Scarecrow In A Garden Of Cucumbers

Warhol superstar and trans icon Holly Woodlawn stars in this long-forgotten but newly rediscovered 1972 comedy-musical-sketch-film-whatsit about Eve Harrington (yes, a not-subtle reference to ALL ABOUT EVE, one of many movie citations in the film), a small-town Kansas girl who tries to make it big—or at least find a roommate—in New York City. Woodlawn had just appeared in Paul Morrissey’s TRASH and WOMEN IN REVOLT before being cast by director/producer Kaplan in SCARECROW, making her one of the first trans performers in a lead film role. Warhol scenester Tally Brown (as Mary Poppins) gives a remarkable supporting performance, Bette Midler and Lily Tomlin have “voice” cameos, and Joe Malanga, David Margulies, and twin-sister actresses Kathryn and Margaret Howell give memorable character performances. Director Kaplan made only one other known feature—an x-rated JAWS parody about a killer mermaid—but this crazy thing should be more than enough to earn him some long-delayed recognition. A cult film in hiding for more than 50 years, SCARECROW has been described as a madcap riot and is ripe for rediscovery. Showing in a brand-new HD restoration by the Academy Film Archive; courtesy of the American Genre Film Archive.