MovieChat Forums > Dark Night of the Scarecrow (1981) Discussion > Who was driving the tractor?

Who was driving the tractor?

posted 15 years ago by willowtara
14 replies | jump to latest

I saw this movie the first time it was shown on TV and I have a copy, which I have watched many times.
Here's my question: Who was driving the tractor at the end?
Bubba was the Scarecrow with the pitchfork. But who was driving the tractor that caused Hazelrigg to run into the pitchfork?
Bubba could not have been driving and standing with the pitchfork at the same time, unless he fixed a phony scarecrow to hold the pitchfork and was driving the tractor?
Anyone? Please help!
Thanks!

[–] soultransfixion 15 years ago

I think that there was some emphasis on supernatural elements in that scene. I always assumed that Bubba, now a ghostly scarecrow, had gained the ability to move things without touching them. In some of the death scenes it seems as if he might not even be present (if I recall correctly).

So as far as I know nobody is driving the tractor and Bubba is "summoning" it forward.

Learn to Swim.

[–] willowtara 15 years ago

Thank you my friend.
That would explain it.

[–] disknerd 15 years ago

No one is driving the tractor, other than Bubba's ghost. I recently saw the restored version that is to soon go to DVD, and there is an added scene that shows the gears working themselves. Writer J.D. Feigelson explained that the script originally called for a smaller tractor where the driver (or lack thereof) would have been seen, and that this scene has been added to clear up the confusion.

[–] Pythe 15 years ago

Hey, you weren't at the Music Box Massacre, were you?

[–] stephenborland 15 years ago

I was under the impression that Bubba was driving the tractor. He had set the pitchfork up so that he could scare Hazelrigg by chasing him with the tractor towards the pitchfork. Hazelrigg was too scared and constantly looking back to notice where he was going, or what he was about to run in to. He drives him towards the pitchfork, pre-setup. I think it works considering I don't believe the screenwriter wanted to give away Bubba being supernatural. He wanted to leave it somewhat open. Also, he didn't necessarily have to have the scarecrow costume on the entire time.

[–] jt_1_99 15 years ago

I thought the girl had telekinetic powers and she controlled it all even the scarecrow

[–] Woodyanders 14 years ago

The DVD features a two second shot edited back into the movie which reveals that no one was driving the tractor.

1,000 mini-bios and I feel like I'm just getting started

[–] blu-dude 14 years ago

Who is driving? Bear is driving; how can this be?

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[–] smcarter1966 14 years ago

Just a shot in the dark, but could it have been Bubba's mother who was driving the tractor?

She was always saying that there are more than just one way of justice in this world, and the eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth, life for a life kept resonating because of her in the film.

So, when Hazelrigg had Marylee pinned in the pumpkin patch and Marylee started crying out Momma, and the tractor then started up, I began thinking "Bubba's Mom?"

After the movie ended, I came here to look if there were any threads concerning who was driving the tractor. Since this was the first one I came across, I decided to post in this one. Please excuse me if this idea had already been discussed.

Anyways, that's just my opinion, and as already shown in this thread, others may vary...

END OF LINE

[–] GeneticSugarKane 14 years ago

Marylee was crying out "Bubba" when she was pinned by Otis... just like she called for him when the dog attacked her near the beginning.

[–] RobsBottin 14 years ago

If the OP has seen the newly remastered scene then he will know that it was the spirit of Bubba controlling the tractor. The makers added a scene where we see the gear lever being manipulated in the cab they did that to make it clear to the viewer that it was indeed Bubbas spirit doing the offing. The commentary track tells you all you need to know about the film.

[–] mep1019 9 years ago

In the original version, it was left uncertain who was driving the tractor at the end, but in the DVD and current restored version there is a two-second insert shot showing the inside of the tractor which shows the gear shift moving by itself just before it chases Otis.

[–] 9 years ago

[deleted]

[–] moosefeathers 9 years ago

The ghost of Bubba.

Swing away, Merrill....Merrill, swing away...