1973_film)