Scarecrow (1973 film)

Infobox Film | name = Scarecrow


image_size = 175px
caption = original film poster
director = Jerry Schatzberg
producer = Robert M. Sherman
writer = Garry Michael White
starring = Gene Hackman Al Pacino Eileen Brennan
music = Fred Myrow
cinematography = Vilmos Zsigmond
editing =Evan Lottman
distributor = Warner Bros. Pictures
released = flagicon|USA 11 April, 1973 (NYC only)
runtime = 112 min.
language = English
budget =
preceded_by =
followed_by =
imdb_id = 0070643

"Scarecrow" is a 1973 road movie starring Gene Hackman and Al Pacino.

ynopsis

The story revolves around the odd relationship between two vagabonds, a troublemaking ex-convict just released from prison and a joking ex-sailor, who meet on the road in California and agree to become partners in a car wash, once they reach Pittsburgh.

Pacino is on his way to Detroit to see the son he has never met and make amends with his wife. Hackman agrees to make a detour on his way to Pittsburgh where he has been sending all the money he made in prison. Their travels offer ample opportunity to spar with each other and the denizens of where ever they happen to be while trying to earn a little money or just get a beer.

Casting

*Penny Allen plays the mother of Pacino's son in "Scarecrow". The two would later appear in "Dog Day Afternoon" together.
*Gene Hackman's brother Richard appears as Mickey in the film.

Appearance of Popular Top 40 Radio Program

"Casey Kasem" and his "American Top 40" radio show appear briefly (audio only) in one scene.

During a telephone conversation between Pacino and a former girlfriend, viewers heard the song "The House That Jack Built" by Aretha Franklin as it played on the radio in the background, as a part of the radio show.

Miscellany

The film was written by first-timer, Garry Michael White. Although he wrote the script, the idea of the story wasn't an original. He got the idea from a friend, with the promise that the Producer's would cast his friend as the character "Lion". When Pacino signed on to do the movie, obviously this promise never materialized.

Although Hackman and Pacino worked well together, they clearly had different styles of acting. Pacino was more of the method actor, whereas Hackman was completely the opposite.

Director Jerry Schatzberg was not the first choice as director. The original director was fired, and Schatzberg was brought on board in part thanks to Pacino, who had worked with him in their earlier film, " The Panic in Needle Park ".

Awards

The film won the "Grand Prix" at the Cannes Film Festival in 1973. [cite news |work=Los Angeles Times |title=U.S. Film Shares Cannes Prize |date=1973-05-26 |page=B9 |quote=The Cannes Film Festival Grand Prix Friday was awarded jointly to the American film "Scarecrow" by Jerry Schatzberg and the British entry "The Hireling" bv Alan Bridges.]

###@@@KEY@@@###succession box
title="Grand Prix", Cannes Film Festival
years=1973
tied with "The Hireling"
before="The Working Class Goes to Heaven"
tied with "The Mattei Affair"
after="The Conversation"

References