Scarecrow In a Garden of Cucumbers
Scarecrow In a Garden of Cucumbers
Scarecrow In a Garden of Cucumbers
Scarecrow In a Garden of Cucumbers
Scarecrow In a Garden of Cucumbers
Scarecrow In a Garden of Cucumbers
Scarecrow In a Garden of Cucumbers
Scarecrow In a Garden of Cucumbers
Scarecrow In a Garden of Cucumbers
Scarecrow In a Garden of Cucumbers
Scarecrow In a Garden of Cucumbers
Scarecrow In a Garden of Cucumbers
Scarecrow In a Garden of Cucumbers

American Genre Film Archive

Scarecrow In a Garden of Cucumbers

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Edition Type: Standard Edition

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This Partner Label release is distributed through Vinegar Syndrome's sister company OCN Distribution. Vinegar Syndrome had no part in, nor are responsible for, the restoration, extras, quality control or any content(s) of this release. We hope you enjoy our growing roster of Partner Labels and the expertise and curation brought to each release by their dedicated staff!

Details

This listing is for the standard edition Blu-ray. The limited edition slipcover was limited to 1,000 units and is sold out. The two versions are identical, aside from the slipcover.

The American Genre Film Archive (AGFA) represents the world's largest theatrical catalog of exploitation cinema. Their home video line presents a diverse selection of movies, ranging from new preservations of classics from the vast library of Something Weird to the wildest in shot-on-video (SOV) titles. Vinegar Syndrome’s sister company, OCN Distribution, is thrilled to be representing this diverse and unique home video line!

Eternal trans icon (and Warhol superstar) Holly Woodlawn is a riot in SCARECROW IN A GARDEN OF CUCUMBERS—a long-lost comedy musical that has been lovingly restored by the Academy Film Archive. Holly stars as a small-town Kansas girl who tries to make it big—or at least find a roommate—in New York City. One of the first features with a trans lead, this joyous valentine to individuality features a supporting role from Warhol scenester Tally Brown and cameos from Bette Midler and Lily Tomlin.

directed by: Robert J. Kaplan
starring: Holly Woodlawn, Tally Brown
1972 / 82 min / 1.37:1 / English DTS-HD MA 1.0

Additional info:

  • Region Free Blu-ray
  • Restored from original film elements by the Academy Film Archive
  • Commentary with Jeff Copeland, author of LOVE YOU MADLY, HOLLY WOODLAWN, and AGFA's Jackson Cooper
  • Interview with producer Henry J. Alpert
  • Bonus movie: GUMS (1976), a JAWS parody from director Robert J. Kaplan preserved from a 35mm print courtesy of Vinegar Syndrome
  • Booklet with essays by Jeff Copeland and Caden Mark Gardner, co-author of CORPSES, FOOLS, AND MONSTERS
  • English SDH subtitles

Overall rating: 4.672269 / 5 from 119 reviews.

AI Generated Review Summary

This Blu-ray edition of 'Scarecrow in a Garden of Cucumbers' is a restored classic featuring Holly Woodlawn, with positive feedback on its restoration quality, special features, and overall entertainment value. The product includes a commentary, an interview, and a bonus movie, all presented in great packaging.

Summary topics

  • Holly Woodlawn Performance (8%): Customers expressed satisfaction with Holly Woodlawn, describing her as funny, confused, and agitated.
  • AGFA Quality (8%): It was observed by customers that AGFA is the best, AGFA does it again!
  • Restoration Quality (9%): It was noted by customers that the restoration of the product is beautiful and top-notch.
  • Movie Enjoyment (9%): Customers loved the movie, describing it as great, funny, nostalgic, timeless, and true outsider art.
  • Special Features (9%): Customers expressed satisfaction with the awesome restoration and special features of the slipcover of the product.

Review topics: [looks, packaging, sound, work, buy, film, release, comedy, features, movie, restoration, woodlawn, agfa, slipcover, gums, humor, title, transfer, number, oddity, performances, classic, camp, gem, cast, kind, vibe, trash, songs, goodies].

Review highlights

  • "Awesome restoration and some amazing special features." — Ewan G.
  • "I love when AGFA dives into the world of weird LGBT cinema and this release is no exception." — Hudson L.
  • "Thrilled that AGFA was able to get a physical release of this out via OCN." — Stephen P.

Reviews

A real discovery! Fun &

"A real discovery! Fun & campy showcase for Holly Woodlawn's unique talents. Blu-ray captures appropriately grungy grainy filmic look. Begging for "Women in Revolt" to get a similar release. . ."

