Scarecrow **** (1973, Gene Hackman, Al Pacino, Dorothy Tristan, Eileen Brennan, Ann Wedgeworth) – Classic Movie Review 3484

Time has been kind to this almost forgotten gem of 50 years ago. Jerry Schatzberg’s 1973 drama film Scarecrow stars Gene Hackman and Al Pacino, who light sparks as drifters who meet up and form an unlikely bond as they hitchhike across the States from California to Pittsburgh, where brawling ex-con Max (Hackman) is planning to start a car wash.

The mix of On the Road-style road movie and Of Mice and Men-type buddy-buddy character study can be uneven at times but the movie is often ingratiating and overall irresistible, thanks to the masterly acting, expert direction and polished screenplay by Garry Michael White, marred by a few dialogue wobbles. Classy cinematographer Vilmos Zsigmond points his cameras to great effect at some of America’s interesting, now largely vanished regional nooks and crannies of 50 years ago.

Though a weak, unsatisfying ending slightly harms the film, it remains a memorable movie with Method actors in their prime Hackman and Pacino forming a great powerhouse duo. Hackman storms through it as hot-tempered Max and young Pacino hugely impresses as homeless ex-sailor Lion, returning home to see his child, born while he was at sea. The oddball title points to Lion’s equally odd idea that scarecrows don’t scare crows at all but actually make them laugh.

The joint winner of the Grand Prix du Festival International du Film at the Cannes Film Festival in 1973 (with British film The Hireling), it was too arty to be a hit in 1973 and forced Hackman into a decision only to make mainstream movies, but it remained his favourite role. In true Method style, the two actors dressed as tramps and hitched through California to ‘find’ their characters and went begging in San Francisco. Whatever works!

Method actor Pacino found his techniques conflicted with those of Hackman, who was silent before shooting while Pacino paced. Hackman apparently had fun filming while Pacino recalled: ‘It wasn’t the easiest working with Hackman, who I love as an actor.’

Astoundingly, Warner Bros were looking for a small-budget film and approved Scarecrow as studio bosses were nervy about larger projects. Those were the days!

Also in the cast are Dorothy Tristan, Eileen Brennan, Ann Wedgeworth (as Frenchy), Richard Lynch, Penelope Allen, Richard Hackman, Al Cingolani, Rutanya Alda and Charles Noel.

Scarecrow runs 112 minutes, is made and released by Warner Bros, is written by Garry Michael White, shot by Vilmos Zsigmond, produced by Robert M Sherman, scored by Fred Myrow and designed by Albert Brenner.

RIP Vilmos Zsigmond, who died on 1 January 2016, aged 85.

RIP Ann Wedgeworth, who died on 16 November 2017, aged 83.

Schatzberg previously directed Pacino in The Panic in Needle Park (1971).

The cast are Gene Hackman as Max Millan, Al Pacino as Francis Lionel ‘Lion’ Delbuchi, Eileen Brennan as Darlene, Dorothy Tristan as Coley, Ann Wedgeworth as Frenchy, Richard Lynch as Riley, Penelope Allen as Annie Gleason, Richard Hackman as Mickey Grenwood, Al Cingolani as Skipper, and Rutanya Alda as Woman In Camp.

© Derek Winnert 2016 Classic Movie Review 3484

Link to home page for more reviews derekwinnert.com