Fifty years on, Britt admits: ‘I’m proud of The Wicker Man … but not my body double’
WIDELY regarded as one of the greatest British films ever made, it is a beguiling and strange mix of horror, thriller and musical with one of the most memorable endings in cinematic history.
Now, as The Wicker Man celebrates its 50th anniversary, superstar Britt Ekland, who played the mysterious female lead, has spoken of her pride at the film’s longevity.
The plot is a sinister tale of a police officer lured to a remote island community, the story building to its unforgettable climax among picturesque locations in south-west Scotland.
However, Ms Ekland, now 81, remains a little aggrieved at the famous dance scene for which a stripper acted as her body double.
She said: ‘At the time I made some comments about how difficult the film was and it was interpreted that I have ill feelings towards it.
‘The reality is that filming took place when I was young, alone and pregnant. It was a very harsh shoot and anyone who took part would say the same.
‘We walked for hours and hours to get to remote cliffs for some scenes. However, time does change things and I am proud of the film as people are so fond of it.’
Ms Ekland has enjoyed a glittering career which also saw her star in James Bond movie The Man With The Golden Gun the year after The Wicker Man was released.
The film, which also starred horror icon Christopher Lee, hit cinemas on December 6, 1973, and has now been rereleased for its 50-year anniversary. It retains the naked dance scene and Ms Ekland said: ‘I didn’t ask for a body double.
‘I had no problem doing the dance naked but I did not want to have my bottom photographed.
‘When I went to London on my day off they brought in a local stripper. I didn’t know anything about it. ‘When I saw that part of the film I was shocked. Not only did she not look anything like me but her body did not look like mine. Her bottom was huge and it was embarrassing.
‘At the time, no one had any belief in the film except Christopher Lee, who absolutely loved it. He always said it was the best thing he’d ever done.
‘However, I saw the film this year for only the second time and I thought it was entertaining and intriguing.’
She added of the movie’s conclusion: ‘It is truly shocking and that is the lure of the film. There are not a lot of films from that period which retain such a profile today. I am very happy to have been part of it.’