Release calendarTop 250 moviesMost popular moviesBrowse movies by genreTop box officeShowtimes & ticketsMovie newsIndia movie spotlight
    What's on TV & streamingTop 250 TV showsMost popular TV showsBrowse TV shows by genreTV news
    What to watchLatest trailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb SpotlightFamily entertainment guideIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsEmmysToronto Int'l Film FestivalHispanic Heritage MonthIMDb Stars to WatchSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll events
    Born todayMost popular celebsCelebrity news
    Help centerContributor zonePolls
For industry professionals
  • Language
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Watchlist
Sign in
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Use app
The Magical World of Disney
S10.E17
All episodesAll
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • FAQ
IMDbPro

The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh: Part 1

  • Episode aired Feb 9, 1964
  • Unrated
  • 2h 9m
IMDb RATING
8.1/10
737
YOUR RATING
The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh: Part 1 (1963)
AdventureDramaFamily

The adventures of a disguised vicar who fights for justice in 18th-century England.The adventures of a disguised vicar who fights for justice in 18th-century England.The adventures of a disguised vicar who fights for justice in 18th-century England.

  • Director
    • James Neilson
  • Writers
    • Russell Thorndike
    • Robert Westerby
  • Stars
    • Patrick McGoohan
    • George Cole
    • Tony Britton
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    8.1/10
    737
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • James Neilson
    • Writers
      • Russell Thorndike
      • Robert Westerby
    • Stars
      • Patrick McGoohan
      • George Cole
      • Tony Britton
    • 45User reviews
    • 9Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos3

    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster

    Top cast24

    Edit
    Patrick McGoohan
    Patrick McGoohan
    • Dr. Christopher Syn…
    George Cole
    George Cole
    • Mr. Mipps…
    Tony Britton
    Tony Britton
    • Simon Bates
    Michael Hordern
    Michael Hordern
    • Squire Thomas Banks
    Geoffrey Keen
    Geoffrey Keen
    • General Pugh
    Kay Walsh
    Kay Walsh
    • Mrs. Waggett
    Eric Pohlmann
    Eric Pohlmann
    • King George III
    Patrick Wymark
    Patrick Wymark
    • Joseph Ransley
    Alan Dobie
    • Mr. Frank Fragg - Prosecutor
    Sean Scully
    • John Banks…
    Eric Flynn
    • Lt. Philip Brackenbury
    David Buck
    David Buck
    • Harry Banks
    Percy Herbert
    Percy Herbert
    • Dover Castle Jailer
    Robert Brown
    Robert Brown
    • Sam Farley
    Jill Curzon
    • Katharine Banks
    Mark Dignam
    Mark Dignam
    • The Bishop
    Gordon Gostelow
    • Ben
    Bruce Seton
    Bruce Seton
    • Beadle
    • Director
      • James Neilson
    • Writers
      • Russell Thorndike
      • Robert Westerby
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews45

    8.1737
    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10

    Featured reviews

    10Marta

    Marvelous period piece set in England

    This is a really rousing film, full of good deeds and chases, disguises and daring escapes. It's set in the late 1770's, since reference is made to the American fight for freedom from the British, and filmed in England.

    Patrick McGoohan, one of my favorite actors, plays Dr. Syn, mild-mannered minister by day and rakish do-gooder by night, called the Scarecrow by the local people. George Cole plays Mipps, his assistant in both guises. The Scarecrow intercepts British government supplies and distributes them to the poor in the district, so he is greatly loved by the locals, and greatly sought by the government. The first half is taken up with the acts of a weak man who takes money from the army commander to turn in the Scarecrow. The Scarecrow finds out about this from a loyal local, and sets up a trap for the commander and the traitor. He wins the day, of course. The Scarecrow inventively and effectively deals with traitors in his network of thieves in his own fashion, but he's got a heart of gold underneath his rags; no one dies in this film. The Scarecrow and his right-hand men wear full head masks and disguises so that they are not recognized. These masks are pretty scary, and lend a lot to the flavor of the movie.

    The Scarecrow also helps a local Lord's son; the man was shanghaied into the navy, escaped after 2 years of terrible slavery, made his way back to his family, but is discovered and thrown into jail. The Scarecrow springs the man by dressing up as a press gang leader, and marchs the son, as well as another man who was wrongfully accused, out of jail right under the commander's nose. He's helped in this by the lieutenant of the local guards, whose in love with the jailed man's sister. Michael Hordern plays the Lord; he's always wonderful.

