- Format: PAL
- Region: Region 2 (This DVD may not be viewable outside Europe. Read more about DVD formats.)
- Number of discs: 2
- Classification: 15
- Studio: Optimum
- DVD Release Date: 4 Sep 2006
- Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (106 customer reviews)
- ASIN: B000HEVTCW
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 40,897 in Film & TV (See Top 100 in Film & TV)
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Amazon.co.uk Review
It must be stressed that, despite the fact that it was produced in 1973 and stars Christopher Lee, The Wicker Man is not a Hammer Horror film. There is no blood, very little gore and the titular Wicker Man is not a monster made out of sticks that runs around killing people by weaving them into raffia work. Edward Woodward plays Sergeant Howie, a virginal, Christian policeman sent from the Scottish mainland to investigate the disappearance of a young girl on the remote island of Summerisle.
The intelligent script by Anthony Schaffer, who also wrote the detective mystery Sleuth (a film with which The Wicker Man shares many traits), derives its horror from the increasing isolation, confusion and humiliation experienced by the naïve Howie as he encounters the island community's hostility and sexual pagan rituals, manifested most immediately in the enthusiastic advances of local landlord's daughter Willow (Britt Ekland). Howie's intriguing search, made all the more authentic by the film's atmospheric locations and folkish soundtrack, gradually takes us deeper and deeper into the bizarre pagan community living under the guidance of the charming Laird (Lee, minus fangs) as the film builds to a terrifying climax with a twist to rival that of The Sixth Sense or Fight Club. --Paul Philpott
On the DVD: The Wicker Man can finally be seen in its glorious entirety on DVD, thanks to the restoration of some 15 minutes of previously lost material. Since the original negative long ago disappeared (apparently dumped beneath the M3 motorway) the picture quality for the added scenes is dubious, but what's much more important is the regained richness in the depiction of Summerisle's society (including a wonderful deflowering ritual set to music) and the added depth to Howie's character. Almost redundantly this excellent two-disc package provides the butchered theatrical cut as well, which comes with a good new documentary explaining both the genesis of the film and its turbulent history. Christopher Lee and director Robin Hardy pop up in an archival interview from the 1970s and are also reunited with Edward Woodward in the brand-new and first-rate commentary track for the director's cut: Lee in particular remains passionate about the movie and still angry about its shabby treatment. Both versions of the film are widescreen 1.85:1; the theatrical cut is in remastered Dolby 5.1, but the director's cut remains in mono. --Mark Walker
DVD Description
DISC 1
The Wicker Man – Original Theatrical Release (84 mins) Theatrical Trailer DISC 2
The Wicker Man – Director’s Cut (99 mins) Feature length commentary: Christopher Lee, Edward Woodward, and Director Robin Hardy, moderated by Mark Kermode The Wicker Man Enigma - 35 minute documentary Burnt Offering: The Cult of The Wicker Man – 50 minute documentary presented by Mark Kermode 1973 interview with Christopher Lee and Robin Hardy (25 mins) DISC 3
Original soundtrack CD
Feature running times:
Theatrical version: 84 mins approx
Director’s Cut: 99 mins approx
Aspect ratio: Both films 1.85:1 Anamorphic
Audio:
Theatrical version: 5.1
Director’s Cut: Mono
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
42 of 42 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Atmospheric, eerie, memorable; a British classic,
By A Customer
This review is from: The Wicker Man [VHS] [1973] (VHS Tape)
A film which changes peoples's lives. Once seen, the haunting images in The Wicker Man will stay with you forever: this is a film which proves that terror comes from the mind and the soul and makes the gruesome masks, bloodlust and decapitations of the so-called horror films of the 80's and 90's look like heavy-handed, garish, slapstick imitations of the real thing. Christopher Lee looks entirley at home in his role as the Heathen ("though not an unenlightened one") Lord Summerisle and not once does he have to bare his fangs. Edward Woodward, meanwhile, is totally believable as the devoutly Christian copper thrown into circumstances completely beyond his limited experience and comprehension. His character, Sgt Howie, remains focussed on both his duty and his unwavering faith to the bitter end. The counterpoint of the cheerful, apparently helpful islanders, the genreally sunny setting and the functional, settled community with the haunting folk tunes, monoliths, masks and pagan imagery send and often unexpected shiver up the spine and the whole story is a carefully orchestrated, inexorable journey toward a truly horrific finale. I have encountered people who watch this film weekly, have the read the excellent novel drawn from it on countless occasions and have generally have their whole lives altered by the Wicker Man; you surely cannot miss the opportunity to purchase this for yourself and feel the power of The Wicker Man...David Aylett
25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A genuine classic of British cinema.,
By
This review is from: The Wicker Man - Special Edition Director's Cut (2 disc set) [DVD] [1973] (DVD)
This is one of the best British films ever made - simply that! Considering its pretty low budget it is staggering how good this is. There is no other film that compares to this, it really belongs in a genre all of its own. Made in a time when horror films were completely formulaic (the same is still true I guess) this film really broke the mold. I must have seen this film 20 or 30 times over the years and I still love it.
