Friday June 10, 7:30pm
The Wicker Man, uncut version
by Robin Hardy
starring Edward Woodward, Ingrid Pitt, Brit Ekland, Christopher Lee, Diane Cilento
Suggested Donation – Free for Members!
From “The Wicker Man” (Robin Hardy, 1973)
Microscope invites you to join us for a viewing of the rare long version (102 minutes) of the cult 1970s British mystery horror film “The Wicker Man”.
The film positions a pious Christian policeman (Edward Woodward) investigating the disappearance of a young girl against the pagan villagers of a fictional Scottish isle headed by Lord Summerisle (Christopher Lee). With Brit Eklund and Ingrid Pitt in seductress roles as tavern owner’s daughter and librarian respectively, this work confronts themes of sexuality, religion, obedience and power as well as the role of nature vs the manmade, both with humor and terror.
The film was originally released as a 88 minute theatrical version. A 90+ minute versions also exists. The 102 minute version appears to exist today solely on VHS.
“The Wicker Man was a surprise sleeper hit in 1973, after it was deemed unworthy of an independent release […] It ultimately became arguably the most acclaimed British horror film of all time and star Christopher Lee referred to it as the best film he’d ever made.” – The Guardian
The Wicker Man, 1973
directed by Robin Hardy
starring Edward Woodward, Ingrid Pitt, Brit Ekland, Christopher Lee, Diane Cilento
soundtrack by Paul Giovanni
102 minute unedited version
_
Robin Hardy was born on October 10, 1929 in London. He began his directorial career in Canada and the US, where he was mainly involved in making television dramas. In the 1960s, he returned to London and became involved in making commercials and informational films for the company Hardy Shaffer Ferguson Avery, which Hardy formed with the writer Anthony Shaffer. As a result of this partnership, the two men were involved in the creation and production of Hardy’s feature debut, the pagan horror masterpiece The Wicker Man (1973). He also co-wrote and produced Forbidden Sun (d. Zelda Barron, 1989), which continued some of The Wicker Man’s thematic preoccupations. Robin Hardy, who made a sequel in 2011 titled The Wicker Tree, still plans to work on a threequel to The Wicker Man.
From “The Wicker Man” (Robin Hardy, 1973)
_
Microscope Gallery Events Series 2016 is sponsored, in part, by the Greater New York Arts Development Fund of the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, administered by Brooklyn Arts Council (BAC).
With the underwriting support of the Robert D. Bielecki Foundation.
