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'Pimpernel' Smith

  • 1941
  • Passed
  • 2h
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
1.7K
YOUR RATING
'Pimpernel' Smith (1941)
AdventureDramaThriller

Professor Horatio Smith, while seeming very unassuming, rescues victims of Nazi persecution during World War II.Professor Horatio Smith, while seeming very unassuming, rescues victims of Nazi persecution during World War II.Professor Horatio Smith, while seeming very unassuming, rescues victims of Nazi persecution during World War II.

  • Director
    • Leslie Howard
  • Writers
    • Anatole de Grunwald
    • A.G. Macdonell
    • Wolfgang Wilhelm
  • Stars
    • Leslie Howard
    • Francis L. Sullivan
    • Allan Jeayes
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    7.2/10
    1.7K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Leslie Howard
    • Writers
      • Anatole de Grunwald
      • A.G. Macdonell
      • Wolfgang Wilhelm
    • Stars
      • Leslie Howard
      • Francis L. Sullivan
      • Allan Jeayes
    • 31User reviews
    • 16Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win

    Photos74

    'Pimpernel' Smith (1941)
    'Pimpernel' Smith (1941)
    Leslie Howard in 'Pimpernel' Smith (1941)
    Leslie Howard and Francis L. Sullivan in 'Pimpernel' Smith (1941)
    Leslie Howard in 'Pimpernel' Smith (1941)
    Francis L. Sullivan in 'Pimpernel' Smith (1941)
    Mary Morris in 'Pimpernel' Smith (1941)
    Mary Morris and Francis L. Sullivan in 'Pimpernel' Smith (1941)
    'Pimpernel' Smith (1941)
    Leslie Howard and Mary Morris in 'Pimpernel' Smith (1941)
    Mary Morris in 'Pimpernel' Smith (1941)
    Francis L. Sullivan in 'Pimpernel' Smith (1941)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Leslie Howard
    Leslie Howard
    • Professor Horatio Smith
    Francis L. Sullivan
    Francis L. Sullivan
    • General von Graum
    • (as Francis Sullivan)
    Allan Jeayes
    Allan Jeayes
    • Dr. Benckendorf
    Mary Morris
    Mary Morris
    • Ludmilla Koslowski
    Hugh McDermott
    Hugh McDermott
    • David Maxwell
    Raymond Huntley
    Raymond Huntley
    • Marx
    Manning Whiley
    Manning Whiley
    • Bertie Gregson
    Peter Gawthorne
    • Sidimir Koslowski
    Dennis Arundell
    Dennis Arundell
    • Hoffman
    Joan Kemp-Welch
    • School-Teacher
    Philip Friend
    Philip Friend
    • Spencer
    Laurence Kitchin
    • Clarence Elstead
    • (as Lawrence Kitchen)
    David Tomlinson
    David Tomlinson
    • Steve
    Basil Appleby
    • Jock MacIntyre
    Percy Walsh
    • Dvorak
    A.E. Matthews
    A.E. Matthews
    • Earl of Meadowbrook
    Aubrey Mallalieu
    Aubrey Mallalieu
    • Dean
    Ben Williams
    • Graubitz
    • Director
      • Leslie Howard
    • Writers
      • Anatole de Grunwald
      • A.G. Macdonell
      • Wolfgang Wilhelm
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      One of the earliest movies to openly and unflinchingly discuss Nazi labor, concentration, and death camps.
    • Goofs
      At the reception in the English embassy, Professor Smith misquotes Lewis Carroll's Jabberwocky. He mispronounces "borogoves" in the third line of the poem as "borogroves".
    • Quotes

      General von Graum: But we have one problem. "To be or not to be?" as our great German poet said.

      Professor Horatio Smith: German? But that's Shakespeare.

      Professor Horatio Smith: But you don't know?

      Professor Horatio Smith: Why, I know it's Shakespeare. I thought Shakespeare was English.

      General von Graum: No, no, no. Shakespeare is a German. Professor Schuessbacher has proved it once and for all.

      Professor Horatio Smith: Oh dear, how very upsetting. Still, you must admit that the English translations are most remarkable.

      General von Graum: Good night.

      Professor Horatio Smith: Good night. Good night. "Parting is such sweet sorrow."

      General von Graum: What is that?

      Professor Horatio Smith: One of the most famous lines in German literature.

    • Crazy credits
      Immediately following the opening credits: "The tale we are about to unfold to you is a fantasy. None of its characters are living persons. But it is based on the exploits of a number of courageous men who were and are still risking their lives daily to aid those unfortunate people of many nationalities who are being persecuted and exterminated by the Nazis. To these champions of freedom this story is dedicated."
    • Alternate versions
      This film was cut and retitled 'Mister V' for its first American release in the early 1940s. Some versions censor the response from Hugh McDermott's character "I'd do my damndest..." in response to a question posed by Leslie Howard's character at a table in a café.
    • Connections
      Featured in Century of Cinema: A Personal History of British Cinema by Stephen Frears (1995)
    • Soundtracks
      There's A Tavern in the Town
      (uncredited)

      Traditional

      Whistled by Leslie Howard in several scenes

    User reviews31

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    10/10
    fictional heroes join the war effort
    Concerning this film, I can't decide if my soft spot is for the always superb Leslie Howard, or for one of the old heroes of literature, resurrected to fight the nazi menace. This is a clever update of the Scarlet Pimpernel story. I found this re-incarnation of the classic much more enjoyable than the original. It was even more fun than another personal favorite, Basil Rathbone as Sherlock Holmes, who came back in the 1940's to do his bit for king and country against the Third Reich.

    Albeit, very light fair, films like this were more to entertain and keep spirits high in not so certain times. The horrors of war can be looked back upon, but to push onward, the propaganda of the day was to show the enemy as almost comical foes, outwitted by the ever sensible Englishman. Leslie Howard plays this role beautifully and it remains one of my favorite performances by him...
    helpful•25
    1
    • renfield54
    • Apr 17, 1999

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • July 28, 1941 (United Kingdom)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Languages
      • English
      • German
      • French
    • Also known as
      • Mister V
    • Filming locations
      • D&P Studios, Denham, Uxbridge, Buckinghamshire, England, UK(as D & P Studios Denham . . . England)
    • Production company
      • British National Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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