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The Wicker Man (1973)
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Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writer:
Release Date:
June 1975 (USA)
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Tagline:
From the writer of 'Frenzy & Sleuth' Anthony Shaffer's incredible occult thriller more
Plot:
A police sergeant is called to an island village in search of a missing girl whom the locals claim never existed. Stranger still, however, are the rituals that take place there. full summary | full synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Island
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Sergeant
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Disappearance
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Ritual
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Scottish Island
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Awards:
1 win
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5 nominations
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NewsDesk:
(75 articles)
Movie Alert! The British Are Coming! UK Cinematic Gems On TCM Friday December 4
(From CinemaRetro. 3 December 2009, 7:53 PM, PST)
In Loving Memory of Moviedrome
(From t5m.com. 30 November 2009, 8:39 AM, PST)
(From CinemaRetro. 3 December 2009, 7:53 PM, PST)
In Loving Memory of Moviedrome
(From t5m.com. 30 November 2009, 8:39 AM, PST)
User Comments:
The most original and haunting British horror movie EVER. Fascinating, chilling, and utterly unique.
more (374 total)
Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| Edward Woodward | ... | Sergeant Howie | |
| Christopher Lee | ... | Lord Summerisle | |
| Diane Cilento | ... | Miss Rose | |
| Britt Ekland | ... | Willow | |
| Ingrid Pitt | ... | Librarian | |
| Lindsay Kemp | ... | Alder MacGreagor | |
| Russell Waters | ... | Harbour Master | |
| Aubrey Morris | ... | Old Gardener / Gravedigger | |
| Irene Sunters | ... | May Morrison (also as Irene Sunter) | |
| Walter Carr | ... | School Master | |
| Ian Campbell | ... | Oak | |
| Leslie Blackater | ... | Hairdresser | |
| Roy Boyd | ... | Broome | |
| Peter Brewis | ... | Musician | |
| Barbara Rafferty | ... | Woman with Baby (as Barbara Ann Brown) |
Additional Details
Also Known As:
Anthony Shaffer's The Wicker Man (UK) (complete title)
The Wickerman (Europe: English title) (alternative spelling)
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The Wickerman (Europe: English title) (alternative spelling)
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Parents Guide:
Runtime:
88 min | 100 min (2001 director's cut) (25 fps)
Country:
Language:
Color:
Color (Eastmancolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
Iceland:16 |
South Africa:(Banned) |
Finland:K-18 (2006) (DVD) |
Finland:K-16 (1983) (self applied) (video) |
Germany:16 |
Australia:M (DVD rating) |
Australia:R (original rating) |
Ireland:15 (re-rating) (2002) |
Ireland:18 (original rating) |
Norway:16 (1974) |
South Korea:18 |
Spain:18 |
UK:15 (video re-rating) (2002) |
UK:18 (video rating) (1990) |
UK:X (original rating) |
USA:R
Filming Locations:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
The last film of Ian Wilson.
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Goofs:
Factual errors: The calendar in the Photographer's shows May Day to be a Tuesday, therefore Sergeant Howie flew out on Sunday. Not only is this notably unlikely for a routine police investigation in the generally religious Scottish Highlands, The Director's Cut shows Howie receiving the letter on the same day. There were no Sunday postal deliveries at the time.
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Quotes:
May Morrison:
Can I do anything for you, Sergeant?
Sergeant Howie: No, I doubt it, seeing you're all raving mad!
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Sergeant Howie: No, I doubt it, seeing you're all raving mad!
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Movie Connections:
Featured in Killing Zoe (1993)
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Soundtrack:
Sumer is Icumen In
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FAQ
What differs between the theatrical and director's cut?How many wicker men were used in the last scene? (spoiler)
Is Hardy's upcoming film 'The Wicker Tree' a remake of 'The Wicker Man'?
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more (374 total)
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I've been fascinated by 'The Wicker Man' ever since I first saw it on TV in the late 1970s. I was very young then and probably didn't completely understand it, but I knew immediately that it was a very special movie, unlike anything I'd ever seen before. Twenty five years, and literally thousands of movies later, I think even more highly of it, especially now that I'm able to see the cut available on the 30th Anniversary DVD, which is over fifteen minutes longer than the version I already own on video. And, yes, 'The Wicker Man' is still unlike any other movie I've ever seen. I think this is mainly down to the brilliant script by Anthony Shaffer, who also wrote 'Sleuth' and Hitchcock's 'Frenzy'. There hasn't been anything made remotely like it since. I think it's the greatest British horror movie ever made, but the description "horror" only gives you half the story. It's also a thriller, a mystery, a Christian morality tale, and in a weird way, a musical. Christopher Lee regards it as the best movie he's ever been involved with, and describes it as one of the three or four greatest movies ever made in Britain, and I agree with him. Lee is very good in the movie as the enigmatic Lord Summerisle, but Edward Woodward is the real star. Woodward is best know for his TV work, as either 'Callan' or 'The Equalizer', depending what generation you're from, but he's superb as the deeply religious Sgt. Howie. Apparently Peter Cushing was initially suggested for the role, as was Michael York, but I really can't imagine either of then being half as good as Woodward is. The supporting cast are all superb - Diane Cilento as the school teacher, famous mime Lindsay Kemp as the publican, and especially Britt Ekland as the publican's daughter Willow. Ekland's seduction dance scene is the second most famous scene in the movie. She claims her speaking voice was dubbed throughout , director Robin Hardy disputes this, though her singing voice certainly was, and she used a (ahem) butt double. I also get a kick out of Aubrey Morris' graveyard scene. Morris is a great Brit character actor and was also in 'A Clockwork Orange', Hammer's 'Blood From The Mummy's Tomb' and sci fi trash classic 'Lifeforce'. Another Hammer alumni Ingrid Pitt ('The Vampire Lovers', 'Countess Dracula', etc.) is also in the cast as a librarian, but sadly in underused. Still, I'm glad she was involved. Inexplicably some people seem to hate this movie. I can't for the life of me understand why. It's utterly brilliant, utterly unique, and I never tire of watching it. If you've never seen it before I envy you! It's a cliche, but believe me, you have never seen anything like it before!