The Wicker Man (1974)
- Starring:
- Edward Woodward, Britt Ekland, (more)
- Director(s):
- Robin Hardy
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- R
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A righteous police officer investigating the disappearance of a young girl comes into conflict with the unusual residents of a secluded Scottish isle in this unsettling, intelligent chiller. Brought to the island of Summerisle by an anonymous letter, Edward Woodward's constable is surprised to discover that the island's population suspiciously denies the missing girl's very existence. Even more shocking, at least to the traditionally pious law office, the island is ruled by a libertarian society organized around pagan rituals. Repelled by the open acceptance of sexuality, nature worship, and even witchcraft, the officer takes an antagonistic attitude towards the people and their leader, an eccentric but charming English lord (Christopher Lee). The officer's unease intensifies as he continues his investigation, slowly coming to fear that the girl's disappearance may be linked in a particularly horrifying manner to an upcoming public festival. Anthony Shaffer's meticulously crafted screenplay creates a thoroughly convincing alternative society, building tension through slow discovery and indirect suggestion and making the terrifying climax all the more effective. Performances are also perfectly tuned, with Woodward suitably priggish as the investigator and horror icon Lee delivering one of his most accomplished performances as Lord Summerisle. Little noticed during its original theatrical run due to studio edits and a limited release, the film's intelligence and uncanny tone has since attracted a devoted cult following. ~ Judd Blaise, All Movie Guide
- Theatrical Feature Running Time:
- 187 mins
Complete Cast:
- Edward Woodward - Sgt. Neil Howie
- Diane Cilento - Miss Rose
- Christopher Lee - Lord Summerisle
- Lorraine Peters - Girl on grave
- Donald Eccles - T.H. Lennox
- Russell Waters - Harbour Master
- Elizabeth Sinclair - Villager on Summerisle
- Aubrey Morris - Old Gardener-Gravedigger
- Lindsay Kemp - Alder MacGregor
- Ross Campbell - Communicant
- Peter Brewis - Musician
- Walter Carr - Schoolmaster
- Kevin Collins - Old Fisherman
- Juliet Cadzow - Villager on Summerisle
- Britt Ekland - Willow
- Ingrid Pitt - Librarian
- Roy Boyd - Broome
- Michael Cole - Musician
- John Young - Fishmonger
- Irene Summers - May Morrison
- John Sharp - Dr. Ewan
- Lesley Mackie - Daisy
- John Hallam - Police Constable McTaggart
- Ian Wilson - Communicant
- Geraldine Cowper - Rowan Morrison
- Charles Kearney - Butcher
- Ian Campbell - Oak
- Richard Wren - Ash Buchanan
- Director(s):
- Robin Hardy
- Writer(s):
- Anthony Shaffer
- Producer(s):
- Peter Snell
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- R(Violence, Adult Language, Not For Children, Adult Situations, Nudity)
- Closed Captioning:
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- Subtitles:
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