31 Days of Halloween, Day 25- The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh (1963)

Directed by: James Neilson

Top 8 Cast: Patrick McGoohan, George Cole, Sean Scully, Geoffrey Keen, Michael Horden, Patrick Wymark, Jill Curzon, Walt Disney

Plot: Country Vicar, the Reverend Dr. Syn, is by night the fearsome vigilante the scarecrow! He smuggles from the rich and gives to the poor and serves to thwart the tyrannical King George III (whose taxes are too damn high) at every turn. What will he do when villager Joe Ransley turns traitorous? And how will he rescue the brother of young sidekick, The Curlew, as well as colonist, Simon Bates, when they get imprisoned in the dread Castle Dover? Surely the Scarecrow will scheme his way outta this one! Or will he?

Creative Response: 18th century kids gettin’ grown quick. Scarecrow does Batman voice to disguise his identity. Creaking doors like night-time farts give away the rebels whereabouts. Old musky tombs. Tinkerbell’s upturned paint cans. Cackling witch and greasy emissary of the King. Can ‘Crow make it through without offing anyone?

Score:

Autumn Vibes: 2/5

Scares & Chills: 1/5

Cultural & Cinematic Importance: 2/5

Monster Mash: 0/5