Scarecrow in a Garden of Cucumbers

Rivalling City of Lost Souls for the mantle of campiest, most unhinged musical in this year’s festival, Scarecrow in a Garden of Cucumbers was restored by the Academy Film Archive in 2022 after scarcely being seen since premiering 50 years prior. Presumed lost for much of that time, it now rates as one of the greatest queer film rediscoveries in many a long year. How on Earth did something so brilliantly, ceaselessly bonkers as this, and so much fun to watch with a crowd, ever retreat into obscurity?

In one of the earliest lead roles granted to a trans performer, Warhol Superstar Holly Woodlawn (seen in Paul Morrissey's Trash and Women in Revolt!) puts in a riotous turn as small-town girl Eve Harrington, who quickly finds life in New York City circa 1972 sure ain’t like being in Kansas anymore. And how! Across a series of loopy, cartoonish, gag-filled episodes and madcap musical numbers – that’s how.

Woodlawn’s ferocious fellow Warhol Superstar Tally Brown chews no small amount of scenery as Mary Poppins, and the mayhem is only enhanced by voice cameos from none other than Bette Midler and Lily Tomlin!