There is no 102 minute cut of the film in existence anywhere in the world, and there probably never has been. Then some years later I saw it again and I "got it" and after that I have lost count how many times I seen it but I have bought it on cheap dvd - proper DVD Quality - Director`s cut and yeah used some money getting it in better Quality more complete so the Wicker Man did get me. This set is now the most complete and best Quality version(s) I need. Ingrid Pitt and Britt Eckland both star and give this movie spice and of course the late great Christopher Lee is at the head of proceedings calling the shots as the movie reaches its harrowing climax. The picture and sound restoration are better than ever before, and it's nice to see the film get the care it deserves in this regard. (Summerisle News #2 has this length too.) There were a couple of times that I couldn’t figure out what dates he was talking about… Locations in parenthesis are where the scenes were shot though Brown doesn't specifically mention them. Chronology Mostly from Brown’s book with some updates. This article contains spoilers for The Wicker Man. Unfortunately, the 102-minute version of The Wicker Man could only be reconstructed, years later, with inferior video elements that Roger Corman still had in his possession. This original version had been sought after by both Lee and the film’s director Robin Hardy for decades, but little hope has … ... though he always referenced the never released 102-minute version of the film. Superior and haunting British horror film. was that it? The British horror classic The Wicker Man (no, not the one with Nicolas Cage) has been released in many different cuts but only three of them have arrived on DVD and Blu-ray. Theatrical Cut (88 min.) Studio Ghibli: 100 Collectible Postcards: Final Frames from the Feature Films, 86 Patterns: Abstract Adult Coloring Book. See also Call Sheets See also Newspaper Listings. Snell contacted Corman, offered him The Wicker Man, and sent him a print of the 102-minute version. My suggestion for those of you new to “The Wicker Man” is to watch the short vision first, then check out the extended version if you’re so inclined and think about what might have been…. According to screenwriter Anthony Shaffer, his intent for the project was to make a more cerebral horror movie that was less dependent on the kind of gratuitous gore that was popular at the time. The movie for me is eery creepy atmospheric and VERY well acted by ALL and that makes me come back to it over and over. It contains an extensive account of the making and cutting of the film, and includes interviews with cast and crew. By Adam RuhlScreen Daily is reporting that after a worldwide search an uncut print of the 102 minute version of the original The Wicker Man has been located. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 1, 2020. A dual DVD set in a burnt wooden box was released in 2001 by Anchor Bay. The Wicker Man is a 1973 British folk horror musical film directed by Robin Hardy and starring Edward Woodward, Britt Ekland, Diane Cilento, Ingrid Pitt, and Christopher Lee.The screenplay by Anthony Shaffer, inspired by David Pinner's 1967 novel Ritual, centres on the visit of Police Sergeant Neil Howie to the isolated island of Summerisle, in search of a missing girl. Edward Woodward is excellent as a policeman who has arrived on a deserted Scottish island to look for a missing girl. His deep religious values are tested to the limit by the strange and weird locals. I can safely say that I enjoyed the hell out of it, from it's religious commentary to it's strange sense of humor to it's wonderfully horrific ending. It even gets a listing in Danny Peary’s book Cult Movies (1981). All in all, this edition of The Wicker Man looks and sounds great, it just would have been nice to have the full package of extra content in this release. Note that many locations are not accounted for. From the first time I read about this movie called Wicker Man til now I can finally rest ... til the next time I see it and the creepy journey it takes me on. Movie Genre: Horror. The Wicker Man was a labor of love for director Robin Hardy, screenwriter Anthony Shaffer, and producer and co-star Christopher Lee; eager to see the project to fruition, they worked with a low budget, a short shooting schedule, and a studio on the verge of bankruptcy (that did in fact go under shortly after the film was completed). Written by Hamzah Sarwar. Ex-S: The Wicker Man (BBC Scotland, 1998) The Wicker Man Enigma (Blue Underground Inc., 2001) It is my favourite film of all time, and gets better with every viewing. Howie's arrival on Summerisle. The first in tonight's double feature theater experience of 1973 horror classics. A puritan Police Sergeant arrives in a Scottish island village in search of a missing girl who the locals claim never existed. Some scenes especially in the North American version got shuffeled around and the plot became kind of tough to follow in the early going. A full 102 minute version of the film was given to Corman who requested it be cut to 88 minutes in order to increase its pace. The legendary & brilliant 1973 British thriller "The Wicker Man" has unfortunately had one of the most storied release histories of almost any other film in existance. WOWZA! Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. Actors: Ellen Burstyn, Kate Beahan, Nicolas Cage, Frances Conroy. Soundtracks. Directed by Neil LaBute. (Many duplications here. Full content visible, double tap to read brief content. Studio Canal Blu ray: A lovely restoration (which dips in just a few places - presumably where any 'lost' footage was found), so no gripes with that. Wowza! Not many films have been, until quite recently, so difficult to see in a version approximating its makers’ original intentions. There was an error retrieving your Wish Lists. The 88-minute release is too short and this 99 minute “extended” version is, well, extended. Quotes What editions are available? It has the standard 88 (or 87) minute Theatrical Version. The Library of Congress says they have an 86 min version that is 7,742 feet long and is 5 reels (UK & original US) This needs to be researched. Christopher Lee and Edward Woodward light up the screen in superior British horror, Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 19, 2015. The Wicker Man is a unique film that has built a considerable reputation over the years. Georgia Fleury Reynolds from HeyUGuys interviews legendary Director Robin Hardy on his movie The Wicker Man. The 1973 classic horror film had almost twenty minutes of footage removed prior to its release. Previous page of related Sponsored Products, Lionsgate drops the ball on the North American blu-ray for The Wicker Man (3 stars for the blu-ray, 5 stars for the film), Reviewed in the United States on January 10, 2014. Format: DVD. Director of the eerily unsettling horror film The Wicker Man. Help others learn more about this product by uploading a video! Later a complete director's cut was discovered and re-released: this verson is 102 minutes long and features new footage showing Sergeant Howie as a preacher, some erotic scenes and Lord Summerisle reading a poem. I had seen this film once before, but not for a long time, and I had forgotten what an utterly bizarre and fantastical trip it is. Director’s Cut (100 min.) And one step closer to The Wicker Man.The Wicker Man (DVD) Specifications. The Wicker Man by Allan Brown (2nd ed., Polygon, 2010) This excellent book is the definitive source for information. Edition: Unrated Version. It was highly watchable and most importantly restored all of the missing prologue sequences showing police seargent Howie on the mainland prior to flying to a remote island to investigate a missing little girl. In spring 1973, a 102-minute version of The Wicker Man was complete, but British Lion was bought out again by stockholder Michael Deeley who, with businessman Barry Spikings, replaced Snell. | Which version of The Wicker Man (1973) should I buy? This film has to be one of the finest and most carefully crafted films ever made. Top subscription boxes – right to your door, © 1996-2021, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. Reviewed in the United States on February 21, 2019. It seems unlikely that the original two-hour version of the movie will ever be seen, but it may well be that the 102-minute version may yet be restored. Reviewed in the United States on November 16, 2018. Ultimately the rights went to Beachead, a tax shelter company who offered Deeley more money. A 95 min version also exists that has the events in chronological order (unlike the 87 min version) but omits all footage prior to Sgt. Even though this film has some moments of eye-rolling cheesiness, overall very well done. Your recently viewed items and featured recommendations, Select the department you want to search in. For a long time, this was the only version that was available on video until Anchor Bay about a decade ago released a 2 disc DVD special edition that contained both the heavily truncated 88 minute theatrical release as well as an almost 100 minute version that to date is the closest any release has come to the heavily sought after 102 minute director's cut. Please try again. Unfortunately, the 102-minute version of The Wicker Man could only be reconstructed, years later, with inferior video elements that Roger Corman still had in his possession. Please try again. Largely ignored in the final rush of Hammer horror films pouring out of England, The Wicker Man either confounded or impressed most first time viewers but became lost in a tangle of bad distribution, careless editing, and public indifference. Lionsgate presents the latter, which it calls “The Final Cut,” on Blu-ray. I read everything about Wicker Man for years and soooo wanted to see it and when I finally did I admit to thinking " ok? When the studio felt that the movie was too slow and hard to grasp at times, they cut the film down to 88 minutes for its theatrical release. 0 minute read. Nothing should be ruled out when it concerns the long and strange existence of The Wicker Man . I've loved it forever and had memories of the VHS release that had footage that was not included in the DVD version I had - So when I saw this as the "final cut" with an additional 15 minutes of footage, I pulled the trigger without hesitation. The Wicker Man (Widescreen Unrated/Rated Edition), The Wicker Man (Widescreen Unrated/Rated Edition) by Warner Home Video. Documentaries. A police sergeant is called to an island village in search of a missing girl whom the locals claim never existed. | Originally released at 87 minutes. Unlike the 95 minute version it does have footage prior to Sgt. | It also has a 99 minute Extended Version. Which version is closest to the original 102-minute uncut film? The Wicker Man: The Final Cut Movie Review. Anchor Bay released the 88-minute cut on DVD with the documentary featurette “The Wicker Man Enigma” and the rare 102-minute cut in a 2-disc special edition with the 88-minute release version. Wonderful, better than I had remembered it, Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 2, 2015. The Wicker Man was in part inspired by a 1676 engraving called "The Wicker Image" created by the artist Aylett Sammes. Released by Studiocanal . I'll spare you my waxing poetic about what a great film it is - I assume you already know that, so let's talk about the Blu Ray release !!! (Also the most edits with 212) Times/lengths. Crazy Credits | Longest scene: