Chances are about half of you have seen this film. For the remaining half, I am going to include a somewhat decent summary. This is a great film, and a great choice by Brochettaward. The hook is that this film stars Christopher Lee in a non-classic monster role.
So what is it about? This is a classic, so there are plenty of good explanations. I am using IMDB commenter Bob the Moo today:
Drawn to a small Scottish Island by a letter pleading for help in finding a kidnapped girl, Sergeant Neil Howie realizes that things are very different from life on the mainland. He begins to suspect that Rowan’s disappearance may be part of a ritual to appease the nature gods worshipped on the island. — Bob the Moo
The plot is excellent, the feel of being unwelcome is pervasive during the film. Nothing more about the plot can be shared without tipping a hand about the ending.
Why did this get made? Christopher Lee, the man who can do just about anything (see Bonus Content below) did not want to be pigeonholed into being a Hammer Horror Film monster the rest of his life. Understandable. He is a man of many talents. He reached out and found a writer and assembled this project. So what you are seeing, in addition to being one of the great classics of British horror, is a project that sprung from Christopher Lee’s desire to escape pigeonholing.
Trivia! This film had no budget at all. Christopher Lee and most of the cast went without any pay. In addition, Christopher Lee funded his own publicity tour for the film. He did this out of passion, and considered this to be the best film he ever made. Below is one heck of a trivia point about the re-release in America:
The U.S. re-release was scheduled for November 1978, but was pushed to January 1979 due to the infamous Jonestown Massacre that happened in that same month. Ironically like the movie, the incident was also tied to a cult named People’s Temple and was led by their charismatic leader and pastor Jim Jones. –IMDB
So watch! Or don’t! everything is voluntary!
NOTE! Lots of discussion over Song of the South last week (Bro, you missed it). I agree, it is an excellent pick from Bro. Nobody seemed bothered about having to go to Internet Archive to watch it on a PC, possibly with dubious quality. So I am going to show it on December 11th, when I am traveling. It gives me joy to know I will be watching it on my PC from a hotel in San Fran. I already had The Wicker Man written up last week, so this is playing for Bro’s Audience Appreciation Thursday.
Bonus Content
Is it Shatner or is it Shakespeare?
Christopher Lee sings Massacre of the Saxons
Christopher Lee sings My Way
I think I only saw a remake with Nicolas Cage? Or did I hallucinate that?
“The Wicker Man is a 2006 horror film written and directed by Neil LaBute and starring Nicolas Cage, Ellen Burstyn, Kate Beahan, Frances Conroy, Molly Parker, Leelee Sobieski and Diane Delano.t is a remake and reimagining of the 1973 British film The Wicker Man, and draws very loosely from David Pinner’s 1967 novel Ritual.”
Sorry. Long work day.
Is that Demi Lovato leaning on the TV?
There *are* boobies in this one, aren’t there? It’s been a while since I watched it.
I believe so.
This is completely unfamiliar to me.
*presses play*
That’s one creepy candy store.
Chances are about half of you have seen this film. For the remaining half, I am going to include a somewhat decent summary. This is a great film, and a great choice by Brochettaward. The hook is that this film stars Christopher Lee in a non-classic monster role.
Oooo. I’ll queue this one up. I won’t be able to stick around to watch tonight.
Thanks!
I haven’t seen much Hammer but I’ve seen his turn in Space: 1999 so this intrigues.
You’ve never seen him play Dracula? And Peter Cushing as Van Helsing?
Not that I recall.
Then you totally need to see that.
I can arrange that. Not to mention he was the Mummy, and Frankenstein’s Monster. And powerful in all those roles.
Did we do Dracula 1972 AD yet?
How about “The Mountain Men”? A 1980ish western with Chuck Heston and Brian Kieth filmed near the Tetons.
Wait. What? Who did he play in Space: 1999?
A space dude.
Season 1 was trippy AF from beginning to end. Hard to elaborate – just watch.
Thanks Rhywun. I do remember it being trippy.
Not sure who’s stupider in this: the Tesla owners or the Tesla engineers.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhWqls-CQww
The best part is around the 4-minute mark.
Was that supposed to be funny?
Some Christopher Lee trivia: when filming the LOTR movies, at one point his character is supposed to stab Gandalf, and Gandalf was supposed to scream in pain. Well, Lee went up to the director, and said that when someone is stabbed, they don’t scream. And that New Zealand director, whatever his name is, said “huh?” Apparently, Lee was a WWII English commando, and had some experience in this subject.
He was also Count Dooku in Star Wars. I have no good trivia about it.
And best forgotten by all.
He probably made more money from one Star Wars movie than he did from all the Hammer films. I respect that. But I hate all those sequels.
Cushing was also in Star Wars, but they never fought each other. Lame.
“He probably made more money from one Star Wars movie than he did from all the Hammer films. I respect that. But I hate all those sequels.”
QFT
Wait, this is trivia? He worked with Fleming in the European theater. This has led some people to accuse him of being Bond. I regard the accusation as an insult to Lee.
He was, of course, Scaramanga.
