Retro Review: The Wicker Man (1973--the original version)
09/19/2006 08:13 Filed in: Movies and Television
Rick's note: I've been quite busy the past few days (and had a brief computer problem that has prevented me from posting), but stepping into the gap is Andrew Wells to review the original 1973 version of the Wicker Man. Be sure to read my review of the 2006 version staring Nicolas Cage.
A Guest Retrospective by Andrew Wells
Almost all movie remakes are pointless, but some seem especially so. When I read Rick's review of the new remake of The Wicker Man with Nicholas Cage, I had to really wonder what the producers were thinking, because the original portrays events and raises issues that are impossible to discuss with any sensibility in this day and age.
Here's the scenario of the original movie: A call goes out to a police district headquarters in rural England. A little girl has gone missing from a small village on a remote isle. Sergeant Howie (Edward Woodward) travels by seaplane to investigate the disappearance. Although he comes off as a bit rigid in the portrayal, the movie goes to great length for the viewer to understand that Howie is a devout, practicing Christian (most likely Catholic) who draws strength from his faith. He is scheduled to be married in a week, but feels compelled by duty to go out to investigate the girl's disappearance.
The island's main employer and ruler is Lord Summerisle (Christopher Lee, who has claimed this as his favorite role). In order to increase production and keep the workers happy, the rulers decided to long ago give up practicing Christianity and instead pursue paganism.
This is where The Wicker Man really gets macabre, because this is not your average Hollywood paganism (like witchcraft). The movie takes considerable time to explore a society that has evolved without Christian teaching. What would people act like? What would their morals be? How would their values appear in their surroundings? The movie comes up with some distrurbing ideas. The image I find hardest to shake is a group of children celebrating recess by dancing around a maypole and chanting hymns to an earth goddess like they were nursery rhymes.
Howie not only now has to find the missing girl, but he must do so in surroundings that are completely different to his beliefs. This leads to all sorts of temptations for Howie, much of it sexual. And this is where I want to be absolutely clear to the reader: Even though everything is given a proper context, and is by no means gratuitous, there is a fair amount of nudity in this movie, especially when Howie first arrives in the village. Sensitive viewers may want to skip the scene of Howie's night at the inn altogether. After that, the movie settles down somewhat, though the discussion is still frank.
Yet the movie remains, quite amazingly, fair-balanced in discussing Christianity and paganism. Though he has temptations, Howie proves to be quite strong and formidable in his faith. The scenes where he calls on God for strength are genuine moments. His alarm at the situation he is in does not keep him from doing his work or standing up for God. The pagan village, though shown to be peaceful and kind, is not glamorized as uninhibited and free-spirited. Quite the opposite, actually. Strenghts and weaknesses of both systems are pointed out and examined.
Why would anyone even TRY a remake? It is impossible to discuss this movie's ideas in the current culture. Religious belief of any kind is a powderkeg in the media right now. And to make a movie that rationally examines these issues, instead of pushing emotional buttons and taking shortcuts? Is that even possible? Would people be willing to take the time to listen? Would dialogue open up? Sadly, I doubt it.
So it makes sense that the new Wicker Man would most likely be a straight-on horror remake. But the new movie won't be able to get that right either. The original ending is one of the all-time movie shockers, but what makes it shocking is not what happens, but why it happens--and that's all tied in to the issues the movie raises.
Because of the aforementioned nudity and that shocking finale, I'm not going to endorse this movie. But if you are looking for a movie that will make you think, The Wicker Man is a good one. If nothing else, you'll wish you could find out what happens in the village next spring.
Andrew Wells may be contacted at arwell012002@yahoo.com.
For further investigation:
- The Wicker Man (1973): IMDB Page
- The Wicker Man (2006): IMDB Page
- From Wikipedia: The Wicker Man 1973 movie entry and "Wicker Man" general entry
A Guest Retrospective by Andrew Wells
Here's the scenario of the original movie: A call goes out to a police district headquarters in rural England. A little girl has gone missing from a small village on a remote isle. Sergeant Howie (Edward Woodward) travels by seaplane to investigate the disappearance. Although he comes off as a bit rigid in the portrayal, the movie goes to great length for the viewer to understand that Howie is a devout, practicing Christian (most likely Catholic) who draws strength from his faith. He is scheduled to be married in a week, but feels compelled by duty to go out to investigate the girl's disappearance.
The island's main employer and ruler is Lord Summerisle (Christopher Lee, who has claimed this as his favorite role). In order to increase production and keep the workers happy, the rulers decided to long ago give up practicing Christianity and instead pursue paganism.
This is where The Wicker Man really gets macabre, because this is not your average Hollywood paganism (like witchcraft). The movie takes considerable time to explore a society that has evolved without Christian teaching. What would people act like? What would their morals be? How would their values appear in their surroundings? The movie comes up with some distrurbing ideas. The image I find hardest to shake is a group of children celebrating recess by dancing around a maypole and chanting hymns to an earth goddess like they were nursery rhymes.
Howie not only now has to find the missing girl, but he must do so in surroundings that are completely different to his beliefs. This leads to all sorts of temptations for Howie, much of it sexual. And this is where I want to be absolutely clear to the reader: Even though everything is given a proper context, and is by no means gratuitous, there is a fair amount of nudity in this movie, especially when Howie first arrives in the village. Sensitive viewers may want to skip the scene of Howie's night at the inn altogether. After that, the movie settles down somewhat, though the discussion is still frank.
Yet the movie remains, quite amazingly, fair-balanced in discussing Christianity and paganism. Though he has temptations, Howie proves to be quite strong and formidable in his faith. The scenes where he calls on God for strength are genuine moments. His alarm at the situation he is in does not keep him from doing his work or standing up for God. The pagan village, though shown to be peaceful and kind, is not glamorized as uninhibited and free-spirited. Quite the opposite, actually. Strenghts and weaknesses of both systems are pointed out and examined.
Why would anyone even TRY a remake? It is impossible to discuss this movie's ideas in the current culture. Religious belief of any kind is a powderkeg in the media right now. And to make a movie that rationally examines these issues, instead of pushing emotional buttons and taking shortcuts? Is that even possible? Would people be willing to take the time to listen? Would dialogue open up? Sadly, I doubt it.
So it makes sense that the new Wicker Man would most likely be a straight-on horror remake. But the new movie won't be able to get that right either. The original ending is one of the all-time movie shockers, but what makes it shocking is not what happens, but why it happens--and that's all tied in to the issues the movie raises.
Because of the aforementioned nudity and that shocking finale, I'm not going to endorse this movie. But if you are looking for a movie that will make you think, The Wicker Man is a good one. If nothing else, you'll wish you could find out what happens in the village next spring.
Andrew Wells may be contacted at arwell012002@yahoo.com.
For further investigation:
- The Wicker Man (1973): IMDB Page
- The Wicker Man (2006): IMDB Page
- From Wikipedia: The Wicker Man 1973 movie entry and "Wicker Man" general entry