British Lion Film, 1973
99 minutes Directed by Robin Hardy Written by Anthony Shaffer
Edited by Eric Boyd-Perkins
Cast: Edward Woodward
.... Sgt. Neil Howie
Christopher Lee .... Diane Cilento Summerisle
Lord .... Ms. Britt Ekland
Rose .... Ingrid Pitt
Willow .... Lindsay Kemp
Library .... Alder MacGregor
99 minutes Directed by Robin Hardy Written by Anthony Shaffer
Edited by Eric Boyd-Perkins
Cast: Edward Woodward
.... Sgt. Neil Howie
Christopher Lee .... Diane Cilento Summerisle
Lord .... Ms. Britt Ekland
Rose .... Ingrid Pitt
Willow .... Lindsay Kemp
Library .... Alder MacGregor
"The Wicker Man" is perhaps the most iconic British film of the seventies and is a portrait of the era, with plenty of subtext below its already controversial story. And last but not least, also has a slight, but intriguing discussion of comparative religion, daring to do some mocking of Christianity ... and all that within a solid story with a legendarily unexpected and surprising end.
The film begins with the arrival of Sergeant Neil Howie (Edward Woodward) to the island of Summerisle, on the southwest coast of Scotland. Howie apparently received an anonymous report about the disappearance of the girl Rowan Morrison (Geraldine Cowper), and aims to investigate thoroughly, to discover the whereabouts of the girl. But from the first moment is constant Sergeant obstacles due to the oblique responses to questions islanders. At first all deny knowing Rowan, but when Howie is undeniable evidence of their presence on the island, we report that the girl is buried. So Howie asks permission to Lord Summerisle (Christopher Lee) to dig the grave of Rowan, where he later finds ... the body of a rabbit. Summerisle Lord explains that this is the form taken by the spirit of Rowan, and gradually Sergeant (morally rigid and devoutly Christian) realizes that the island of Summerisle is inhabited exclusively by pagans who worship the ancient Celtic gods. Shocked by the practices of this religion (among which are abundant nudity and worship phallic symbols), Sergeant Howie decides to go to Great Britain and then return to higher authorities, to restore "order" to the island. But in the last minute, Howie suspects away the islanders want to see not what will happen in the May Festival, which traditionally is made sacrifices to ancient gods ... Then
Howie realizes the situation: Rowan is alive, but is destined to be the human sacrifice of pagan ritual. To avoid this, the gallant Sergeant impersonates a island in the costume parade that begins the festival, and accompanies the pagans to the site of sacrifice, where he sees the frightened Rowan. The search is over ... in more ways than one.
Confusion of genres that inspired "The Wicker Man" may come from the screenwriter Anthony Shaffer wanted to subvert the contemporary concept of horror films, covered in blood, vampires and monsters, the British terror was stagnating (as clearly shown the tape could indicate Hammer Films' Dracula AD 1972 ") in comfortable clichés and archaic characters. Then, as a rebellion against all that, Shaffer decided to create a story without blood and violence, but with a definite angle fantastic. And when it was added a taste for musical director Robin Hardy, the result was an unusual film that also could be considered horror, drama, black comedy and musical.
Indeed, the musical is perfectly integrated into the tr
loves, and occurs in the form of poems and rhymes with the islanders accompanying rituals, from an innocent child to an intense game of seduction, where the beautiful Willow (Britt Ekland, the most memorable scene in the film) trying to attract the stoic Sergeant Howie. However, in my humble opinion, is the children's song that best encompasses the message of the film, which perfectly illustrates the pagan ideology, based on natural cycles and not on arbitrary divine figures: "In the tree had a branch , and the branch had a nest and the nest had an egg and the egg was a bird and the bird had a pen, and pen was a bed, and the bed was a woman, and she had a boy, and the boy had a seed and the seed had a man, and man was a grave and the grave was a tree, and the tree was a branch ... "
While" The Wicker Man "does not present a specific religion, its principles pagan closely follow the old ideologies Celts, Druids and even modern Wicca School. But this does not necessarily anti-Christian simply proposes the validity of different opinions and traditions, presenting the Inspector Howie as closed and inflexible whose devotion is dangerously close to fanaticism and intolerance that implies. However, other people have said that "The Wicker Man" is actually a denunciation of religious extremism: Howie is so wrong with intolerance, as the pagans with their extreme sacrifices. But from any point of view, and under any purpose, it is clear that "The Wicker Man" is a film of devastating impact and memorable resolution.
