The Scarlet Pimpernel (1934)
1h 37m | PG-13
18th century English aristocrat Sir Percy Blakeney leads a double life. He appears to be merely the effete aristocrat, but in reality is part of an underground effort to free French nobles from Robespierre's Reign of Terror.
Director: Harold Young
Studio: London Films Productions
Genre: Drama, Adventure
Video: 720p
Cast
Leslie Howard
as Sir Percy Blakeney / The Scarlet Pimpernel
Merle Oberon
as Lady Marguerite Blakeney
Raymond Massey
as Chauvelin
Nigel Bruce
as The Prince of Wales
Bramwell Fletcher
as The Priest
Anthony Bushell
as Sir Andrew Ffoulkes
Reviews
Leslie Howard portrays the ultimate good Samaritan in this enjoyable Alexander Korda adaptation of Baroness Orczy's tale of the murderous aftermath of the French Revolution. Married to the glamorous Merle Oberon, whom he believes selfishly betrayed the "St. Cyr" family to the guillotine, he, and his gang of lieutenants, daringly rescue aristocrats from under the very noses of the evil "Chauvelin" (Raymond Massey). Soon they are all walking a very tight rope between freedom and death after "Chauvelin" is sent to London to track down the "Scarlet Pimpernel" and where he tricks Oberon into betraying our intrepid rescuers. Howard is at times a little too theatrical with his foppish - "sink me" characterisation but Harold Young still creates a wonderfully tense drama with great performances from a particularly menacing Massey, and the supporting cast - Nigel Bruce amongst them - make this, for my money, the best silver screen adaptation of this novel.