Question 1

True or false: Christopher Lee considered his role in 'The Wicker Man' his finest performance in any film.

Accepted Answer

True. Lee famously said this in interviews, praising the script and his character. He felt it was his most challenging and rewarding role.

Question 2

True or false: Britt Ekland's nude dance scene was performed entirely by the actress herself without a body double.

Accepted Answer

False. Ekland was pregnant during filming and refused to do the nude scene. A body double, dancer Annette Andre, performed the dance. Ekland only did close-ups.

Question 3

True or false: The original cut of the film was over 90 minutes long, but the studio trimmed it heavily for release.

Accepted Answer

True. The director's cut ran about 99 minutes. The studio cut it to around 87 minutes for a double feature, losing key character development scenes.

Question 4

True or false: Edward Woodward performed all his own stunts, including the famous burning scene.

Accepted Answer

False. The burning scene used a stunt double and careful camera work. Woodward was nearby but not actually in the flames due to safety concerns.

Question 5

True or false: The Wicker Man was originally released as a double feature with a film about killer bees.

Accepted Answer

True. Distributor British Lion paired it with 'The Deadly Bees' in 1973. This odd double bill hurt the film's reception, as audiences expected a horror double feature.

Question 6

True or false: The film was shot entirely on location in Scotland during a single week in October.

Accepted Answer

False. Principal photography took about six weeks, starting in November 1972, not one week. Locations included Galloway and Skye, with some studio work.

Question 7

True or false: The film's pagan songs were written by the screenwriter, not a professional composer.

Accepted Answer

True. Screenwriter Anthony Shaffer wrote the lyrics for the folk songs. Composer Paul Giovanni set them to music. Shaffer was a playwright, not a songwriter.

Question 8

True or false: The film was banned in the United Kingdom for over a decade due to its religious themes.

Accepted Answer

False. It was never banned by the BBFC. It received an X rating and faced distribution issues, but it wasn't officially banned. Some local councils did restrict screenings.

The Wicker Man Trivia Questions