Customer Reviews

Walt Disney Treasures - Dr. Syn, Alias the Scarecrow

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I was anxiously awaiting Scarecrow to be released on DVD when I received notice from Amazon that it was not coming out yet. I re-read the email 5 times because I was sure I was reading wrong. And yes, I'm heartbroken. I have a old, old, old tape of the Scarecrow that I recorded back in the 1980's directly from TV. After all these years, the sound and picture are awful, I think it's dry rotted by now. This is an absolutely fantastic movie, Patrick McGoohan is awesome. The Scarecrow is a very important part of my childhood. Come on Disney, I'm desperate here! Stop torturing me and release it on DVD!!!

From the official Disney Press Release:

Disney Treasures Wave 8
Dr. Syn, The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh
November 11, 2008

"Dr Syn, Alias the Scarecrow," which first aired as three separate episodes on Disney's weekly TV show under the title "The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh," was edited for theatrical releases in England and the U.S. This DVD set includes all three of the original TV episodes plus the theatrical version of the film that was released in England.

Here is the link to the new Treasures DVD release:
Dr Syn-Scarecrow of Romney Marsh

Dr. Syn was one of the greatest of the World of Disney films, in the same league as Davey Crocket, but Disney keeps refusing to release it on DVD. This is the second time that the release date for Dr. Syn has been pushed back. First it was scheduled for November 2003, then Aug 2004, now it is May 2005. Speculation on the internet suggests that current Disney management does not want an old made for TV release to compete with their new films (Home on the Range is due out in September) because it makes their new movies loook bad (which they have been lately). Hey Eisner, who do you think that you are fooling?? If Disney continues to rest upon their laurels, then they should at least release the movies that their laurels were originally based on.

Dear Disney Vault Guardians, this is the generation that grew up with The Wonderful World of Disney on Sunday nights. We're the ones who watched Nature's Half Acre a dozen or more times in the auditorium when the teachers were on strike. We are the only generation who is going to appreciate many of the vault gems like The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh and The Secret of Boine Castle. And where are these jewels? If you think you will wait for the next generation who isn't entertained unless the guitars are screaming and the colors are flashing, you might as well burn these classic films and save the storage space, because they won't remember and they might not care. NOW is the time. While we are searching the web for the old favorites that we barely remember, like The Moon-Spinners and Hoppity Goes to Town. While we are watching for new releases like The Land of Terabithia, The Pirate (Gene Kelley 1948) and The Jungle Book. While we have kids to share with some of the things we loved as kids. While we waited for movies on DVD's instead of VHS before building our movie libraries. While we still earn enough money to buy luxury items--like entertainment--and before we are on Social Security. What are you waiting for???

I have been searching for The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh for several years now, not knowing the other names that it might have had. This is the first I have heard that you HAD scheduled it for release and then backed out! I suppose you have your reasons which are beyond our understanding. But I encourage you to take a chance with some of these not-forgotten favorites. While there are some movies that I would like to add to my library and which are still only on VHS (Flash, Model Behavior, Luck of the Irish) I would like to thank you for so many others that you HAVE released like: The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes, The Strongest Man in the World, Greyfriar's Bobby, In Search of the Castaways, The Gnome-Mobile, Summer Magic...

Now we are all waiting for Dr. Syn! How 'bout this Fall?

I was a teenager when i saw the scarecrow of romney marsh on the Wonderful world of Disney, and about 30 years later i was able to
rent the movie from a video store. The movie was then called Dr. Syn Alias the Scarecrow. Needless to say over the years, the
tape wore out, and i would pay any amount to have the movie in
DVD. Patrick Mcgooan the actor who plays the scarecrow in the movie portrays him brilliantly. The movie is in my opinion a true classic, and should be rereleased in DVD. Hope it comes out
soon, hopefully by the end of 2002.

About ten years ago I stepped into an elevator in a downtown Richmond, VA office building and the person who walked into the elevator behind me was Patrick McGoohan. Just the two of us on the lift, I seized the opportunity and introduced myself and told him how much a enjoyed his work. He was very gracious and engaging. I told my mother about this, knowing she was, herself, a HUGE fan and I thought she would have a stroke. This was not the last time I saw him under similar circumstances. He told me he had relatives here in Richmond (a married daughter, I believe) and I saw him again on two other occasions. I LOVED The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh and when I later lived in England I drove through Dymchurch "on the southern coast" and thought back both to sitting in the den as a child watching the Wonderful World of Color and these chance encounters years later. I would pay a premium for a DVD of this series and, like many others, cannot believe that Disney, which has released SO MANY other lesser films on DVD, have not seen fit to release this one. SHAME!!

The amazing "Dr. Syn Alias The Scarecrow" a.k.a. "The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh," has been hailed one of Disney's American Revolution era masterpieces. Why hasn't it been released to dvd? Prehaps it's just a matter of time. Rumours and rumblings at the Disney dvd production studios, have reported a possible release of this picture in a 2 disc special edition, due out in October 2006. To coincide with a lavish box set entitled "Disney's Heroes, Legends, and Lore" consisting of 5 long sought after classics, "The Story of Robin Hood," "The Sword and the Rose," "The Fighting Prince of Donegal," "Rob Roy: The Highland Rogue," and "The Prince and the Pauper." There were also rumours of a possible vol 2 box set in this series, including "Kidnapped," "The Light in the Forest," "Tonka," (and already available on dvd classics) "Davy Crockett -2 Movie Collection-" and "Johnny Tremain." I'd be the first in line to purchase these dvds, however, "when and if" their to be released has become the norm with a Disney dvd. Keep your fingers crossed guys!

**UPDATE!** Hooray!! FINALLY "Dr. Syn Alias The Scarecrow" WILL be released on November 11, 2008!! as "Dr. Syn: The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh" and part of the "Walt Disney Treasures" DVD series. This release will be on "2 discs," so ALL of the movie should be here! I hope "The Swamp Fox - Volume 2" isn't far behind!!

Scheduled to come out a year ago...now gone. What's up with this film that Disney can't seem to bring it to DVD? With all the delay we can only hope that they'll produce a bang-up special edition the film so richly deserves. "Dr. Syn, Alias the Scarecrow" is one of my fondest childhood memories and I long to watch it again (don't have a copy of the VHS) and share it with my son. This is easily one of the richest early '60s treasure in the Disney vaults and it's absence from DVD is nearly criminal.

From watching this film years ago, I would highly recommend
this movie, starring Patrick McGoohan (aka - "Secret Agent Man"), who is simply "fantastic" in his role as the respect-
ful Vicar, (alias the "Scarecrow"). Its films like this, that
always kept Disney "on top" and I'm sure most people would like
to see more of films like this one on television, instead of the
usual programs that we see. I definitely would highly recommend
purchasing this movie for any video collection!

I just want to add my voice to the calls for The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh to be released! As a young girl I was absolutely mesmorized by it (and I seem to recall a slight crush on Sean Scully...) The atmosphere was like every adventure novel come to life!

Please release this on dvd; I want to share it with my young nieces and nephews. Other dvds I would love to see from Disney are The Fighting Prince of Donegal, Mosby's Marauders and Almost Angels.