'Pimpernel' Smith (1941)Professor Horatio Smith, who while seeming very unassuming, rescues victims of Nazi persecution during World War II. Director:Leslie Howard |
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'Pimpernel' Smith (1941)Professor Horatio Smith, who while seeming very unassuming, rescues victims of Nazi persecution during World War II. Director:Leslie Howard |
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| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
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Allan Jeayes | ... |
Dr. Benckendorf
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Peter Gawthorne | ... |
Sidimir Koslowski
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Ernest Butcher | ... |
Weber
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Ben Williams | ... |
Graubitz
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| Leslie Howard | ... |
Professor Horatio Smith
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Arthur Hambling | ... |
Jordan
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Joan Kemp-Welch | ... |
School-Teacher
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Hugh McDermott | ... |
David Maxwell
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Manning Whiley | ... |
Bertie Gregson
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Philip Friend | ... |
Spencer
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Basil Appleby | ... |
Jock MacIntyre
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Laurence Kitchin | ... |
Clarence Elstead
(as Lawrence Kitchen)
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| David Tomlinson | ... |
Steve
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Mary Brown | ... |
Girl Student
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Aubrey Mallalieu | ... |
Dean
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It is mid-1939 and both Germany and England are preparing for an inevitable conflict. Professor Horatio Smith, an effete academic, asks his students to come with him to the continent to engage in an archaeological dig. When his students discover that the professor is the man responsible for smuggling a number of enemies of the Nazi state out of Germany, they enthusiastically join him in his fight. But things are complicated when one of his students brings a mysterious woman into their circle; a woman who is secretly working for the Gestapo. Written by Alfred Jingle
Leslie Howard plays absent minded professor in updated version of the scarlet pimpernel spiriting away enemies of Nazi Germany.Set almost at the outbreak of world war II the film is clearly anti Nazi propaganda with classic quips such as "that is to stop the oppressed Swiss from escaping into free Germany".The Germans are typically portrayed as bungling half wits afraid of their masters with the exception of Francis Sullivan's character Graum who is portrayed as a parody of Herman Goering. I love this film despite its limitations and deficiencies it reminds me of a happier bygone England, it is full of humour,a hint of romance and plenty of adventure. Great.