It’s been a while, but the flick’s well worth the time. I didn’t know Lee was so closely tied and engaged with it. I *did* know about his singing in the metal album (or two+). Seems an odd curveball, but I s’pose that’s what they’re for. (Much rolling Rs. *mwah* in its own way.)
“Nobody seemed bothered about having to go to Internet Archive to watch it on a PC, possibly with dubious quality. ”
“Item Size 25.3G”
That’s huge!! There is also a 518MB version.
Got that link?
https://archive.org/download/Songofthesouth4K
Is this a musical?
Ok. Technically, no. But there is a lot of people playing music. I forgot to publish a trigger warning, please don’t tell the minders…
The nekkid chick’s track was quite lovely, actually.
Although it does have a naked Britt Ekland. Breasts hath charms to soothe a savage music.
Wikipedia mentions several body and voice doubles. Ugh.
Finally.
Completely unrelated, but Iron Maiden had a song called the Wicker Man on their Brave New World album.
*pushes play
I could never get into Maiden, too noodly.
I think they wrote songs about every other movie they saw.
Here’s one that’s not noodly.
https://youtu.be/m0J7XnbUN5o?si=9cznaVlPyq-KwkVu
Fine. I’ll enact your labor.
https://youtu.be/-sQ3Af3DpeM?si=ha2t9Vj1KScEldIj
Britt Ekland was married to Peter Sellers. Probably one of the reasons he went a little nutty.
That is a challenge to sanity I’d be willing to take.
I looked her up. Damn. Damn damn.
Sadly, she was pictured with a naked Rod Steward behind her on a jet ski. This greatly displeases me. (Is it *wrong* that I instinctually don’t like him? Not regarding her, but in general.)
Saying “I do” to Sellers? Terrible, terrible idea. Yikes. (He was also majestic. Dr. Strangelove’s in my Top 10, I’d wager.)
I need to show Sellers in “The Party” sometime.
Early Rod Stewart was cool (Jeff Beck, Faces…) 80’s Rod Stewart is where semen induced stomach pumping rumors came to be.
Yes. You should be ashamed of yourself.
“Yes. You should be ashamed of yourself.”
…I’ll think about it.
Well, shoot. I forgot to pick a film for next week. I thought I may have made that mistake.
Any Matt Helm on tubi?
The Swiss Conspiracy.
There are many free movies with ads on the tubes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtZLyRgEKOg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zb7DAhxYMXQ
How about Amazon Women on the Moon? It’s a classic.
Or maybe Plan 9 from Outer Space.
I second AWOTM
Third
Tod Slaughter in Crimes in the Dark House.
He overacts *terribly*, but it’s just what the movie needs.
And the early-80s Lady Chatterley’s Lover is still on Tubi.
Holy shit, those are palm trees in Scotland!
That baffled me, too.
Once again, appreciation for the great Edward Woodward.
*Equalizer theme starts playing in head*
A big hit with older bro and me when I was in HS. Have not seen it since.
You’re making me cry. I loved that show.
Now you can watch it with Queen Latifah.
What a joke that show is.
Um… no.
I actually don’t dislike her. I just don’t get it.
Neither does CBS
Have we done The Hidden? That’s a cool flick.
Or The Challenge ? 14-year-old Slumbrew thought that was the best movie ever. Toshiro Mifune!
Delightfully twisted – A+
Popcorn time! My congresswoman is one of the six Trump has designated for execution upon conviction for treason.
Good morning, to those who call it morning.
“Miss Mexico is crowned Miss Universe at a pageant where she stood up to a host’s bullying” <– A couple gals at work were giggling at how silly Miss Norway's outfit that opened up like a doll. "Unoriginal," they said. So strange, people. All of it.
Cheerio, I go! Rainy commute. Yeesh.
Foggy. Repeat: Foggy!
No links or pictures?
How can I trust anything you say?
Oh, I’m Trustworthy incarnate.
https://www.hola.com/us/lifestyle/20251119868445/miss-norway-salmon-national-costume/
Salmon inspired, eh? I just don’t get the Scandis sometimes.
Happy Friday Glib-dudes and Glib-chicks.
👽✊🏼🌤️
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOBxcrTVer8
🎶🎶
🐥🐤🐣
Happy Friday.
Taking my kid camping with some fellow dudes from my workout group later today.
Should be a great time.
Good morning, Sean, Roat, EfE, TAFKALack, U, and Ted’S.!
Morning.
How are you today?
Well, I deleted some snark because it felt mean-spirited, even if it was targetting Ted. I think I might be in a bad mood despite surface placidity.
LOL I’m living rent-free in UCS’ head.
I can take your snark.
By the way, the late fees on the unpaid rent are accumulating. after the eviction this will go to small claims court.
Just pay your back rent.
If you take it to court, the evidence will come out that you’re a slumlord. :-p
🥳
Promotion!
Ooh, The Girl in Black Stocking is on Tubi.
Mamie Van Doren’s assets put to good use.
Stockings, plural, of course.
If you want one of those amusingly bad potboilers from the era, Tubi Where Love Has Gone.
suh’ fam
yo whats goody
Good morning, homey.
The work day is one-hour shorter today to compensate for a late meeting earlier this week.
We also get one-hour (((early release))) today and the next few Fridays.
59-minute rule?