Walt Disney’s “Dr. Syn, Alias the Scarecrow“ (1963 Theatrical Release)

Dr. Christopher Syn (alias, The Scarecrow) disrupts England’s King George III’s 1763 taxation on imports by smuggling vast quantities of goods into the country. Set on the coast near Kent and Sussex, the British troops who attempt to enforce the law are met with a formidable group led by the Scarecrow of Romney Marsh. The U.S. saw an unedited television release in February 1964 (in three parts under the title, The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh - the 9th, 16th and 23rd) and a theatrical release in 1975. The theatrical release cut out scenes mainly in Part 1. The popular theme song was written by Terry Gilkyson who composed great Disney songs like Thomasina and The Bare Necessities. You can watch the television episodes here: Starring Patrick McGoohan as Dr. Christopher Syn/Scarecrow, George Cole as Mr. Mipps/Hellspite, Tony Britton as Simon Bates, Michael Hordern as Squire Thomas Banks, Geoffrey Keen as General Pugh, Kay Walsh as Mrs. Waggett, Eric Pohlmann as King George III, Patrick Wymark as Joe Ransley, Alan Dobie as Prosecutor Fragg, Sean Scully as John Banks/The Curlew, Eric Flynn as Lt. Philip Brackenbury, David Buck as Harry Banks, Percey Herbert as Head Jailer, Robert Brown as Sam Farley, Peter Welch as Stubbard, Jill Curzon as Kate Banks, Mark Dignam as The Bishop, Gordon Gostelow as Ben, Bruce Seton as Beadle, Alan McClelland as Second Jailer, Richard O’Sullivan as George Ransley, Simon Lack as Dragoon Corporal and Elsie Wagstaff as Mrs. Ransley.