My choice for this week’s movie is not the insipid 2006 remake but the glorious 1973 original starring Edward Woodward and Christopher Lee. The Wicker Man is not only in my top ten movies of all time, but probably more significantly was placed sixth best British film ever by Total Film magazine in 2004.

It combines a plausible plot, pseudo-celtic ritual, strange remote people living in a strange remote place, barely suppressed sexual yearnings, a fabulous musical score and some top notch performances from its stars and support alike.

Sergeant Neil Howie of the West Highlands Constabulary arrives on the remote Scottish island of Summerisle looking for a missing teenager girl: Rowan Morrison. The island belongs to Lord Summerisle and so, it soon becomes apparent, do most of the population.

The island is famous because of its plentiful fruit harvest – mainly of apples – but Sergeant Howie soon discovers that the harvest has failed in recent times. The locals, all practicing pagans, are seeking to appease their gods to replenish the bounty of the harvest, and Howie believes Rowan is being held alive somewhere in preparation for being sacrificed.

All together now:
“Corn riggs and barley riggs and
corn riggs are bonny.
I’ll not forget the happy nights
along the riggs with Annie.”

The Wicker Man: ITV4, Saturday 19 May, 10.30pm

Worth a look:
A Few Good Men: ITV2, Sunday 20 May, 11pm
The Natural: ITV3, Friday 25 May, 9pm