Other mistake: During his conversation with the landlord of the pub he ends up staying in, Sergeant Howie makes it clear that he did not intend to stay on Summerisle overnight, that he had been delayed and so needed accommodation. Makes you wonder why he packed his pyjamas. He's wearing them when Britt Ecklund does her famous naked song and dance routine, and they are not new so we know he didn't buy them that day. When he arrived he didn't even think he'd be on Summerisle for more than a few hours - we don't see him with so much as an overnight bag.
The Wicker Man (1973)
Plot summary
Directed by: Robin Hardy
Starring: Christopher Lee, Britt Ekland, Diane Cilento, Edward Woodward
A young girl has been reported missing on Summerisle, a remote Scottish Island and Sergeant Howie is sent to investigate. On arriving on the Island Howie sees how the islanders live and is a bit unnerved because they are all weirdo's in their own rights. No one knows who the missing girl is and Howie is sent on a wild goose chase by the islanders trying to get to the bottom of it. He eventually seeks out Lord Summerisle (Christopher Lee)who is also barking mad, and learns that the islanders live by different rules and philosophies which Howie very strongly disagrees with (being a devout, virgin christian). The apple crop of Summerisle failed the year before and the islanders want to make a sacrifice to the sun god's to ensure it does'nt happen again. Howie, we learn, has been lured to the island as the perfect sacrifice with the pretence of investigating the missing girl. In the end he get's sacrificed in the Wicker Man.
Incidentally, you can visit the remains of the Wicker Man on Burrow Head, in Galloway, South West Scotland.
More mistakes in The Wicker Man
Sergeant Howie: What religion can they possibly be learning jumping over bonfires?
Lord Summerisle: Parthenogenesis.
Sergeant Howie: What?
Lord Summerisle: Literally, as Miss Rose would doubtless say in her assiduous way, reproduction without sexual union.
Sergeant Howie: Oh, what is all this? I mean, you've got fake biology, fake religion... Sir, have these children never heard of Jesus?
Lord Summerisle: Himself the son of a virgin, impregnated, I believe, by a ghost.
More trivia for The Wicker Man
Question: If they needed a virgin for the ritual why does Britt try to seduce him? She could have spoiled everything.
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Answer: He was a devout man of faith. They had to test his virtue, to tempt him to break the ten commandments or the seven deadly sins.