[Dave Boy]

This from Optimum press release.

THE NEW RESTORATION by STUDIOCANAL UK at Deluxe Restoration
In 2013 following an extensive search for original materials, STUDIOCANAL tracked down a US release print
of The Wicker Man – the so-called Abraxas US Theatrical Release Cut aka the Middle Version. The print was
discovered in the Harvard Film Archive, and scanned there in 4k before being sent to the UK and the labs
of Deluxe Restoration. Consultation with Robin Hardy confirmed that this was the cut that he himself had put
together along with Abraxas for their 1979 release, and is the version that did so well in the US and effectively
was responsible for the film achieving its current cult status and huge fan base. The Final Cut was put together
by restoring the original negative of the 1973 UK Theatrical Cut and inserting all the extra scenes from the
Abraxas cut, restored to be as close to the quality and look of the restored original negative as possible, given
the age and state of the Harvard print. Robin Hardy gave his approval for this The Final Cut, as he doesn’t
think that the original 102 minute cut will ever be found and believes that this Final Cut is The Wicker Man as
he originally intended it.