Alamo Drafthouse Cinema
WARHOL SUPERSTAR/TRANSGENDER ICON HOLLY WOODLAWN TAKES MANHATTAN
Academy Of Film Archive
March 4, 2023
Songs By Bette Midler/Jerry Blatt
WARHOL SUPERSTAR/TRANSGENDER ICON HOLLY WOODLAWN TAKES MANHATTAN
Mister D: Well, it’s about time. I posted about this movie in 2017, but I heard about it long before, because I heard Bette Midler and Jerry Blatt (Mr. Rockefeller, Fat As I Am, Fiesta In Rio, Jimmy Dean, and more) had something to do with the music. Also, Bette and Lily Tomlin made minor appearances in the movie before they were well known.
When I looked back in my archives, I did see where it had been screened before, and I came upon a page late last night where it looked like, it was going to make the rounds in certain cities for one night. Maybe some of ya’ll could check it out or I will later.
I had talked to Bruce Vilanch about it because IMDB said there was a soundtrack, and of course, I wanted it. He said he didn’t think there was ever a soundtrack, but many movies back then called the music in movies soundtracks. At least that’s how I remember the convo, so apologies to Bruce if I got it wrong. But he did say he was positive there was no soundtrack. I do have a list of songs, though. (see below)
‘Scarecrow’ Screening In Austin, TX On March 8th
Warhol superstar (and eternal trans icon) Holly Woodlawn stars as a small-town girl from Kansas named Eve Harrington who tries to make it big – or at least find a roommate – in New York in Robert J. Kaplan’s long-lost midnight movie musical extravaganza. One of the very first films to be built entirely around a trans actor, SCARECROW IN A GARDEN OF CUCUMBERS is filled to the brim with Old Hollywood references, a standout supporting performance by fellow superstar Tally Brown (as Mary Poppins), and cameos from Bette Midler and Lily Tomlin. Never released on home video and unseen since its original 1972 release, SCARECROW IN A GARDEN OF CUCUMBERS has recently been restored by the Academy Film Archive and is ready to find the cult audience finally, it’s long deserved.
Hosted by historian and programmer Elizabeth Purchell of Ask Any Buddy and Austin Film Society’s ongoing Queer Cinema: Lost and Found series.
Restoration DCP courtesy of Academy Film Archive
SCARECROW IN A GARDEN OF CUCUMBERS: The Songs
- Scarecrow
Music by Jerry Blatt
Lyrics by Marshall Barer
Sung by Emmaretta Marks
- Get It On
Music by Jerry Blatt
Lyrics by Marshall Barer
Sung by Bette Midler and Mike Lincoln
- Nothing Goin’ Down at All
Music by Jerry Blatt
Lyrics by Marshall Barer
Sung by Bette Midler and Mike Lincoln
- Bethesda
Music by Jerry Blatt
Lyrics by Marshall Barer
Sung by The Enchanters
- Love Theme
Music by Jerry Blatt
Lyrics by Marshall Barer
Sung by Bette Midler
- Strawberry, Lilac and Lime
Music by Jerry Blatt
Lyrics by Marshall Barer
Sung by Bette Midler
- The Dusty Rose Hotel
Music by Jerry Blatt
Lyrics by Marshall Barer
- Lost in My Dreams of Heaven
Music by Jerry Blatt
Lyrics by Marshall Barer
- The Up Number
Music by Jerry Blatt
Lyrics by Marshall Barer
Holly and I were trying to find a copy of “Scarecrow …” for years. At one point I phoned Sandra Scoppettone and she was confident that henry Alpert or Robert Kaplan would have a copy in their possession. The rights were sold to some distributor years ago, and I think he’s long deceased. It didn’t occurr to me to ask Bruce Vilanch about it when we had lunch last year. Do you know of a complete copy? Is it 35mm or a digitized copy? I would love to see it!! — or perhaps arrange a screening event here in Los Angeles?
I asked Bruct about it a while back he said a private collector bought it. I saw posted it that the movie us now being held in certain cities for a few days at a time.
SCARECROW IN A GARDEN OF CUCUMBERS
Thanks for the speedy reply, Mister D. After a bit more searching I found this: The best news of all: The film
was discovered when DuArt Film & Video, the lab that was storing the film’s 35mm negative, began to close its storage in 2013. It was retrieved by the Academy Film Archive, and preserved (click on my name for the website link). So, now they’ve made a brand new print from the restored negative. Now, the search for the missing treasure is over. Looking forward to a screening here in Los Angeles soon.
Thanks mucho Brian…hope I see it before I die lol