Dr. Syn: The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh (Walt Disney Treasures) [DVD]

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Terrific story based on the book “ Dr Syn” by Russell Thorndike. The unique feature of this disc is that it seems to be an exact reproduction of the video presented back in the 1960’s on TV. The disc includes footage of Walt Disney himself introducing each episode!

I loved the Scarecrow of Romney Marsh ever since I first saw on tv back in the 60s. I am happy with my purchase.

As have many others who have purchased and reviewed Dr. Syn The Scarecrow, my memories of this series come from my early childhood and the joy of watching Wonderful World of Disney. Even though I watched on a medium sized Black and White TV , this gave my very impressionable young mind an unforgetable memory. I am looking forward to sharing this with my grandkids.

Over all, I'm just a bit too old for most Disney stuff. and even the classics I don't feel a need to return to. but this was just one of those memories from my childhood that will stay with me forever! don't get me wrong. i have a tremendous respect for walt disney. he was a man who was well ahead of his time in many respects. he was a genius! but most of his movies and tv shows were a little too family-oriented for me, and i just don't watch much of that stuff anymore. but this 3-episode serial from walt's tv show "the wonderful world of color" is just too good to be ignored! it held a place in my childhood that still endures to this day. in 1964, walt's show was one of the first, if not THE ONLY show to be broadcasting in the brand new 'color tv' format. the world was a much different place then. this serial which takes place in southern england in the spring of 1775 (about a year before the start of the american revolutionary war) is set in a poor farming community where king george's heavy taxation is bleeding the community dry. a local vicar starts a smuggling ring to help his parish and disguises himself as the scarecrow to hide his identity. a general of the british army is sent with troops to catch this upstart and smash his smuggling ring. starring the unforgetable patrick mcgoohan (tv's 'secret agent man' and 'the prisoner') in the title role, this brilliant piece of tv history is a 5-star treasure! the acting is a bit out-of-date but great for its time. the script tries to stay true to the period in which the story is set (very clean and polite...the worse you can say to insult someone is to call him a dog...and that insult is tossed around a lot in this show...and you have to love the class of the english when they still manage to call you 'sir' and 'a dog' in the same sentence). they did a good job spreading the story over 3 episodes. oh, why beat it to death? it's walt disney at his best! they put a second disc in there which includes the movie that they showed in england and europe at the time for countries that did not have walt's tv show. but that is just a 2-hour version of the tv show with a lot of the show cut out. it was interesting to watch, but our tv version was much more complete. and walt's introductions to each installment are included.so to sum up, i notice they really made no effort to bring back walt's show to dvd for the most part. although a good show at the time, who really remembers any of the other segments? but the scarecrow of romney marsh was remembered, and as leonard malton observed in the disc intro, 'it was one of the most requested titles from the disney library for a number of years'...and with good reason! this is a family classic! i even remembered all the words to that unforgetable scarecrow theme song! i'm usually not a big fan of the family-oriented movies, but the scarecrow is a blast from the past classic that i just had to have! a bit out-dated by today's standards, but it is disney at his finest! supurb!

I remember watching this on The Wonderful World of Disney for 3 episodes. The acting is good and the antics are believable. Although it is not entirely true to the book (after all it is Disney), I thoroughly enjoyed watching it again and my children love it now and have rewatched it! I especially like the breakneck riding and the star is Patrick McGoohan. He is a modest vicar by day and the smuggler fiend Scarecrow by night in the times of King George. All the money made by him and and his marsh goblins goes to pay the locals' high taxes so they are not destitute. They thwart the King's soldiers, and scare the heck out of them too. If you like an adventure tale time piece, I recommend! I'm now reading the books by Thorndike for the original saga.

This Disney 2 DVD Collection, The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh tells the story of a late 1700's Robin Hood, Dr. Syn who is both Priest & noble Highwayman of sorts. His battle against the British Soldiers, even the King himself is a legendary tale, portrayed by Patrick McGoohan ( who recently passed away). In fact McGoohan's carear & visability was smoking hot right through the sixties in "The Saint" Type starring roles in Danger Man followed by Secret Agent & ending in the often misunderstood Prisoner. I could mention appearances in Movies & TV later but Patrick had pretty well dropped off Viewer's Radar after the Prisoner.If you were fortunate enough to watch the Scarecrow first time round how could you forget that haunting theme song? I still remembered a few words even today though it has been 45 years since I heard it played.In fact if you are a child of the sixties you will remember the themes of the 4 shows mentioned here as 4 of the best. Another fine touch is the realism in terms of costume, language, structures etc. To me that is something that is really a lost art. The ability or lack of same to portray period pieces spot on. I chaulk that up to professionalism, commitment to an ideal & good old fashioned hard work. Is it a coincidence that the current Pirate movie trilogy is by the same studio? I think not!Getting back to Patrick McGoohan, he is pretty much the only "star" though the actors that played The Squire, His Son & Dr. Syn's right hand man are all familiar faces, turn in great performances but you wouldn't likely remember any of their names.The acting by Patrick as well at least in the persona of Dr. Syn is very laid back, calm & very under control, exactly what the role called for but a flip flop from the wild actions & antics we expected to see from him in the other Agent shows.In closing, DVD one has the 3 shows as they aired in 64, with Walt's intros & Disc two has a more condensed movie version that aired accross the pond with both Discs featuring extras thrown in as well.If you never saw " The Scarecrow" put this on your must view list as it touches on so many themes ( as most great stories tend to), love, action, comedy etc. For those of you that experienced this masterpiece first hand way back when let me assure you it hasn't lost anything, substitute your own word or words for this Disney Treasure!Mike from Canada

Hard to believe that 47 years ago I was a resident when Disney came to film this masterpiece in and around the coastal areas of Romney Marsh. How I relished the activity of the time. I am sure the whole Cast and Crew would have been amazed at the isolated areas in which they were filming. Unable to use the Dymchurch Town Church, the choice was made to use all interior and exterior shots at the lovely St.Clements Church at Old Romney, situated just a few miles away.I watched the feature film when it was released and had managed a couple of viewing on U.K.Television over the years, again very enthusiastic about seeing any local people who were given small roles in the movie. Until now never realizing that it was being filmed as a 3 part Wonderful World of Colour for American Television.Now that I am a proad owner of Disney 2 Disc Treasures. I can relive the experience with this clearly remastered copy of a Classic Family Movie.I highly recommend this very expensive title. You will not regret the purchase.

Had never heard of this until last month-am I glad I bought it- Dr Syn:The Scarecrow of Rodney Marsh was a 3 part Disney adventure story on the 'Walt Disney Wonderful World of Color' tv show from 1964. It was filmed in Britain as a feature film (and actually released in the UK as a cinema film with much of the tv show cut out).It stars Patrick(Prisoner)McGoohan as Dr Syn-an 18th Century vicar who by night is the masked Scarecrow who defends his oppressed villagers from the nasty tax collectors of the King (a kind of 18th Century superhero).This has been given the full Disney treatment with a perfect print-5.1 sound. The story is a first class adventure-both kids and adults will love it and I cannot recommend it enough. The only problem-it was released as a limited edition so prices are high!

Excellent series.

I received the DVD from Amazon yesterday, and I must say this is one of the best items I have ever purchased.Not having seen this since 1966 I was very hopeful and it could not have been done any better.If anybody is wondering about getting it do not wait order it as fast as y0u can

This product was exactly what I had hoped it would be. It also arrived very quickly. I am completely satisfied.