Simply Perfect

Overrated

This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

Actress is magnificent and exudes a hypnotic screen presence in this affecting drama.

Baroness Emma Orczy was still writing sequels when this first film was made of "The Scarlet Pimpernel." The British novelist, playwright and short story writer was born Sept. 23, 1865 in Hungary and died Nov. 12, 1947 in England. She first wrote "Pimpernel" as a short story and then as a play in 1903. Once it became popular, Orczy wrote a dozen sequel stories either as novels or as plays. I have enjoyed all three of her stories that have made it to the silver screen. "The Scarlet Pimpernel" is her best known work, and has the most renditions on film "The Emperor's Candlesticks" in 1937 and "Pimpernel Smith" in 1941 are very good films as well. Orczy preferred to write historical fiction, which I especially like. She puts her fictitious characters in an actual time, event or place of history, and makes them a part of that history. Besides the romance, drama, comedy or other entertainment we get from the fictional story, we also get a look at history. Of course, this is as the film industry (aka Hollywood) makes it, but most such productions try to be accurate on the historical details. Viewers can watch for errors and post corrections on IMDb. "The Scarlet Pimpernel" is a story with a lot of variety. It's an action drama in a historical setting. It has intrigue and mystery. It has deceit and deception. It has somber moments that look at a dark period in French history, and the barbarism of humanity gone mad. It is a sure- fire romance, and it has wonderful humor. I can think of very few films with stories that combine so much and come off so successfully. This first film version is hard to beat. The only later rendition that comes close is the 1982 TV movie with Anthony Andrews and Jane Seymour. But, this 1934 London Film movie is the masterpiece. The cast is outstanding, and all roles are played superbly. Leslie Howard as Sir Percy Blakeney, Merle Oberon as Marguerite (Lady Blakeney) and Raymond Massey as Citizen Chauvelin shine in their roles. The set, scenery, props and costumes all look real for the time and circumstances. The scenes of public executions with the guillotine are a good look at how mob rule can lead to barbarism and treachery. An opening scene shows a newspaper with a close up of an item dated June 5, 1792. It reads, "On Wednesday last no fewer than fifty-three persons, including young girls, were guillotined by the order of Citizen Robespierre, the self-styled Dictator of France. An eye-witness described the scene as heart-rending." We also see the mob cheering and applauding each execution. It is a necessary look at history more than 200 years ago that we should not forget. Tens of thousands were executed by mob rule during the historic Reign of Terror. Unfortunately, the film quality is not very good on the DVD I have. This is a classic film that should be digitally remastered for posterity – and future sales. Movie buffs often quote the clever and funny poem that Sir Percy has written and recites in the film. It's an easy one to remember. I like some of the other witty exchanges Percy has at times with others. At the Blacks Club, Percy is going to recite it to some gentlemen sitting in high-backed chairs. Percy, "Would you believe me? I've just written a masterpiece?" Col. Winterbottom, "Who sir? You sir?" Percy, "Me, sir." The colonel, "No, sir." Percy, "Yes, sir. All about this mysterious pimpernel fellow." Later, at a party they are giving, Percy says to Marguerite, "Forgive me, my dear. Take our friend around and tell him who everybody is. If anybody is anybody."While this is a very entertaining film, it's also one that shines a light on the dark side of the French Revolution. Westerners are quick to celebrate the birth of democracy in late 18th century France, and at the same time turn a blind eye to the different tyranny it brought and the greater upheaval it fostered. The film has a poignant scene and line that puts the time in perspective. Nigel Bruce is playing the Prince of Wales. At a grand ball in England, a French woman who had been rescued from the guillotine approaches the prince. "Your highness, I have accepted the … invitation belatedly to implore your highness to do something to save my husband." The Prince of Wales replies, "Madame. The government does everything in its power to save those who are threatened by death in the prisons of the French Republic. But if a country goes mad, it has the right to commit every horror within its own walls."

Don't let the vintage dissuade you. Like the similarly aged 'Mutiny On The Bounty', 'Scarlet Pimpernel' is an excellent piece of work.Other contributors have explained in worthy detail the merits of this movie so I'll be brief. Leslie Howard is perfectly cast for the part. Not a handsome man in the way we might employ the term today, he nevertheless conveys a tremendous presence and authority despite so-often playing the buffoon. He gets excellent lines and delivers them with panache and timing that is simply a masterclass. I particularly like his seeming obsession with dress, especially cravats, to emphasise his foppish credentials.Other actors fit their roles to a nicety, but Howard is the man to both watch and hear. The way he shifts between his shallow persona and the shrewd and scheming alter-ego is wonderful to behold. He is like Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson combined.Filmed in Black & White, and with nice production values with regard to costume and location, this is a classic interpretation of a hero. Though its age now necessitates some sound-track repair. A re-mastering would be a blessing, though its lack of popularity make it unlikely.Easily the best Pimpernel and highly recommended.

"The Scarlet Pimpernel" takes place during the Reign of Terror in the aftermath of the French Revolution. It is the story of Sir Percy Blakeney, an English aristocrat that rescues condemned French aristocrats from the guillotine under the secret identity of "The Scarlet Pimpernel". The film features nice sets, scenes and costumes that fit the period.Leslie Howard leads the cast as Sir Percy Blakeney. Howard definitely delivers the outstanding performance of the film. He is equally good as playing the two sides of his character, public fop and secret hero. It is quite enjoyable to see Howard in the various disguises of the Pimpernel. Merle Oberon also gives a fine performance as Lady Blakeney and the relationship between her and Sir Percy is well-developed. Raymond Massey is decent, but not outstanding villain as Citizen Chauvelin.This film develops an interesting story with intrigue and memorable dialogue. However, I found that the film was unevenly paced and somewhat tedious or bogged down in ceremony at times. This version is decent overall, but I preferred the 1982 version in all aspects: the casting (even though Howard is excellent, I prefer Andrews as Sir Percy), the pacing, the development of the rivalry between Percy and Chauvelin and the ending.

LESLIE HOWARD and MERLE OBERON both shine in this thoroughly entertaining film classic about the man who was an effete British gentleman by day (Sir Percy) and a noble avenger who saved many of his countrymen from the guillotine. As the dandy, Leslie is an unmitigated delight, delivering some ripely amusing lines with great flair. And Merle Oberon is a vision of loveliness as his wife who almost gives his identity away before she realizes who he actually is.It's photographed in crisp B&W splendor with elegant costumes and settings and given a rich supporting cast of players including RAYMOND MASSEY as the Frenchman anxious to trap The Scarlet Pimpernell, NIGEL BRUCE, MELVILLE COOPER and many others.The brilliant script has many memorable lines, most of them given to Leslie Howard's character when he's playing the dandy seemingly oblivious to the hunt for the disguised Pimpernell. Especially riveting are the opening scenes depicting the ugly public executions during the French Revolution and the crowds that delighted in them.There's never a dull moment. Well worth watching and should give fans a new impression of just how great an actor LESLIE HOWARD actually was.