'Inside The Wicker Man' is a treat for all cinemagoers, exhaustively researched and achieving a near-perfect balance between history, trivia and serious analysis. Allan Brown describes the filming and distribution of the cult masterpiece as a 'textbook example of How Things Should Never Be Done'. The omens were bad from the start, and proceeded to get much, much worse, with fake blossom on trees to simulate spring, actors chomping on ice-cubes to prevent their breath showing on film, and verbal and physical confrontations involving both cast and crew. The studio hated it and hardly bothered to distribute it, but today it finds favour with critics and fans alike, as a serious - if flawed - piece of cinema. Brown expertly guides readers through the film's convoluted history, attempting along the way to explain its enduring fascination, and providing interviews with the key figures - many of whom still have an axe to grind, and some of whom still harbour plans for a sequel.
Inside the Wicker Man: How Not to Make a Cult Classic
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'A book about The Wicker Man? I would think you'd need an encyclopaedia' --Christopher Lee
'A stunning examination of one of my favourite films by one of my favourite journalists' --A A Gill
'A stunning examination of one of my favourite films by one of my favourite journalists' --A A Gill
About the Author
Allan Brown is a writer and critic with the Scottish edition of The Sunday Times. He lives in Glasgow.
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17 of 18 people found the following review helpful
By P. Rowe
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Since I own the first edition of this book I was unsure whether this was worth buying again. However once again this is a deliciously indiscreet account of the making of Britain's finest horror movie with even more information, particularly concerning the aborted sequel, than the Sidgwick and Jackson edition.
Besides detailing the differences that have grown up since the making of the movie between Director Robin Hardy and writer Anthony Shaffer writer Allan Brown also provides a non-stop stream of anecdotes from almost all of the crew who worked on that windswept set in Dumfries and Galloway in autumn 1972. Christopher Lee comes across as an egomaniac with a deep love of the film who is prepared to go to any lengths to get it the recognition it deserves whilst Britt Ekland is painted as a humourless diva much disliked by the crew. The nicest members of the cast were clearly Edward Woodward and Diane Cilento!
What sets this apart from most other movie books is the fact that it tells it like it was, arguments and all, with the input of all those who got a knife in the back from everybody else.
Candid, thoroughly revised and frequently laugh out loud funny. Get it!
Besides detailing the differences that have grown up since the making of the movie between Director Robin Hardy and writer Anthony Shaffer writer Allan Brown also provides a non-stop stream of anecdotes from almost all of the crew who worked on that windswept set in Dumfries and Galloway in autumn 1972. Christopher Lee comes across as an egomaniac with a deep love of the film who is prepared to go to any lengths to get it the recognition it deserves whilst Britt Ekland is painted as a humourless diva much disliked by the crew. The nicest members of the cast were clearly Edward Woodward and Diane Cilento!
What sets this apart from most other movie books is the fact that it tells it like it was, arguments and all, with the input of all those who got a knife in the back from everybody else.
Candid, thoroughly revised and frequently laugh out loud funny. Get it!
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Come... it is time to keep your appointment with Inside the Wicker Man
25 Aug 2010
By A. Newell
Format:Paperback
I bought the original edition of this book, and was then in attendance at the fateful evening at the National Film Theatre that is described in the Introduction to this new edition. I can heartily recommend this, as it's far from a double-dip: it's been totally revised, with newly discovered photos, more details on Shaffer's proposed sequel, even a new chapter to give the remake the kicking it so richly deserves.
With Robin Hardy's sequel-cum-'second trip to the same well' The Wicker Tree awaiting release, I look forward to the third edition!
With Robin Hardy's sequel-cum-'second trip to the same well' The Wicker Tree awaiting release, I look forward to the third edition!
2 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By A C SHIELDS
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
It is a wonder this film got made and released at all.
For those that have an interest in cult films, the subtitle of the book says it all.
I tried to find this book for years, being a big fan of this film. The book was out of print. The writer is Scottish, so he gets all credibility points for that, seeing as it was mostly made in Scotland. The book is hard going at times, getting slightly bogged down in technical details. The balance sheet of the film's costing is in there too, so one cannot say it is not thorough.
A book like this is required as the film means a lot to many, probably for as many reasons as there are things that went wrong whilst making it ! I still don't know what type of film THE WICKER MAN is, but I'm glad that I can buy the book again. It also isn't easily available in Australia.
The writer's style is straight up , not afraid to have a go at people when he feels it is warranted.
With this book and the film by your side, you will be well set up.
I recommend all fans buy a copy whilst they can - I'm not connected with the author, by the way. You never know how long it will stay in print this time. I enjoyed it very much and hope others do too.
For those that have an interest in cult films, the subtitle of the book says it all.
I tried to find this book for years, being a big fan of this film. The book was out of print. The writer is Scottish, so he gets all credibility points for that, seeing as it was mostly made in Scotland. The book is hard going at times, getting slightly bogged down in technical details. The balance sheet of the film's costing is in there too, so one cannot say it is not thorough.
A book like this is required as the film means a lot to many, probably for as many reasons as there are things that went wrong whilst making it ! I still don't know what type of film THE WICKER MAN is, but I'm glad that I can buy the book again. It also isn't easily available in Australia.
The writer's style is straight up , not afraid to have a go at people when he feels it is warranted.
With this book and the film by your side, you will be well set up.
I recommend all fans buy a copy whilst they can - I'm not connected with the author, by the way. You never know how long it will stay in print this time. I enjoyed it very much and hope others do too.
Listmania!
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