In 2019, the three parts of "The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh" became the first Wonderful World of Color episodes released on Blu-ray, and only the second serial from any incarnation of Disney's anthology show to reach that format. Like many serials produced for Disney's anthology show at the time, it was edited into a feature-length movie for distribution outside of America, retitled Doctor Syn, Alias the Scarecrow. He is instead an ordinary, though highly intelligent, parish priest who decided sometime before the story began that the best way to help his parishioners would be to adopt a Secret Identity and become the leader of the local smuggler gang. Syn's Anti Heroic qualities are removed and the series makes no suggestion of his extensive, often rather dark Back Story from the novels. Walt Disney even went so far as to claim that Doctor Syn was a real person when introducing each episode, despite the books having never been marketed as anything but historical fiction. It bears little resemblance to the books it was based on - mainly because it's actually not based on the original novels by Russell Thorndike instead, Disney based the miniseries on a novel called Christopher Syn by William Buchan which was itself based on The Further Adventures of Doctor Syn, the fourth book in Thorndike's series. Mipps, and Geoffrey Keen as his nemesis, the unprincipled General Pugh. It starred Patrick McGoohan as the title character, George Cole as his Number Two Mr. It’s the kind of swashbuckler where people listen at door cracks or from behind walls, pretend to be sleeping when the guards come checking and the villains get to say great juicy lines like ‘Fail me…and you are finished!'”īook: Dr.The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh (also known as Doctor Syn, Alias the Scarecrow) is a three-part series loosely based on Russell Thorndyke's Doctor Syn novels, made for Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color in 1963 note although the year is given as 1964 in the title card of the movie version. ![]() Syn, Alias the Scarecrow is full of McGoohan’s slyness and crackling dialogue, full of plotting and trickery. Then again, who wouldn’t? External Reviews He particularly seems to enjoy himself in the scarecrow’s demonic guise, laughing defiantly in the face of the government’s revenue agents. Patrick McGoohan, made famous by his role in the television series The Prisoner, another antiauthoritarian tale, plays his leading role to the hilt. This quality production has a terrific theme song and is sometimes suspenseful, but it runs a bit long, reflecting its compilation from the original Disney television show format. Adults will find this an agreeable if somewhat simple antiauthoritarian tale. It portrays the evils of excess taxation and the draft, and popular resistance to both. This family-oriented Disney drama is a good introduction for children to the concept of limited government. The general terrorizes the local populace to force them to identify the scarecrow, tightening the screws right up to the climactic end. Syn is the man behind the mask.Įventually, news of the masked scarecrow and his smuggling reaches the king, who sends in a ruthless military general to capture this rebel. Only his closest associates know that Dr. Some even believe that “the scarecrow” is some kind of demon from hell. The horrifying image not only provides anonymity but serves as well to frighten those who might betray him. He protects himself from prosecution by hiding his identity behind a grotesque scarecrow disguise. Syn, as he plans his next campaign to foil the king’s agents.Ī country vicar by day, he secretly operates a smuggling ring by night, using the profits to help the impoverished, overtaxed people of his village. “Unjust laws can be altered as well as made by men … Taxed out of existence, robbed of their independence by the king’s government, the people must fight back how they can.” So says Dr. “This family-oriented Disney drama is a good introduction for children to the concept of limited government.”
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