The definitive version of ‘70s cult classic The Wicker Man will be released later this month in a new beautiful digital restoration. Using a 35mm print that was recently discovered at the Harvard Film Archive, this restored final cut of the film has been approved by its director, Robin Hardy, as the one that, in his words, “fulfills my vision.” The unauthorized version released back in 1973 was mutilated by its original distributor and is the movie that most of us are familiar with. So, this resurrected edition really should be an eye-opener for fans and novices alike.
The unmolested print of The Wicker Man was discovered via a Facebook campaign launched by the film’s current worldwide rights holder Studiocanal. Other than re-introducing me to an old flame that eventually became my wife, this is about the grooviest thing Facebook has done for me personally.
The film’s press release offers some details:
Butchered by its doomed UK distributor to fit on double bills, with its original camera negative apparently lost, THE WICKER MAN has gathered a devoted fan base over the past four decades. Some missing scenes were recovered from an obsolete one-inch broadcast tape, but over the years there were rumors of complete 35mm prints floating around.
Earlier this year, the search intensified when worldwide rights holder Studiocanal initiated a Facebook campaign to recover the missing 35mm material, resulting in the discovery of a 92-minute 35mm release print at the Harvard Film Archive. This print was scanned and sent to London, where it was recently inspected by director Robin Hardy, who confirmed that it was the same cut he had put together for its American distributor in 1979, years after the film’s UK bow. This culminated in a digital restoration of the complete U.S. theatrical version, which director Hardy recently anointed as “the final cut.”
The Wicker Man will be opening Friday, September 27 at IFC Center in NY, Nuart in LA, and national release to follow. Thanks to Rialto distribution for getting behind it and getting it out there.
Here’s a clip from the restored version:
The extraordinarily cool poster is by artist Dan Mumford.