Sunday, May 22, 2016

Forgotten TV: The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh (1963)

Here's another Walt Disney entry, this one based on a series of books that were published between 1915-1944.

The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh had first been released in the United Kingdom at the end of 1963 before airing on Disney's Wonderful World of Color in February 1964. Scottish actor Patrick McGoohan, who had starred in the Disney film, "The Three Lives of Thomasina", earlier in '63, was cast as Dr. Christopher Syn, alias the Scarecrow, a sort-of Robin Hood-esque smuggler who fought against 18th century British tyranny. Scarecrow would be repeated occasionally, and was last seen on Disney Channel in the 90's.

McGoohan would follow up by reviving his 1960 ITC series, Danger Man, this time as a 1 hour drama, which was imported to the US as Secret Agent, and that, in turn, led to the seminal The Prisoner.

I have faint memories of seeing a 70's rerun on The Wonderful World of Disney (NBC & Disney changed the title of their Sunday anthology series sometime in the late 60's), so there won't be a rating. I'd just as soon get my hands on a DVD release.....

Here's a sample of The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh to tie you over 'til next time.

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