£20.99
Generally regarded as one of the best-ever British horror films, THE WICKER MAN very nearly sank into obscurity shortly after being made. The story concerns a devout Christian police officer’s journey to a remote Scottish island to investigate the case of a missing child. He instead finds a community that has renounced Christianity in favour of pagan fertility rites.
Extras:
• DISC 1
• The Wicker Man – Original Theatrical Release (84 mins)
• Theatrical Trailer
• DISC 2
• The Wicker Man – Director’s Cut (99 mins)
• Feature length commentary: Christopher Lee, Edward Woodward, and Director Robin Hardy, moderated by Mark Kermode
• The Wicker Man Enigma - 35 minute documentary
• Burnt Offering: The Cult of The Wicker Man – 50 minute documentary presented by Mark Kermode
• 1973 interview with Christopher Lee and Robin Hardy (25 mins)
• DISC 3
• Original soundtrack CD
Since its inception in 1999, Optimum Releasing has steadfastly adhered to one mantra: supporting filmmakers with a vision, and bringing these visions to the widest audience possible.
From Michael Moore to Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, and Gus Van Sant to Guillermo Del Toro, the company - a UK-based, all rights company servicing the release of feature films across Theatrical, Video, Television and Online media - has therefore acquired a reputation for a dynamic, marketing-orientated approach to distribution; while the formation of Optimum Home Entertainment in 2004 has seen the company move into the DVD and video market, releasing over 60 titles in its first year of operation alone.
The company has enjoyed success with a wide range of films including key US Independents such as Gus Van Sant's Palme d'Or winning Elephant, acclaimed films Roger Dodger and Igby Goes Down and the groundbreaking Academy Award nominated American Splendor. Not forgetting Oscar winning films such as Spirited Away and Nowhere in Africa.
Optimum Releasing has consistently supported emerging filmmaking talent such as Alejandro Gonzalez Inarrittu (Amores Perros), Guillermo Del Toro (The Devil's Backbone) and Fabien Bielinsky (Nine Queens) as well as established filmmakers such as Oliver Stone (Comandante), Gus Van Sant (Elephant), Michael Moore (Fahrenheit 9/11), Jean-Luc Godard (Eloge de L'Amour) and Michael Winterbottom (9 Songs). The films feature an impressive array of acting talent that includes Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Susan Sarandon, Bill Nighy, Jeremy Irons, Claire Danes, Paddy Considine, Isabella Rossellini and many many more.
Documentaries have always provided a key element in Optimum's output with films as varied as Lost in La Mancha, Biggie and Tupac, Dark Days and nature documentary Deep Blue. The company's work in this field culminated with the 2004 release of Michael Moore's Palme d'Or winning polemic Fahrenheit 9/11. Grossing in excess of £6.5 million at the UK box, the film has become by far the most successful documentary feature of all time.
Celebrating classic cinema has always been a big part of Optimum Releasing. Titles such as The Third Man, This is Spinal Tap, Breathless, Spirit of the Beehive and Whisky Galore hold a deserved place in the Optimum catalogue and sit alongside new British cinema such as Dead Man's Shoes, Lawless Heart and Born Romantic.
With a commitment to developing Optimum Releasing in the future the company will be further exploring its activities through Production, Optimum Home Entertainment whilst also looking at new means of distributing filmed entertainment.