Christopher Lee (Lord Summerisle) describes this as his greatest moment. Perhaps you think well so what, he didn't have that many, but here he is excellent. Edward Woodward also gives a tremendous performance as Sergeant Howie. The other main actors maybe aren't so good but what really makes this film is the contribution of the bit part actors and extras many of whom were local repertory players or just members of the public. They give the film a real authentic feel. The script and the storyline are truly excellent and the ending still shocks. But the absolute best thing about this is the music. Composed by Paul Giovanni. This has to be some of the most fitting film score ever written. It just goes with the film so well. To be honest I pretty much hate "musicals" but in the case of the Wicker Man I don't feel worried that people start bursting into song - it just goes so well with the storyline and adds the quirky feel that makes this film a cult classic. The good thing about this release on DVD is that it gives you a chance to compare the butchered cinema release version (which most people will have seen as this is the version generally shown on TV) to the extended directors cut version which is infinitely better. A few of the scenes on this version are a little dodgy in quality due to the difficulties restoring this film (see the book "Inside the Wicker Man" which is also excellent). However the presence of scenes such as "Gently Johnny" certainly add to the film. A genuine classic of British cinema.
41 of 42 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent package,
By pattic "pattic171" (NY United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Wicker Man (2 DVD + CD Collector's Edition) (DVD)
I won't bother reviewing the film itself, as I'm sure most of you reading this are already fans, so I'll just stick to describing this new 3-disc release.
As many of you probably know, the film was considered too long for a commercial release by the typically clueless studio execs of the time, and was summarily hacked-down by about 15 minutes. In a depressing turn of events, the original negative of the film was lost, leaving no high quality method of restoring the missing footage. Luckily for us, they were able to clip the missing footage into the main print, via the only full, unedited version in existence...a print owned by Roger Corman, the American king of exploitation pictures no less! The quality of the missing scenes is not nearly as good as the rest of the film, making a list of "restored scenes" entirely unnecessary (you'll be able to tell), but it's probably the best we will ever get. The package contains both the edited and newly restored versions of the film. The edited theatrical version has a very good transfer and 5.1 dolby sound mix. The Director's cut is presented in the aforementioned spotty video and mono audio. The excellent commentary from the previous U.K. version is also included here (even if Christopher Lee comes off a bit cranky), as well as the original 35 minute featurette "The Wicker Man Enigma". What's new is the freshly produced 60 minute documentary hosted by Mark Kermode. It's a wonderful and informative documentary, that suprisingly covers mostly different ground than the "Wicker Man Enigma", paying more attention to the genesis of the project and it's filming, rather than the "unfortunate fate" of the film covered in "Enigma". You also get a soundtrack CD, which is something I've been waiting for forever. The sound quality is excellent, suprisingly so, although "The Landlord's daughter" is a different version than the one from the film. They must have lost the original. Also, there is no tracklisting for the CD, but that's a minor quibble. This is a big upgrade for North American buyers, as we gain the new documentary as well as the soundtrack and commentary. U.K. buyers are only gaining the documentary, and soundtrack, but either way I think it's well worth the upgrade. Job well done!
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