The economical screenplay manages to create an interesting mystery about the missing girl, and when it finally arrives the unforgettable end, we realize that it is undoubtedly logical and consistent with everything we've seen. So perhaps the film is more enjoyable the second time, because you can better appreciate the tracks and turns that lead to the inevitable conclusion. In addition, the visual richness of the film, shot in stunning locations, fills the eye with tiny details, but essential to create an ethereal world and fantastic ... but genuinely dangerous.
The cast performed a great job with Edward Woodward (best known for his work, years later, in the television series "The Equalizer" - The Righteous) as the implacable Sergeant Howie. It is rumored that the director offered the role of terror veteran Peter Cushing, which would have been just fantastic, but the choice is equally Woodward solid, presenting a serious character actor, which emphasizes the simplicity of the character. Also it is rumored that Christopher Lee (whose career was solidified with her many appearances in the films of Hammer Films, but it will be more familiar to modern audiences for their shares in the new trilogy of Star Wars as Count Dooku or Saruman in the trilogy of The Lord of the Rings) worked for free for "The Wicker Man", and so far the states as the best film in which he participated. In fact, were the efforts and influence of what Lee got "The Wicker Man" had more widespread, since the study British Lion had little faith in the work, To the point of letting part of the original negative was destroyed! Fortunately, the American producer Roger Corman got (somehow) a complete copy, and this is how we can now enjoy the original version of 102 minutes. Although, frankly, the 88-minute version that premiered in 1973 is almost perfect in itself. Accompanying
Lee and Woodward appears a trio of iconic actresses in the genre: Britt Ekland ("Asylum", "Endless Night"), Diane Cilento ("ZPG", "Spell of Evil") and the incomparable Ingrid Pitt ( "The Vampire Lovers", "The House That Blood Dripper"). But, also defying expectations the public, all appear as simple women of the island: the landlord's daughter, school teacher and librarian. Very appropriate for the horror film is not horror.
Over the years, "The Wicker Man" has become legend, partly because of the rugged history of the making, in part because of its irreverent intention, and largely for their excellent creative team, both in front and behind the cameras. His deceptively simple story hides much meaning (particularly for this time of religious fanaticism and intolerance in society), so it is essential for every movie buff fantastic, cult movies, or simply bueno world cinema. Maybe algunos elements of plot parezcan Ahora su product of culture "hippie", but he will shout a su transcends time and continues TENIENDO equal validity and impact on su Estreno, hare treinta of bad years.
The film begins with the arrival of Sergeant Neil Howie (Edward Woodward) to the island of Summerisle, on the southwest coast of Scotland. Howie apparently received an anonymous report about the disappearance of the girl Rowan Morrison (Geraldine Cowper), and aims to investigate thoroughly, to discover the whereabouts of the girl. But from the first moment is constant Sergeant obstacles due to the oblique responses to questions islanders. At first all deny knowing Rowan, but when Howie is undeniable evidence of their presence on the island, we report that the girl is buried. So Howie asks permission to Lord Summerisle (Christopher Lee) to dig the grave of Rowan, where he later finds ... the body of a rabbit. Summerisle Lord explains that this is the form taken by the spirit of Rowan, and gradually Sergeant (morally rigid and devoutly Christian) realizes that the island of Summerisle is inhabited exclusively by pagans who worship the ancient Celtic gods. Shocked by the practices of this religion (among which are abundant nudity and worship phallic symbols), Sergeant Howie decides to go to Great Britain and then return to higher authorities, to restore "order" to the island. But in the last minute, Howie suspects away the islanders want to see not what will happen in the May Festival, which traditionally is made sacrifices to ancient gods ... Then
Howie realizes the situation: Rowan is alive, but is destined to be the human sacrifice of pagan ritual. To avoid this, the gallant Sergeant impersonates a island in the costume parade that begins the festival, and accompanies the pagans to the site of sacrifice, where he sees the frightened Rowan. The search is over ... in more ways than one.
