ON THE TRAIL OF THE WICKER MAN (Robin Hardy)

[Mad Scientist]

He did attend, and he was a real gent, showed a preview of his thematic sequel "The Wicker Tree", I did a brief write up of the event on my facebook page /madsciencefilms.

[Nosferatu@Cult Labs]

Originally Posted by Reaper@Cult Labs

The remake is taboo.

The whole package is superb.
Blu Ray please!

Completely agree with you on the remake and the three disc Special Edition -- it is a superb package and the addition of the soundtrack is something really worth treasuring.

[The Reaper Man@Cult Labs]

What has happened to The Wicker Tree then?

Has it completely vanished again?

[Jonny]

I've met Robin Hardy a couple of times now, always a thoroughly nice bloke. I have a photo that I've managed to get signed by a few people involved (Ingrid Pitt, Britt Ekland and Robin Hardy)



As for THE WICKER TREE there's a trailer and other bits at this website...

Media – The Wicker Tree Movie

[The Reaper Man@Cult Labs]

Now there's a piece of memorabilia!

Anyone else pick up a copy of THE WICKER MAN-HOW NOT TO MAKE A CULT CLASSIC ?

I've finished it and there's some fascinating stuff in there!
For instance,there was a plan to make a sequel,that involved Summerisle quenching the fire in which Howie was being roasted in!

Thankfully,it never came to fruition.....

[Koukol]

Great photos Reaper!

WM is perfect in every way.

btw~The Wicker Tree trailer looks great.

[The Reaper Man@Cult Labs]

Thanks mate!

Yeah the sequel as I said had Howie being rescued from the Wicker inferno by McTavish and another copper in a seaplane.
Recovering on the mainland,Howie believes his Christian God has intervened and saved him from a fiery end.
To the dismay of his fiancee,Mary,he and PC McTavish return to Summerisle to arrest the pagan Lord,who reckons he has done nothing wrong.
Challenging Howie to a test of faith between Gods,one escapade finds 'Oak' beheading McTavish and Howie is once again surrounded by islanders,who by the way,have aged fifteen years,due to the first failed sacrafice.
(Shaffer's idea on how to explain the ageing of the actors)

Howie has two sea eagles tied to his wrists and a girdle of feathers and is sent on a 'leap of faith' from the same clifftop as the first film.

As he disappears through the mist and clouds,the camera pans back to the islanders who are singing 'Autumn is acummenin'.
They have all resorted to their younger,formerselves......Howie's God has not saved him......

The above takes place on Halloween.

Whilst the above makes a somewhat fascinating sequel of sorts,it diminishes the impact of the original immensley.

What copper,(Christian or not) would return to Summerisle,where the quite obviously insane Pagan Islanders tried to roast him alive without an accompanying army of back up?

It veers into supernatural territory,asking the audience to swallow the premise that the islanders have all aged due to the failed sacrafice.
Suspension of disbelief is requirerd wheras the original film was partly so disturbing because what was shown is physically possible,it just COULD be possible that a colony of people akin to the residents of Summerisle COULD exist.......

It's a tough one,because I would LOVED to have seen Summerisle and Howie cross religious swords once again,but the original is so damned,well,original,I would hate anything to take away from what it rewards the viewer with....

Opinions?

[The Reaper Man@Cult Labs]

Oh and BTW.

Anyone who wants to read about this in more detail,NEEDS to pick up this.....




https://www.amazon.co.uk/Inside-Wick...5659657&sr=1-1

[Demdike@Cult Labs]

Not seen that book Reaps.
- How not to make a cult classic.

The only one i have is Allan Brown's -Inside the Wicker Man.

[Demdike@Cult Labs]

ha, ha - snap