You have to be of a certain mindset and artistic temperament to enjoy fully these videotaped productions of plays and musicals filmed for TV (usually PBS) between the early days of television and the 1990's. The TV version of a 1911 play by Percy MacKaye is probably the only filmed version on record is a rare treat, a companion piece to the more well known "The Crucible" and features a glorious all-star cast, a nice theatrical set, and a pacing that at under two hours that will keep theater historians and artists enthralled.
Of course most people may tune in mainly for the presence of Gene Wilder who gives a unique performance that is rather deadpan and hardly comedic. His character is so bizarre that his acting often seems like he's tripping over the words in the script, but somehow works with his blackmailing rascal. The official leads are Blythe Danner as a young woman consumed with witchcraft and Pete Duel as her fiancee with Nina Foch and Will Geer in major support. A lengthy opening scene with Foch exposes her as an obvious witch, and when Danner appears, it becomes clear that she is interested in the craft as well, consumed with a mirror that shows people as they truly are.
Then there's the actual scarecrow, created by Foch in the beginning which comes to life in a very bizarre and frightening sequence. Geer is as far from Grandpa Walton as he can possibly be, a town elder obsessed through an obvious incantation with the sinister Foch. The pan and scan camera work adds to the delightful theatricality and makes it a stunning production. The play itself is a bit stagy and creaky, but with a bit of tweaking could work for a Broadway company like Roundabout or Lincoln Center or the Manhattan Theater Club. Quite wonderful for more reasons than its historical value, and you even get to hear Wilder song!
Of course most people may tune in mainly for the presence of Gene Wilder who gives a unique performance that is rather deadpan and hardly comedic. His character is so bizarre that his acting often seems like he's tripping over the words in the script, but somehow works with his blackmailing rascal. The official leads are Blythe Danner as a young woman consumed with witchcraft and Pete Duel as her fiancee with Nina Foch and Will Geer in major support. A lengthy opening scene with Foch exposes her as an obvious witch, and when Danner appears, it becomes clear that she is interested in the craft as well, consumed with a mirror that shows people as they truly are.
Then there's the actual scarecrow, created by Foch in the beginning which comes to life in a very bizarre and frightening sequence. Geer is as far from Grandpa Walton as he can possibly be, a town elder obsessed through an obvious incantation with the sinister Foch. The pan and scan camera work adds to the delightful theatricality and makes it a stunning production. The play itself is a bit stagy and creaky, but with a bit of tweaking could work for a Broadway company like Roundabout or Lincoln Center or the Manhattan Theater Club. Quite wonderful for more reasons than its historical value, and you even get to hear Wilder song!