Did You Know?

A body double was secretly used for the naked rear shots of Willow dancing. The scenes were filmed after Britt Ekland had left the set. The body double was used because Ekland would only agree to topless shots of her body. After shooting was over, not only was Ekland furious to learn she had been doubled in some shots but that she was also a few weeks pregnant in that scene. Director Robin Hardy says it was Ekland herself who did not want her bottom to be filmed, as she did not like it.

Director Robin Hardy originally wanted Michael York for the role of Sgt. Howie. When it turned out he was unavailable, David Hemmings was considered before writer Anthony Shaffer and producer Peter Snell recommended Edward Woodward who had always been Snell's first choice to play the part.

Christopher Lee agreed to appear in this film for free.

This film was intended as a vehicle for Christopher Lee. Lee himself has said that he considers this to be one of his greatest ever roles.

John Sharp was second choice to play the island's doctor. The role was originally intended for Patrick Newell.

The current version available in the USA and UK is still incomplete, despite its 'director's cut' status. Still missing is a lengthy speech made by Lord Summerisle on apples.

Although Rowan was played by Gerry Cowper it is her twin sister Jackie Cowper whose photograph is handed around by Howie, and in fact during the chase through the caves Jackie appeared in a couple of shots instead of Gerry.

Rowan Morrison was born on the 13th November 1960.

During filming, Anthony Shaffer's brother Peter stood in for Howie's Mr Punch during one shoot.

Until 2009 this film was never officially released in Germany. Only then it was released on DVD by Kinowelt (however, since it was not released before, without a German dub).

The letter kick-starting the investigation (seen in the Director's Cut) is addressed to: Sgt Neil Howie, West Highland Police, Ullwater.

As filming occurred between October and November, there were no trees in blossom. The trees in the scenes with the pregnant women had to be brought in and were all handmade. Edward Woodward admitted one of the memories of filming that stuck out in his mind was watching the trees being brought in on the back of a truck as he had never seen anything like it.

Film debuts of Barbara Rafferty, Tony Roper, and Richard Wren.

The lyrics for the popular song 'corn rigs' in the film was actually written by Robert Burns in 1775.

The final song, sung by the islanders around the sacrifice, is a thirteenth century 'reverdie' song celebrating the return of Spring. It would typically, as in this case, be sung in the round e.g. it keeps repeating over and over with different singers joining in at different stages: 'Sumer is i-comen in! Ludé [louder] sing cuckoo! Groweth sed [seed] and bloweth med [mead, plants in the meadow] and springeth the wood nu! [new]! Sing cuckoo nu, sing cuckoo' etc.

Prior to shooting the final scene, Edward Woodward was in the Wicker Man and a goat was penned in above him. Because the goat was scared at being shut up, it urinated on Woodward.

The film gives it's name to a music and arts festival (The Wickerman Festival) which has been held annually in the area where the film was shot (Dumfries & Galloway, Scotland) since 2004. At the end of the festival a giant Wicker Man sculpture is burned as a 'sacrifice to the festival gods'.

According to director Robin Hardy, Howie's final speech is based upon Sir Walter Raleigh's dying words.