Dr. Syn Alias The Scarecrow

I got the DVD from the library. It's limited release of several 10,000s sold out quickly. I'm not paying 100 bucks for it on Amazon, even with Patrick McGoohan!

I watched it with the kids. It was a sharing of a moment from my childhood and the usual discussion re history as well ensued.

Far as I know, the character is fictional. Russell Thorndike wrote a series of novels in the early 20th century about smugglung on the English southeast coast. That much is true and there were several skirmishes with smugglers and the King's revenuers (shades of moonshiners and batfuers).

The story is long and I suggest you go to Wikipedia for this as they have a good summation. Then maybe get the books!

The Disney version is based on Christopher Syn by William Buchanan, which follows and was inspired by The Further AQdventures of Dr. Syn by Thorndike.

It was originally broadcast on Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color February 9, 16, 23 1964 (as The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh).

The character is an Anglican vicar by day and the Scarecrow, leader of a group of smugglers known as the 'Gentlemen' by night.

As portrayed by Patrick McGoohan, he is very Freedom minded and hates George III's oppressive economy and thuggish tactics.

He smuggles goods through the marsh area of Romney village and uses the profits to give the locals the means to pay the overheavy taxes.

A comment to Mr. Mipps his sexton (and his 'colleague' in smuggling known as Hellspite), is significant. He mentions there is a new air of Freedom in the world. What they do in the Marsh is just a pinprick. But, he suggests, a thousand pinpricks can be very telling.........

Some of the tactics are interesting and though fictional and a Disney production, they might serve as an inspiration in some small way to 3pers everywhere.

After all, the war for Freedom against tyranny is old. And everything old is new again........