Sept. 24, 2002 - 2:48 am
a. k. a. Dr. Syn, Alias the Scarecrow. another good Patrick McGoohan film that my mom let me borrow to watch. it gets harder and harder to find time to watch 3 hour films in one sitting though. this film originally was shown as a 3 part series on Walt Disney's "Wonderful World of Color". sort of the same deal as The Three Lives of Thomasina (1963) a year later. it was apparently enjoyed so much by American audiences that this one was released at theaters periodically in the years that followed.
what's going on is that McGoohan is a vicar in a small parish in southern England in the mid 1770s. this is the time of King George's rule and we all know how excellent of a king he was (::tries to convey sarcasm::). basically all of the parishoners are starving and being extraordinarily overtaxed. it turns out that a local rebel leader called The Scarecrow (riding a horse, wearing a crazy-looking sackcloth mask, and coming complete with an insane cackling laugh) is actually also the parish vicar, Dr. Christopher Syn. the film tells of a few of his rebellious weeks working against the schemes of a British General Pugh.
i thought it was quite entertaining. the acting talent that Disney was able to produce throughout the 1960s was really just outstanding. i think that was probably the height of Disney's power. and their ability to provide so many different kinds of films and television shows in the era was also remarkable. this film is what i've heard referred to as "dark Disney." sort of like The Black Cauldron (1985) i suppose. that one scared the hell out of me when i was younger.
i think as far as chronology of Patrick McGoohan is concerned, this role sort of foreshadows roles that would interest him in the future. there's the interest in a personal definition of morality and justice (vs. what society or lawmakers consider right and wrong). there is also the emphasis on intellect versus raw violence. tolerance vs. intolerance. just lots of similarities.
one thing i really enjoyed about this is all of the smuggling sequences. you get to see The Scarecrow and his men in these excellently-conceived costumes and masks. and then Patrick McGoohan is doing this scary disguised voice (so no one will recognize him as the vicar). plus he does the insane laugh quite a few times and that's always great. well, if you're a fan or can even locate a copy of this film, which is just not that easy at this point, sit down and watch The Scarecrow. quite enjoyable.