A Query about the various versions of THE WICKER MAN

[Kikishwa]

I was wondering what difference there was between the standard theatrical version of this film and the extended version. I have read reviews (Amazon customer reviews and ebay auction description ) which suggest that the quality of the print in the extended version varies noticably when the new footage is cut in, and that the new footage actually adds very little to the final product. Is any of this accurate? And If the extended version is worth getting, is the region 2 release any better than the region 1 boxed set?

I'd appreciate any advice that I can get in this matter.

Kikishwa

[Jacob Remery]

There used to be a very good site about all the different Wicker Man versions here.
Unfortunately it's no longer there.
I got a page not found error. :(

The extended version has more scenes and gives you more background information about the sergeant Howie charachter.
Opening scenes on the mainland spring to mind.
Sergeant Howie spends 2 nights on the island in the extended version where in the shorter version he spends on night on the island.
Too mention every scene one by one is a bit too much, but these scenes all add to the "Wicker Man experience" imo. ;)

The quality with the extra scenes is noticible, but as a fan of the movie i don't mind this at all.
If your familiar with the dvd from "Witchfynder General" with Vincent Price, it's a bit like that. When you watch the export uncut version you see a noticible difference between the normal scenes and the added scenes.
An excellent review with some info about this can be found here.

The only (but major) difference between the R1 and R2 is that the R2 version also includes audio commentary by Christopher lee, Edward Woodward and
director Robin Hardy which is moderated by Mark Kermode.
So i would go for R2.

The R1 limited edtion boxset however has a brilliant packaging.
The dvd's come in a wooden box. :D

I own the R1 and R2 version and am quite happy with both. :1roll:

[David Vasser]

The extended scenes were edited in from the best source possible, which unfortunately was a Betamax video tape. All other copies of those scenes are lost!

They may turn up someday, but unless they were properly maintained the chances they would survive intact are diminishing as more and more time passes. I suppose we should be thankful that the video tape was there!

There is absolutely nothing "wrong" with the 88 minute version. It tells the story and is a great movie and was in fact the only version ever shown in the US that I know anything about. If the longer version was ever screened in the USA, someone please correct me. But the only one I ever saw at theaters was the 88 minute "one-night" edit by "B" movie King, Roger Corman. Bless his heart.

[Kikishwa]

Jacob wrote:

An excellent review with some info about this can be found here.

Thank you both, you have pretty well told me everything that I wanted to know and the article was very informative. I think I'll stick with the version I've got (region 1 theatrical) :) .

Kikishwa