A special 50th anniversary event celebrating the release of cult folk horror movie The Wicker Man will be held in Newton Stewart at the end of the month.
And it promises to bring back memories for many when The Cinema screens the new 50th anniversary restoration cut of the film.
The movie was shown early to a packed house at the Newton venue in 1973 before Studio Canal released it worldwide later that year.
The one night only screening was a thank you to local people who acted as extras in the film, which was shot at locations across Galloway.
Newton Stewart Cinema chairwoman Roseanne Service said: “We look forward to welcoming the local community – especially those who remember the presence of the film cast and crew locally.
“That excitement generated in the town by Britt Ekland – although she’s on record as hating the place – was incredible.
“It is fantastic that The Wicker Man has remained a cult film.
“And it’s wonderful to look back 50 years that the community has supported not just the film but also The Cinema over all that time.”
She added: “We are so fortunate that we continue to survive after half a century.
“There will also be an opportunity for the audience to take part in a question and answer session about the film and its subsequent success.”
The film screening will be introduced by an expert on the film, John Lippincott, who recently toured Galloway collecting memories of the movie.
The evening will also feature a preview of Return to Summerisle – a new documentary with Irish filmmaker Fergal O’Riordan on how The Wicker Man built up a cult following worldwide,
The screening will be followed by a Q&A session with Olivier Award-winning Scottish actress Lesley Mackie, who played Daisy in the original film.
Award-winning film director Justin Hardy, son of Wicker director Robin Hardy, will also answer questions.
Lesley said: “Although I never could have imagined it at the time, the film developed a cult following.
“I’ve made connections with many Wicker folk and am sad but honoured to be involved in the 50th anniversary celebrations in Dumfries and Galloway.
“I’m sad because Daisy has taken on an importance she doesn’t deserve because so many of the cast are no longer with us.”
Fergal said: “Whilst only a preview showing of a work in progress, I have tremendous pride that this is to take place in the very same cinema where the first showing of The Wicker Man was given 50 years previously.
“I add my thanks in the showing of my documentary and dedicate it anew to the kind people of Scotland.”
Isle of Whithorn-based artist Amanda Sunderland has designed a poster to publicise the showing.
The evening gets underway on April 30 at 7pm.
Two days before, there will be a showing of the director’s cut of The Wicker Man in Stranraer.
And on Monday, May 1, a mini wicker man will be burnt at Burrowhead – where the original was burned during filming 51 years ago.
