Scarecrow at Corrie Film Club

On Sunday, January 12th Corrie Film Club shows an engaging 1973 American film called Scarecrow. It’s about a couple of bums who meet on the road in California and agree to become partners in a car wash business once they reach Pittsburgh. They are an ill-assorted pair. One of them is a short-tempered ex-convict called Max Millan, played by Gene Hackman, and Al Pacino plays his unlikely partner, Lionel Delbuchi, known as ‘Lion’. An ex-sailor, Lion is an unsophisticated man, knowing very little about anything. He is on his way to Detroit to see the child he has never met and make amends with his wife Annie, to whom he has been sending all the money he made while at sea. Max has been sending all his money to a bank in Pittsburgh, saving up to open the carwash business.

They visit Max’s sister in Denver, where they get into trouble and land in a prison farm for a month. Max blames Lion for this, but takes Lion’s part when he is assaulted by another inmate. Slowly, the pair of them begin to have a regard for each other that endures through absurd episodes and moments of profound disaster. It’s a film that combines comedy, toughness and moments of genuine emotion. Well worth seeing.

As usual, the showing starts at 8.00 pm in Corrie Hall, free of charge though donations towards hall heating costs would be gratefully received.