To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the folk-horror classic, STUDIOCANAL is delighted to release a glorious new 4K restoration of THE WICKER MAN.
All three versions of the film; The Final Cut, The Director’s Cut and The Theatrical Cut, have been painstakingly restored and will be released on 25th September 2023 in an exclusive 5-disc Collector’s Edition as well as a 4-disc Steelbook version. The Final Cut will also be available on Digital the same day.
IT IS TIME TO KEEP YOUR APPOINTMENT WITH THE WICKER MAN
In the 50 years since its original release, THE WICKER MAN has achieved true cult status as one of the most revered horror films in cinema history, despite a difficult production and heavily cut original theatrical release. The search for the fabled missing scenes has only added to the myth surrounding a film that still inspires filmmakers to this day. THE WICKER MAN was directed by Robin Hardy and has a cast featuring Edward Woodward, Christopher Lee, Britt Ekland and Diane Cilento.
The film tells the chilling story of a puritan Police Sergeant who arrives on a remote Scottish Island in search of a missing girl only to find the Pagan locals claiming she never existed. THE WICKER MAN is also much celebrated for its soundtrack, composed by Paul Giovanni and overseen by Gary Carpenter, featuring haunting reworkings of traditional British folk songs.
5-DISC 4K UHD COLLECTOR’S EDITION WITH POP-UP PACKAGING
2 x UHD x 2 Blu-Ray
Exclusive Heavenly Records EP: Katy J Pearson & Friends present songs from The Wicker Man CD
01. Katy J Pearson & Wet Leg, Drug Store Romeos, Sarah Meth – Fire Leap
02. Katy J Pearson & Broadside Hacks – Willow’s Song
03. Katy J Pearson & H. Hawkline – Gently Johnny
04. Katy J Pearson & Orbury Common, Bert Ussher – Maypole
05. Broadside Hacks – Corn Rigs
06. Katy J Pearson & Broadside Hacks – Lullaby
07. Katy J Pearson & H. Hawkline – Gently Johnny (Stone Club Remix)
08. Katy J Pearson – Willow’s Song (Richard Norris Ritual Mix)
09. Katy J Pearson – Willow’s Song album version
64 Page Booklet with exclusive introduction from Justin and Dominic Hardy, plus brand-new essays
from Ritual author David Pinner, Editor of Den of Geek Rosie Fletcher, and author of the upcoming THE WICKER MAN book by John Walsh from Titan.
3 x Summerisle postcards
2 x posters – New and Original artwork
Cert: 15
FULL DISC BREAKDOWN
UHD 1
FEATURE – THE FINAL CUT (91 min)
Plus:
Revisiting the locations of The Wicker Man – 11 min 49
The Wicker Man at 50 – 10 min 44
Robin Hardy’s Script – The Lost Ending – 10 min 44
Britt Ekland interview – 10 min 22
Worshipping The Wicker Man – 23 min
The Music of The Wicker Man – 16 min
Interview with Robin Hardy (2013) – 17 min
Interview with Robin Hardy & Christopher Lee (1979) – 25 min
New Trailer – 1 min
Behind the scenes stills Gallery
Burnt Offering: The Cult of the Wicker Man – 49 min
Wicker Man Enigma – 35 min
UHD 2
FEATURE – THE DIRECTOR
FEATURE – THE DIRECTOR’S CUT (99 min)
FEATURE – THE THEATRICAL CUT (84 min)
Plus:
Audio Commentary with Robin Hardy, Christopher Lee and Edward Woodward
Making of The Commentary – 16 mins
BLU-RAY 1
FEATURE – THE FINAL CUT (91 min)
Plus:
Revisiting the locations of The Wicker Man – 11 min 49
The Wicker Man at 50 – 10 min 44
Robin Hardy’s Script – The Lost Ending – 10 min 44
Britt Ekland interview – 10 min 22
Worshipping The Wicker Man – 23 min
The Music of The Wicker Man – 16 min
Interview with Robin Hardy (2013) – 17 min
Interview with Robin Hardy & Christopher Lee (1979) – 25 min
New Trailer – 1 min
Behind the scenes stills Gallery
Burnt Offering: The Cult of the Wicker Man – 49 min
Wicker Man Enigma – 35 min
BLU-RAY 2
FEATURE – THE DIRECTOR’S CUT (99 min)
FEATURE – THE THEATRICAL CUT (84 min)
Plus:
Audio Commentary with Robin Hardy, Christopher Lee and Edward Woodward
Making of The Commentary – 16 mins
4-DISC STEELBOOK WITH BRAND NEW ARTWORK DESIGNED BY SOPHIE BLAND
2 x UHD
2 x Blu-Ray
THE RESTORATION OF THE FINAL CUT
The restoration was scanned in 4K by Silver Salt Restoration UK, from the original 35mm negative. A second generation 35mm intermediate positive produced in 1973 was used to replace a small section with unrepairable damage in the original negative. The additional footage is sourced from 35mm prints, which are the only known sources for this material. Colour grading and restoration were completed by Silver Salt Restoration UK who dedicated over 500 hours to fix physical damage to the 35mm negative, manually clean and remove dirt, sparkle and scratches. The colour grade used was previously approved by Robin Hardy and replicated here.