Confusion of genres that inspired "The Wicker Man" may come from the screenwriter Anthony Shaffer wanted to subvert the contemporary concept of horror films, covered in blood, vampires and monsters, the British terror was stagnating (as clearly shown the tape could indicate Hammer Films' Dracula AD 1972 ") in comfortable clichés and archaic characters. Then, as a rebellion against all that, Shaffer decided to create a story without blood and violence, but with a definite angle fantastic. And when it was added a taste for musical director Robin Hardy, the result was an unusual film that also could be considered horror, drama, black comedy and musical.
Indeed, the musical is perfectly integrated into the tr
loves, and occurs in the form of poems and rhymes with the islanders accompanying rituals, from an innocent child to an intense game of seduction, where the beautiful Willow (Britt Ekland, the most memorable scene in the film) trying to attract the stoic Sergeant Howie. However, in my humble opinion, is the children's song that best encompasses the message of the film, which perfectly illustrates the pagan ideology, based on natural cycles and not on arbitrary divine figures: "In the tree had a branch , and the branch had a nest and the nest had an egg and the egg was a bird and the bird had a pen, and pen was a bed, and the bed was a woman, and she had a boy, and the boy had a seed and the seed had a man, and man was a grave and the grave was a tree, and the tree was a branch ... "While" The Wicker Man "does not present a specific religion, its principles pagan closely follow the old ideologies Celts, Druids and even modern Wicca School. But this does not necessarily anti-Christian simply proposes the validity of different opinions and traditions, presenting the Inspector Howie as closed and inflexible whose devotion is dangerously close to fanaticism and intolerance that implies. However, other people have said that "The Wicker Man" is actually a denunciation of religious extremism: Howie is so wrong with intolerance, as the pagans with their extreme sacrifices. But from any point of view, and under any purpose, it is clear that "The Wicker Man" is a film of devastating impact and memorable resolution.
The economical screenplay manages to create an interesting mystery about the missing girl, and when it finally arrives the unforgettable end, we realize that it is undoubtedly logical and consistent with everything we've seen. So perhaps the film is more enjoyable the second time, because you can better appreciate the tracks and turns that lead to the inevitable conclusion. In addition, the visual richness of the film, shot in stunning locations, fills the eye with tiny details, but essential to create an ethereal world and fantastic ... but genuinely dangerous.
The cast performed a great job with Edward Woodward (best known for his work, years later, in the television series "The Equalizer" - The Righteous) as the implacable Sergeant Howie. It is rumored that the director offered the role of terror veteran Peter Cushing, which would have been just fantastic, but the choice is equally Woodward solid, presenting a serious character actor, which emphasizes the simplicity of the character. Also it is rumored that Christopher Lee (whose career was solidified with her many appearances in the films of Hammer Films, but it will be more familiar to modern audiences for their shares in the new trilogy of Star Wars as Count Dooku or Saruman in the trilogy of The Lord of the Rings) worked for free for "The Wicker Man", and so far the states as the best film in which he participated. In fact, were the efforts and influence of what Lee got "The Wicker Man" had more widespread, since the study British Lion had little faith in the work, To the point of letting part of the original negative was destroyed! Fortunately, the American producer Roger Corman got (somehow) a complete copy, and this is how we can now enjoy the original version of 102 minutes. Although, frankly, the 88-minute version that premiered in 1973 is almost perfect in itself. Accompanying
Lee and Woodward appears a trio of iconic actresses in the genre: Britt Ekland ("Asylum", "Endless Night"), Diane Cilento ("ZPG", "Spell of Evil") and the incomparable Ingrid Pitt ( "The Vampire Lovers", "The House That Blood Dripper"). But, also defying expectations the public, all appear as simple women of the island: the landlord's daughter, school teacher and librarian. Very appropriate for the horror film is not horror. Over the years, "The Wicker Man" has become legend, partly because of the rugged history of the making, in part because of its irreverent intention, and largely for their excellent creative team, both in front and behind the cameras. His deceptively simple story hides much meaning (particularly for this time of religious fanaticism and intolerance in society), so it is essential for every movie buff fantastic, cult movies, or simply bueno world cinema. Maybe algunos elements of plot parezcan Ahora su product of culture "hippie", but he will shout a su transcends time and continues TENIENDO equal validity and impact on su Estreno, hare treinta of bad years.
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