from when Howie and Rowan emerge from the cave to the burning of the Wicker Man, 15:40 in all versions. good but" my expectations was sort of met but not the dizzy hights I had made for it. The "final cut" of Robin Hardy's 1973 classic The Wicker Man finally comes to Blu-Ray, but at a price. Returning in a new restoration to mark its 40th anniversary, The Wicker Man is a cult classic of left-field British horror whose reputation has only deepened over the decades. Connections With Nicolas Cage, Ellen Burstyn, Leelee Sobieski, Kate Beahan. A sheriff investigating the disappearance of a young girl from a small island discovers there's a larger mystery to solve among the island's secretive, neo-pagan community. Howie's arrival on Summerisle, including him as a Preacher. Unlike the 95 minute version it does have footage prior to Sgt. Goofs Unable to add item to List. There are two versions available on Amazon for region 1, the first released by Lions Gate, the second released by Anchor Bay. This also has the events in chronological order (unlike the 88 min version). The later video release featured another recovered pre-title scene of Howie in the police station, which was not seen in the Director's Cut theatrical release. Unfortunately, this version runs about 5 minutes shy of the infamous "full" film contained on the Anchor Bay boxset and also lacks some of the standout extras on that release, Christopher Lee's inclusion on the commentary not the least of these. Brief content visible, double tap to read full content. The Wicker Man has certainly grown into a genuine horror masterpiece since its release in the early 1970s. Reviewed in the United States on June 1, 2018. Rope Basket Woven S... To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. But the townsfolk are not welcoming, and seem to have no respect and no desire to help him. Meanwhile, British Lion was busy doing its perverse, mystifying best to destroy The Wicker Man … | With Edward Woodward, Christopher Lee, Diane Cilento, Britt Ekland. The negatives and source materials disappeared from Shepperton Studios sometime later and are rumored to have ended up in a land fill. The Final Cut (93 min.) It also analyzes reviews to verify trustworthiness. Originally released at 87 minutes. Directed by Robin Hardy. Duration: 102 min. HOMYAM XXXL Large Cotton Rope Basket 22x14 Pure Natural Cotton! Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 7, 2019. A condition for avoiding tax was that Beachead find The Wicker Man a distributor in North America. The 1978 Magnum Entertainment VHS version released in the USA is uncut. Again good service from the seller as for the film so good a typical well written and very sexy film so if your into the politically correct rubbish of today do not watch it however, Britt Ekland and Ingrid Pitt are so wonderful in this film as for Christopher Lee and the tortured Edward Woodward they are so good in their respective parts, l need to climb into a Tardis and get back to the 1960s and 70s where l belong. Director: Neil LaBute. This is one of my favorite all time films and I watch it a couple times a month at least. There were three different edits of "The Wicker Man" floating around the home video market in the 1980s, but 102-minute version, the longest, was by far the most coveted, mostly because it was the only one where everything set up in the film's prologue is tied up neatly in its conclusion, giving "The Wicker Man" a quirky kind of symmetry. Lots of people wanna discuss the merits or lack thereof of this cult classic film. 'Burnt Offering: The Cult of the Wicker Man', Channel 4, 29 Dec, 12.20am; 'The Wicker Man: Director's Cut', Channel 4, New Year's Eve, 11.40pm Join our new commenting forum Posted by Gary Couzens ... Few films have such a cult reputation as The Wicker Man and few have such a tangled history, aspects of which remain unclear to this day. Trivia Howie's arrival on Summerisle, including him as a Preacher. ... With the original 102 minute director's cut mysteriously lost forever, a shortened 88 minute theatrical cut was released in the UK in 1973, a version Hardy maintains does not make narrative sense due to key scenes being omitted. Amazon.com: Wicker Man: Original, Unedited Version: Edward Woodward, Christopher Lee, ... as well as an almost 100 minute version that to date is the closest any release has come to the heavily sought after 102 minute director's cut. The image can be found in the volume of Britannia Antiqua Illustrata. After viewing product detail pages, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in. So, to summarise; the 'director's cut' of The Wicker Man doesn't feature Britt's breakfast treat, is 99 and a half minutes long on film and American video, and about 96 minutes long on speeded-up British video. Find out what happens when a xtian oppressor arrives on an island populated by fundamentalist pagans; it's heartwarming, with the ultimate Happily Ever After ending. It is often seen as belonging to both the cycle of Anglo-horror films of the 1970s and the cycle of occult films that came out following Rosemary’s Baby (1968). Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 22, 2019. Since the original negative was lost quite some time ago for the long version, Studio Canal (who Anchor Bay licensed the rights from for the North American DVD release) had to splice in the missing scenes from a lesser quality version but the audio stayed the same. Stranger still, however, are the rituals that take place there. The initial director's cut of the film was 102 minutes. I really enjoy horror films with a story of pagan revenge and this is a classic. The 88 min version ) for avoiding tax was that Beachead find the Wicker Man the... 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