This project was brought to you by STUDIOCANAL, supervised by Jahanzeb Hayat and is the newest addition to the ever-expanding Vintage Classics Collection from STUDIOCANAL.
ABOUT VINTAGE CLASSICS FROM STUDIOCANAL
The stunning roster of incomparable VINTAGE CLASSICS titles includes outstanding thrillers, heart-rending masterworks, horror favourites, war dramas, Ealing comedies, and plenty of lesser-known gems. The collection boasts some of the greatest and beloved stars of British cinema including Alec Guinness, John Mills, Dirk Bogarde, Diana Dors, Richard Attenborough, Julie Christie, Hayley Mills and Jenny Agutter, directed by auteurs such as David Lynch, John Schlesinger, Carol Reed, Roger Corman, Nic Roeg and Joseph Losey. This year’s slate will boast additions of exciting and culturally important British films including I Am A Camera (1955), the original onscreen appearance of Christopher Isherwood’s inimitable Sally Bowles, war-time classic Appointment in London (1953),
Ealing dramas Frieda (1947) and The Divided Heart (1954), and the first ever titles to join the collection directed by a woman – Wendy Toye’s The Teckman Mystery (1954) and We Joined the Navy (1962).
Take an in-depth stroll around this best of British on the brand-new VINTAGE CLASSICS website, taking film fans deeper into their favourite films with behind-the-scenes stills, never-seen-before vintage campaign books, specially commissioned writing, clips, extras and trailers, and catch many of these titles on Studiocanal Presents, Apple TV+ , Amazon Prime Video Channels and ITV X Premium.
About STUDIOCANAL (a CANAL+ Company)
STUDIOCANAL, a 100% affiliate of CANAL+ Group held by Vivendi, is Europe’s leader in production, distribution and international sales of feature films and series, operating in all nine major European markets – France, United Kingdom, Germany, Poland, Spain, Denmark and Benelux – as well as in Australia and New Zealand. It finances and produces around 30 films per year, distributes around 80 films per year. It owns the largest library in Europe and one of the most prestigious libraries in the world, boasting more than 8 000 titles from 60 countries, spanning 100 years of film history. 20 million euros has been invested into the restoration of 750 classic films over the past 5 years. In addition, STUDIOCANAL also produces almost 20 series each year and operates at an international level by globally distributing its scripted productions and CANAL+ Originals (2,000 hours of current and library content in distribution). All productions take place directly through STUDIOCANAL entities or with its award-winning network of European production companies (STUDIOCANAL Series, LAILAPS FILMS, RED PRODUCTION COMPANY, URBAN MYTH FILMS, BAMBÚ PRODUCCIONES, STUDIOCANAL ORIGINAL, 2e BUREAU, SUNNYMARCH TV, SAM Productions, DINGIE/DUTCH FILMWORKS, KINO SWIAT, BIRDIE PICTURES).
© 1973 / STUDIOCANAL FILMS Ltd