ON THE TRAIL OF THE WICKER MAN (Robin Hardy)
 

One of my personal faves this,a true cult classic that is endlessly rewatchable....
Last year my tribe and I went on holiday to Dumfries and Galloway.
Once there,I took them to Kirkudbright,where quite a few scenes were filmed.
The girl in the tourist info was very helpful,and remembered it quite well,as she was only a pup when they were actually filming it.....
She showed me an original copy of a local newspaper from the time,which included photos of the key cast members,and photos of the harbour scene,which was filmed in Stranraer.
I managed to find a bookshop and picked up copies of THE CULT OF THE WICKER MAN and the novel of the film,which incidentally,contains scenes which were obviously never filmed.
I will be going back there this year and will try to go to the hilltop,where they actually filmed Woodward being sacraficed.....
What's everyone's opinion of this (in my opinion) arguably the best British horror film ever made.....
Meanwhile,take a look at these pics I took and see if you recognize any of the locations.....;)

and also..................

Amazing film and one of a kind,too...that is untill they might get the sequel off the ground.:cool:

and also..................the woman in the tourist info remembered them filming at picture 7.....anyone recognize this from the 'Director's cut' maybe?
I thought it might be the scene where Britt Ekland is talking to Woodward outside the pub......:confused:

Is that the 'Cowboys for Christ' thing Peter?

It's a masterpiece, one of the (my) all time greats. My da loves it too. I don't really like the directors cut though, mainly because it introduces Summerisle much too soon. I realise that if the directors cut is all anyone had ever seen then this wouldn't be an issue, but his introduction, as it is in the theatrical cut, is fantastic, unbelievable. Woodward and Lee are just ****ing amazing in this film, although I'd have plenty of time for Lee at the best of times.

I don't think Woodward ever reached the same heights again in anything he ever did.....a perfect piece of casting....:cool:

Yes, that's the one I was referring to.
There was an interesting discussion about the sequel on ABUK, but it died out when the shoot got cancelled at the last minute.:(
If I recall correctly, the project might still happen at some later point- after some readjustments to the plot and financing.

As long as they don't let Neil the butt and Nicolarse Cage near it mate;)...But hey let's not stray away from the original classic......Vince,infraction me for straying off topic....:D
What's the best dvd version you all own?

I only have one version of it, the Studio Canal double dvd released years ago in the black and white slipcase. It has that extra with Lee and I think Anthony Schaffer or Robin Hardy being interviewed on some no budget American cable channel promoting the movie way back when. And when I say no budget American cable channel, it really was. Probably public access or something, there's a step ladder in the background and everything! But Lee is just a true professional, gets on with the job at hand.

Nice bit here from some online rag :

You're not alone Edward.....;)
I collect all things WICKER MAN...I currently own:
The abus wooden box
The hmv hessian bag exclusive
The studio canal digipak
The Optimum 3 discer set
The CDA black leather collector's box
Warner Terror vision vhs
it's an obssession...:eek:

I have that Warner vhs as well, but only got two cards instead of three, bastards.

It's an excellent film - totally unique. Great songs, great performances.

Little wonder Chris Lee rates it so highly.

His all time favourite,apparently.....

Yes I fully agree. It's a superb film and seems to look better every year.

Woodward was perfect casting. Even though he was 3rd choice after Michael York and David Hemmings. Interesting (or sad) that little Rowan Morrison ended up in EastEnders. http://www.shameless-films.com/forum...ilies/ack2.gif

Who was she in that?:confused:

In the wicker3 photo,the building my kids are climbing on is now a museum,but the girls who worked in there were too young to remember anything.....:(

She wasn't Mark Fowler's wife was she?:eek:

Glad you mentioned what release you have of this Trench.
I was gonna buy this film today but the shop had 2 versions of it , so I left it till I could ask on site , which one I should go for.
Ones a white jacket cert 15 and the others a red jacket cert 15. The red jacket looked the newer release though im not certain as I had to leave the shop before I could get a chance to look at them.
I think they both had pictures of C. Lee on the front.
Both were the original version and not the remake.
Anyone know the best one to buy. Prise wise the white jacket version was slightly dearer, but only by a couple of quid.

I'm not sure exactly what her character did but her name was Rosie Miller. Apparently the partner of the workshy sofa-potato bloke (vague but the best I can do).

She was also in the opening Thameside scene of Hitchcock's Frenzy though I haven't spotted her yet (unlike Hitch himself).

