The Wicker Man [1973 version] (4½ Stars)

Today I'm finally keeping a promise that I made two years ago. I promised to watch the two versions of the Wicker Man back to back. I watched the 1973 film today and I'll watch the 2006 film tomorrow.

I seem to be one of the few people who actually likes the 2006 version. Some people call it a remake, but that's incorrect. A film is a remake if it's a copy or adaptation of a previously made film. If two films are both based on the same book, the second film can't be called a remake. They're just different versions of the same story. Both Wicker Man films are based on the novel "Ritual" by David Pinner.

Putting it a different way, if a film has an original screenplay all future films that tell the same story are remakes. If a film has an adapted screenplay all future films that tell the same story are new versions. For instance:

"City of Angels" (1998) is a remake of "Wings of Desire" (1987).

"Dracula" (1958) isn't a remake of "Nosferatu" (1922), it's a new version.

Christopher Lee made more than 250 films in his lifetime. He's best known for playing Count Dracula in various films. Younger people might know him better as Saruman in the Lord of the Rings Trilogy. However, he claimed at the end of his life that "Wicker Man" was his best film. I don't know what criteria he used for this judgement. Maybe he only meant that it's the film he most enjoyed making. Whatever the reason was, he appreciated it more than all his other more famous roles.

Although Edward Woodward appeared in many films he's best known for his television roles. Some people like him best in the title role of "Callan", others prefer him as Robert McCall in "The Equalizer". When he was asked to play the spy boss Mr. Jones in "La Femme Nikita", his character was based on David Callan from the TV series.

In the film Edward plays Neil Howie, a sergeant in the Highland Police Force. It's not stated where he comes from (at least not in the film, maybe in the book), but I assume that as a senior officer he would have been based in Inverness. He travels to Summerisle, a fictional island in the Outer Hebrides, after receiving a letter asking him to find a missing girl.

The islanders are very uncooperative. First they claim they don't know the girl. When Sgt. Howie finds proof of her existence, they say that she's dead. He visits the cemetery, and her coffin is empty apart from a rabbit. His investigations go round in circles.

For Sgt. Howie it's not just about solving the case. He's a deeply religious Christian, and he's horrified by the paganism and sexual immorality that he sees on the island. He's engaged to be married, and he's still a virgin because he considers sex before marriage to be a sin. The sexual temptations are great.

He manages to resist Britt Ekland, the innkeeper's daughter, even though the sweat is pouring off his face.

He even manages to resist Ingrid Pitt, the librarian. I couldn't have resisted her. No way!

Even the village schoolgirls are over-sexualised. When he visits the school they're being taught about phallus symbols. He gets nervous and yells that it's disgusting.

At the centre of everything is Christopher Lee as Lord Summerisle. He's polite and well spoken, and he promises full cooperation in the investigations, but his answers are always evasive, as far as the inquiries into the missing girl are concerned. When it comes to the matter of religion he's more open and speaks at length. He defends the paganism practised on the island. It all makes more sense than the religion that Sgt. Howie follows. The islanders bring yearly sacrifices to the Gods, and in return they have a good harvest.

When it was released in the cinemas "The Wicker Man" was a commercial failure. Not even the big names in the cast could tempt people into the cinemas. Maybe the posters were confusing and people didn't know what to expect. Whatever the reason, it failed. In later years it acquired a cult following and now has ardent admirers.

Success Rate:  - 11.1

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