The Scarlet Pimpernel (1934)

User Rating:

7.6/10   

Director:

Harold Young

Writers:

Baroness Emmuska Orczy (by)
Lajos Biró (scenario, continuity & dialogue) ...

Release Date:

7 February 1935 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Comedy

Tagline:

The Scarlet Pimpernel. Who Was He... What Was His Strange Power?

Plot:

Leslie Howard plays Sir Percy Blakeney, an 18th century English aristocrat who leads a double life. He appears to be merely the effete aristocrat...

Plot Keywords:

Aristocrat | Disguise | Robespierre | France | Fop

Cast

Leslie Howard	...	Sir Percy Blakeney / The Scarlet Pimpernel
Merle Oberon	...	Lady Blakeney
Raymond Massey	...	Chauvelin
Nigel Bruce	...	The Prince of Wales
Bramwell Fletcher	...	The Priest
Anthony Bushell	...	Sir Andrew Ffoulkes
Joan Gardner	...	Suzanne de Tournay
Walter Rilla	...	Armand St. Just
Mabel Terry-Lewis	...	Countess de Tournay
O.B. Clarence	...	Count de Tournay
Ernest Milton	...	Robespierre
Edmund Breon	...	Colonel Winterbottom
Melville Cooper	...	Romney (The Great Artist)
Gibb McLaughlin	...	The Barber
Morland Graham	...	Treadle (the tailor) (as Moreland Graham)

Runtime:

97 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English | French

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Wide Range Noiseless Recording)

Certification:

Australia:G | UK:A (original rating) | UK:U (video rating) | USA:Approved (PCA #578)

Filming Locations:

Denham Studios, Denham, Buckinghamshire, England, UK

Company:

London Film Productions

Trivia:

Percy Blakeney refers to one of the boxers as "Mendoza", a reference to Daniel Mendoza, the 17th-century British Jew who revolutionized boxing. Mendoza was the heavyweight champion of England from 1792-5, despite being a middleweight.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: Blakeney and the Prince of Wales are seen at a boxing match in which the combatants are in a structure similar to a modern 'square' ring. This form of the ring was not used until around 1838.

Quotes:

Prince of Wales: [of Sir Percy] Spineless, brainless and useless...

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Comedians (1967)

Soundtrack:

Eine Kleine Nachtmusik

Much intrigue, tension, and drama

I've seen this fine movie so often yet never tire of tuning in to it. To me it's a fascinating drama that holds no hint of being dated as some films tend to be. Thanks to such an excellent cast and intense story, one is swept along from scene to scene rather expecting the worse but thankful it isn't.

I consider this role to be one of Leslie Howard's best performances. As Sir Percy Blakeney, he's regarded as a frivolous socialite, but in truth he skilfully wends his way through every dangerous situation he encounters during those troubled times. There's a nonchalant, flippant air about him that masks a deep, genuine concern he harbours for saving innocent lives from the dreaded guillotine of revolutionary France.

Merle Oberon, as the beautiful wife of Sir Percy, is continually in distress over the disillusioned position she finds herself in, of having lost all respect for her husband's apparent shallow character, until she learns otherwise. There is also the danger for her brother's life that she tries to avert. All this leads to the villainous presence of Chauvelin, played by Raymond Massey, who is up to his evil ways to say the least.

Nigel Bruce, as the Prince of Wales, has quite the knack of presenting real foppish royalty of the times; it's one of his better roles, being true to type you might say.

It would have been nice to see a stage rendition if possible since it has all the right ingredients for a great play. A true classic!