
Inside The Wicker Man
How Not to Make a Cult Classic
Allan Brown(Author)
Polygon An Imprint of Birlinn Limited (Publisher)
Published on 22. April 2010
Book
Paperback/Softback
272 pages
978-1-84697-144-0 (ISBN)
Description
Inside The Wicker Man is a treat for all cinemagoers, exhaustively researched and achieving a near-perfect balance between history, trivia and serious analysis. Allan Brown describes the filming and distribution of the cult masterpiece as a 'textbook example of How Things Should Never Be Done'.
The omens were bad from the start, and proceeded to get much, much worse, with fake blossom on trees to simulate spring, actors chomping on ice-cubes to prevent their breath showing on film, and verbal and physical confrontations involving both cast and crew. The studio hated it and hardly bothered to distribute it, but today it finds favour with critics and fans alike, as a serious - if flawed - piece of cinema. Brown expertly guides readers through the film's convoluted history, attempting along the way to explain its enduring fascination, and providing interviews with the key figures - many of whom still have an axe to grind, and some of whom still harbour plans for a sequel.
The omens were bad from the start, and proceeded to get much, much worse, with fake blossom on trees to simulate spring, actors chomping on ice-cubes to prevent their breath showing on film, and verbal and physical confrontations involving both cast and crew. The studio hated it and hardly bothered to distribute it, but today it finds favour with critics and fans alike, as a serious - if flawed - piece of cinema. Brown expertly guides readers through the film's convoluted history, attempting along the way to explain its enduring fascination, and providing interviews with the key figures - many of whom still have an axe to grind, and some of whom still harbour plans for a sequel.
Reviews / Votes
'A stunning examination of one of my favourite films by one of my favourite journalists' -- A.A. Gill 'A book about The Wicker Man? I would think you'd need an encyclopaedia' -- Christopher LeeMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
Edinburgh
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Birlinn General
Illustrations
Illustrations
Dimensions
Height: 215 mm
Width: 135 mm
Thickness: 22 mm
Weight
332 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-84697-144-0 (9781846971440)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

E-Book
02/2012
Polygon An Imprint of Birlinn Limited
€10.79
Available for download
Person
Allan Brown is a writer and critic with the Scottish edition of The Sunday Times. He lives in Glasgow.