    I can't recommend this movie enough. Patrick McGoohan is perfect in the role, and I think it's one of his best. It's hard to find; Disney hasn't shown it for years. But they've started to bring a lot of their older things from the TV show out on video, and I sincerely hope this will be one of them. It's a great Saturday night movie, but younger kids might be scared by those masks.
    8Ssbtbrkhrdt

    An Old Disney Classic

    This is the kind of movie you hardly see anymore, full of adventure, action and intrigue without the "R" rating, mindless violence and profane language that so permeates modern movies. It would be wonderful if this could be re-released via DVD, hopefully that will be done in the not-too-distant future. Patrick McGoohan is incredible in this movie, you can see how young he is and what a great actor, before he became so well known. I used to have the comic book for this movie at one time and am still kicking myself for selling it. The story of the Scarecrow and his band of outlaw smugglers is an exciting tale, to say the least. Another contemporary movie from the same time frame (1964) that covers the story of the Scarecrow is "Night Creatures" which I believe is soon to be re-released in DVD format, that one starred Peter Cushing. The masks used to cover their identities and their wild rides in the countryside from both movies are incredible. A must see and a must buy!
    10servofan

    Dark Disney

    A magnificent look into a largely unknown period in which Dr. Syn disguises himself as the Scarecrow to promote his smuggling operations. It's interesting to note that The Scarecrow does not set out to become a hero. He terrifies his own men with a costume that does the Batman proud and a laugh that chills. He serves the towns really only to safeguard his operations. He almost by chance becomes a defender of the newly minted Americans simply because they share a common enemy--the Brits. Patrick McGoohan is eerie as the Scarecrow, and the clever scripting makes him an intelligent hero for whom you cheer. In short brilliant.
    marko

    A Scary (but kid-friendly) Hero

    Patrick McGoohan has rarely been better than in this role as the Scarecrow/Dr. Syn. Set in pre-Revolution England, the film contains a perfect mix of tension and action without ever becoming violent or too intense for youngsters.

    McGoohan plays a Robin Hood-like character who cheats the tax collector by smuggling, thereby supporting the common folk who form his gang. McGoohan is ably supported by Michael Hordern as the local landlord, George Cole as the sexton, and Geoffrey Keene as the stuffy British general. The plot twists are plentiful without seeming contrived; the music is wonderful; and the makeup (especially McGoohan's mask!) has stuck with me for 37 years.

    Originally telecast in the U.S. as a three-part series--which caused me to spend three anxious weeks as a ten-year old who could hardly wait for the next installment.
    8CarmelaG

    I loved this movie as a kid.

    I remember seeing this on the Wonderful World of Disney as a kid, and I thought it was just great. It gave me a lifelong appreciation for Patrick McGoohan, whose work, both as actor and director, I have continued to admire.

    Related interests

    Still frame
    Adventure
    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama
    Drew Barrymore and Pat Welsh in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
    Family

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      This episode aired opposite The Beatles' first appearance on CBS's The Ed Sullivan Show, 9 February 1964.
    • Goofs
      At the very end, Dr. Syn and Sir Thomas are talking of Harry's rescue. Sitting a bit further away are Kate and Phillip Brackenbury. Dr. Syn mentions to Sir Thomas that the Scarecrow was able to free Harry where Dr. Syn could not. But Phillip was there when Dr. Syn entered the dungeon as himself, dressed as the Petty Officer from the naval picket. Phillip knew it was Dr. Syn who helped the prisoners escape. If he overheard Dr. Syn, it should have told him just who the "Scarecrow" really was.
    • Alternate versions
      The long out of print Disney VHS tape (USA version, at least) is not cut, but runs two hours and nine minutes, and contains all of the three-part TV serial except for episode breaks and original opening and closing credits, playing as a continuous feature with the theatrical release titles. Cinema prints of this film do omit material and run only 98 minutes. It was once shown in the mid-70s on the "World of Disney" broadcast network TV show as a two-parter, missing the middle episode in which the Scarecrow deals with a traitor among his men.
    • Connections
      Remake of Night Creatures (1962)

    Top picks

    Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
    Sign in

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 9, 1964 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United Kingdom
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Production company
      • Walt Disney Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 2h 9m(129 min)
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
    Follow IMDb on social
    Get the IMDb App
    For Android and iOS
    Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • License IMDb Data
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2025 by IMDb.com, Inc.