The Wicker Man

**Dan Hughes** · 11th July 2007, 12:26 PM

For information of film fans living in Sussex, England, the cinema in Uckfield, East Sussex, will be showing the original British version of 'The Wicker Man' on August 27, 2007 on the big screen. Their website is http://www.picturehouseuckfield.com/Britishfilm.htm
but doesn't say if it will be the uncut or the cut version of the film. Having studied this film on a two-year film study course, I will be at or near the head of the queue! The Picture House, Uckfield, are showing the film as part of a season of classic British films they are running. Anyone who hasn't seen it will be in for a rare treat.

**Dan Hughes** · 11th July 2007, 12:32 PM

Correction to my earlier message - the correct date of showing is August 28.

**Kaitlin Wright** · 12th July 2007, 02:23 AM

Thanks for the information, would be an interesting thing to visit. I love the film I have it in my collection of Mr Lees' films I saw the remake (unfortunately) last week on cable. they should not have wasted their time you cannot do better than the original in this case. Kaitlin

**Isabel Alves** · 13th July 2007, 02:18 AM

Unhappily, Dan I don't live Sussex for to enter in this line. Here in Brazil I didn't know never if this film passed at the movies. I met it for TV and it is one of my films preferred.

**Dan Hughes** · 13th July 2007, 02:04 PM

Isabel, I am sure it will come your way one day. In Britain some cinemas have received subsidised digital projection equipment on condition they also show films from around the World and also British films. That is why we are suddenly beginning to see good films again, because if they have several screens they can still show Hollywood blockbusters on some screens, and reserve one screen for good films, including cult films and classics. I agree with Kaitlin and others that it was an insult for Hollywood to 're-make' a film with the same title, but we are used to Hollywood ruining everyone else's work. We enjoy Brazilian films by the way!

**Isabel Alves** · 14th July 2007, 01:56 AM

Dan, this is an important information.
I still didn't see the remake of " THE Man of Straw", but the critic for here is plenty of negative. In Brazil the film receives the name of " THE Sacrifice."

You know that the only Brazilian films that I can say that I appreciate are the infantile ones (Xuxa, The Dabblers - Os Trapalhões) and Quatrilho. Already the soap operas, these are really of great quality, I won't deny, but even so I am fan of the Mexican soap operas.

**Kaitlin Wright** · 14th July 2007, 02:38 AM

It isn't just Brazil if you live some places here in the good ol' USA you can't get some films I had to wait for the DVD of Beowulf and Grendal when it came out last year, they don't seem to like to release Independent films widely. It is a shame because we miss some really great film The Beowulf film by the way was great I recommend it . it is not one of Mr Lee's but it is afine adaptation of the poem which inspired Lord Of the Rings and other works. Kaitlin

**Dan Hughes** · 14th July 2007, 02:03 PM

Thanks for the tip on Beowulf, Kaitlin. I shall look out for it. You have the advantage in the States of getting titles often much earlier than here in Europe and frequently of better quality too, on your Criterion label. The reason I own a large DVD collection is because there is no hope of seeing most of the films at the cinema except at specialised festivals, and I live in the countryside so it isn't easy. I know we're wandering off subject a bit here, but how was The Keeper?

**Kaitlin Wright** · 14th July 2007, 02:33 PM

It's the Beowulf with Gerard Butler and Stellan Skarsgard there is another version out that isn't nearly as good. This was an indie shot in Iceland last year the film is well acted and Beautiful to watch. although I really wish Mr Butler could clean up his Scottish accent,which is adorable but a little hard to understand at times. Kaitlin

**Kaitlin Wright** · 16th July 2007, 02:27 AM

O.K Dan Here goes, I got to watch the Keeper Yesterday (finally) Mr Lee is very credible in the film He always is, but I think the rest of the cast phoned in their parts the plot concerns a Keeper of a Mental hospital played by Mr Lee. who hypnotizes his patients all of whom are from wealthy and powerful families. When the family members of the patients begin to die off mysteriously the Keeper is investigated. I can't really tell if this was played for laughs or for serious. Mr Lee is spot on with his portrayal but the rest of the cast can't seem to decide whether this is serious or not. It is a cast of largely unknown actors, at least to me, they may be more well known in Europe. The musical score is annoying and the photography is rather pedestrian. It's a standard entry on the whole for these kinds of films, but it was worth it to say I have seen one of Mr Lee's films I hadn't seen before. Kaitlin

**Dan Hughes** · 16th July 2007, 01:40 PM

Thanks for all the info Kaitlin. I must confess to not having consciously seen any of Mr Lee's 'B' movies; he scared the living daylights out of me as a teenager as Frankenstein's monster and again with Dracula; I only caught up with 'The Mummy' last week, and I have on order 'The Devil Rides Out' as I was a big Dennis Wheatley fan again as a teenager and Mr Lee comments in his autobiography that it is film he would like to remake with the facilities of today's technology. 'The Man with the Golden Gun' is another film I have yet to see, so lots to look forward to. I shall report on 'The Wicker Man' on the big screen in due course, even though it is a film I know 'inside out.'

**Kaitlin Wright** · 16th July 2007, 02:18 PM

Both films are excellent. Mr Lee is wonderful in both. He's the "good guy" in Devil Rides Out and the anti Bond in Man with the Golden Gun, which like most Bond films is quite fun. Hope you enjoy both Kaitlin

**Isabel Alves** · 16th July 2007, 07:56 PM

Yes it is very good to see Mr. Lee as a good boy in the film "'The Devil Rides Out', when he struggles against the forces of the evil... Already in " THE Man with the Golden Gun ", he is a bad boy, but he doesn't stop being a very interesting, elegant person... I find this character outstanding, ironic. It is an entertaining film and that and arrests us the attention. Scaramanga is A DREAM!

**Kaitlin Wright** · 17th July 2007, 02:14 AM

I loved the way he did Scarmanga, it is much different than the book, but the character as Mr Lee played him had many more demensions. I think he is one of the better foils for Bond. They seem to be well matched. That doesn't happen in the Bond films very often Kaitlin

**Helen Dyer** · 23rd August 2007, 11:21 PM

Hi Everyone, As the dates close in for the UK re-premiere of The Wicker Man (1973). The BBC has a 5 minute audio/video of Edward Woodward talking about the film....The video starts off with about 1 minute of scenes between Sgt. Howie and Lord SummerIsle; then during the rest of the video interview they have scenes playing in the background.....

If you have the time and are interested here is the BBC link:

Scan down near the bottom where it has 'Video and Audio News'

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/default.stm

Cheers,
Helen