— David O. (5/5)

What a fantastic camp classic.

"What a fantastic camp classic. I love all the grimy stolen 1970s New York City shots. Holly Woodlawn's performance is really a work of art, she even plays 2 characters! Pretty great transfer for such an obscure film. And we get the puppet parody Gums as a bonus flick. Great purchase!"

— Bryan K. (5/5)

Scarecrow In a Garden of Cucumbers

"Shame the version of Gums here is only the softcore edit, but the main feature is essential"

— Jack H. (5/5)

Crazy release

"This movie feels like a glimpse into another world and now finally watchable with this amazing transfer. Good humor and a great cast."

— Lennard B. (5/5)

Scarecrow in a Garden of Cucumbers

"Great restoration of a classic film. Good extras and packaging."

— Troy S. (5/5)

Under seen gem

"Holly had such a wonderful screen presence. Love this release"

— Nicolas R. (5/5)

Scarecrow In A Garden of Cucumber

"Such a fun film. Artsy and highly entertaining."

— Christopher D. (5/5)

A True New York Classic

"One of the most accurate portrayals of parts of New York life that no-one ever puts in movies. Thank God 'Scarecrow in a Garden of Cucumbers' was found. Thought lost for the better part of 50 years, this unironicly joyful underground New York musical is both a living cartoon and incredibly relatable as to what New York life is like. Warhol standout Holly Woodlawn (as in "Holly came from Miami F-L-A" from Lou Reed's "Walk on the Wild Side," yes this is her) plays as aspiring star who comes to New York and, on a quest to find an apartment, meets wildly different potential roommates in different parts of the city. I've never seen the multiple NYC roommate encounter grind so perfectly captured on film and it gives a realistic logic as to the cavalcade of colorful characters we're being introduced to. This movie, the film debuts of Lily Tomlin (while she was on "Laugh-In" in an uncredited role playing her phone operator character) and Bette Midler (who contributes a few incredible songs) has so many more great talents, many of whom went on to notable TV, film and (in the case of legendary little person wrestler The Haiti Kid) wrestling careers. It also has (as found through my Google sleuthing) some very respected and liked 70s stage and cabaret actors in their only film role, allowing for an immortality of their talents on film. It also captures New York in the rare transitional year of 1972. Hip-hop and punk were a year away, the 60s countercultures were burning out or growing too cynical for film, and so 'Scarecrow' boasts the largely queer-friendly side of the New York underground that legitimately loved classic Hollywood glamour and used their limitations in conjunction with their greatest strengths to warmly put their own spin on it, creating their own style in the process. It's this element for New York nomads and transplants that 'Scarecrow' becomes unexpectedly deeply moving. With the whimsy of meeting so many new people of similar drive and passion but different approach, there's also the acknowledgement of what a feeling of safety these visions of youth in New York are. In a powerful sequence, a depressed Holly brings herself to the movies to cheer-up as Bette Midler's (movie exclusive) "Strawberry, Lilac and Lime" plays, with the moment Holly enters the theater transforming her into a sepia vision of a little girl again. The song and the sequence are about the safety of and for childlike innocence in the movie theater, and the sanctuary that these movies, no matter how old, can be. Something of a lullaby (and there's no real critical analysis of the lyrics online, but I'm guessing the title refers to the color scheme and floral patterns of those classic theaters) the sad end of the song discusses changes in those by-name New York destinations that happen with age and the pain of knowing the read world still exists outside the movies that we're all growing old with. It's that emotive subtle touch of reality that makes the joy of the rest of the film so infectious. Holly's still having her whimsical fun in New York looking for her big break, and you start to feel like the friendship and fun of New York is the real dream, the real best part about migrating to the city. 'Scarecrow. . . ' is not just an uncompromising genuine work of queer joy, but unfiltered uncut New York in a way rarely captured even in underground film. Seeing some of these locations over a half-century ago and knowing that same sort of vibrant love is still there, thought it takes vastly different forms, speaks to so much of why it's a dream destination for so many. Recommended."

— Charles K. (5/5)

I aint scurred

"underground musical comedy that delivers an incredibly joyous, chaotic valentine to individuality"

— Kevin G. (5/5)

Holly Woodlawn the goddess that you were

"Unparalleled feature from an undeniable queer camp legend. Where else can you get something so strangely encapsulating of a NYC that both never existed and is gone forever? Looks and sounds like a high quality indie flick, with all the presentation of a studio feature."

— Kelsey G. (5/5)

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