Scarecrow (1973) Queer Film (F)

DIRECTOR: Jerry Schatzberg

Max Millan (Gene Hackman), a hot-tempered ex-convict, and Francis Lionel “Lion” Delbuchi (Al Pacino), a childlike former sailor, meet hitchhiking in California. Despite clashing personalities, they decide to travel together, pooling their savings to open a car wash in Pittsburgh.
They visit Max’s sister, but their antics land them in a prison farm for a month. Max blames Lion, and their friendship strains. Lion is brutally sexually assaulted by another inmate named Riley, leaving him physically injured and emotionally scarred.
Actor Richard Lynch plays Riley.
Max later beats Riley to a pulp before he and Lion head off to Pittsburgh. The character of Riley is never seen again. The sexual assault is shocking. No movie has done more to conflate gay identity with pathology and violence than “Scarecrow”.
After Max beats up Riley, there’s always a massive cheer from the audience!
Now streaming at Apple TV+, Amazon Prime Video ans YouTube
https://thebrownees.net/85-queer-films-made-under-the-hays-code-1934-1968/
https://thebrownees.net/88-queer-films-from-the-new-hollywood-1968-1980/

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