The red one if it's the 3 disc ed contains the cd soundtrack Vip's.....;)

It just looked like a single disc mate, though I could be wrong.
It was the cheaper of the two, so it probably is just a single.
Is there any difference to the film itself in the 2 releases, as thats all im really worried about.
I just want the best version of the film.
I think the white one was the D C of the film.

Mine's the 2-disc Studio Canal DVD (same as Trench). Prefer the longer version myself.

What is it about the directors cut that you prefer, vincenzo? What do you think makes it better than the theatrical version?

The biggest plus for me (out of many) is the performance of Gently Johnny by Magnet. That entire sequence is brilliantly atmospheric. Even down to the snails. http://www.shameless-films.com/forum...coolgleamA.gif

Compare & Contrast

Got to get both Vip's mate.....I too prefer the longer version,as it was as close as the director intended us to see it.....however,both versions are ace...:cool:

It's a beautiful film and absolutely jaw droppingly shocking.

I saw it when I was really young (not even in my teens) and back then I thought it was mesmerising. The end... quite possibly the most powerful ending of any film ever.

I agree that Edward Woodward didn't quite hit those acting heights again - he never seemed to have the same passion. His fear in the film is palpable and even thinking about it gives me shivers.

Christopher Lee is his usual masterful self but in this film he is terrifyingly cold, calculated and beliveable.

And lets NEVER mention the remake - I almost cried when I watched it.

No not that mate,save that for the absolute shit thread....;)......
Someone told me that someone had stolen the actual stumps that were left in the ground.....can't remember what the actual spot is called.....anyone remember?

Thanks Vince....reason I ask is,I'm going on holiday down there again in just over a week and will take some photos......

Reaper on the trail of the Wicker Man
 

I'm just back from most of the locations from the classic THE WICKER MAN.
What I found talking to different people in different towns is that not all towns think of the film as something to be proud of.For example,in Kirkudbright,which is a town now famous for it's art exhibitions,the film is somewhat frowned upon,as the librarian's reaction told me when asked if she had any copies of old newspapers regarding the film!Another woman in an art gallery,also had a similar attitude towards mention of the film.
Whether this may be because of the 'pagans' that descend on their town in July for The Wicker Man festival,could be the reason why,as it's held at Dundrennan just a few miles up the road.

The reaction in other villages and towns however,is the opposite.Creetown for example,uses the film to it's advantage for the budding pagan tourist .The museum there has a four metre high replica of the actual wicker man and a board full of copied newspapers and photos.
A rather interesting letter from a local nurse who was also used as an extra during filming sits alongside these most impressive photos.

Just along the road in the Ellengowan Hotel,The Wicker Man is one of the main features of their bar,which was of course used for filming the interiors of 'The Green Man' inn.Adorning the walls of this little bar are posters,original framed photos from the the time of shooting,and photos of Edward Woodward,whom last year paid a visit to the pub and the locals.
On speaking to the barman,he told me that 'A nicer,more down to earth guy,you couldn't meet.'Something which I could well believe.

Along the road at Anwoth,on driving up a well hidden single track road,I located the schoolhouse and graveyard.Whether the old guy painting the house thought we were 'bloody heathens' taking photos of the house and graves,remains to be answered.It could have been worse grandad;the kids,the wife and I could have started dancing around the car and broke into 'In the woods there grew a tree....'

Down the coast at Burrowhead,the bloke at the caravan park,whose office contained a poster and a rather snazzy painting was only too happy to show me on an arial photograph where the exact location of (according to him) not one,but two wicker statues were built for filming....as mentioned above,the stumps are now gone...chainsawed out according to the caravan park bloke.......

The kids meanwhile enjoyed themselves as they were told,if the did not behave,then it would be time to keep their appointment with the wicker man......

Kirkudbright..............

Did you find Britt Ekland? If so can you return her to me at once. http://www.shameless-films.com/forum...coolgleamA.gif http://www.shameless-films.com/forum...es/biggrin.gif

Creetown..................

The Green Man Inn......

Burrowhead...............

Anwoth................

Yeah I found her and Rod Stewart and promptly sacraficed them both....
Gimme Ingrid Pitt any day mate......;)
I was however,disappointed to find that the here lieth Beech Buchannan,protected by the ejaculation of snakes gravestone WAS only a prop...........:D

I have the excellent Optimum 3-disc release with the haunting soundtrack music.A true original with a superb cast and it is certainly one of Woodward's best though he was also good in Callan.

Looks like a holiday worth spending!:)
Beautiful pics!:cool:

Just out of curiousity: Did any of the locals express their thoughts on the US remake?:jest: