[.ca] Scarlet Pimpernel (Full Screen) (ISBN 6305066825)

From Amazon.com:
"That damned elusive Pimpernel" finds a dashing embodiment in Leslie Howard, who has the steel to be an action hero and the wit to hide behind his alter ego: a British fop. Based on Baroness Orczy's novel, the story focuses on the efforts of this British dandy to aid members of the French aristocracy in escaping the guillotines of the French revolution. He also romances Merle Oberon, a beauty forgotten by recent generations, and engages in a wonderfully wicked duel of wits with the humorless enforcer for the French Republicans (Raymond Massey). If somewhat short on swashbuckling, it's long on the kind of costume drama that Hollywood seems to have forgotten how to do. Remade in 1982 for television, in an equally engaging version starring Anthony Andrews. --Marshall Fine

a very good film:
This film has most everyting adventure romance, but also an underlying sadness as its during the French Revolution. Merl Oberon is beautiful does a great acting job and also Leslie Howard plays the Scarlet PImpernel so very very well. Hes very talented in all his films this I think is one of his best.

A Story for Our Times:
Leslie Howard and Merle Oberon, I think, are in their most romantic roles ever. This movie is based on the legendary story of the Scarlet Pimpernel, risen in a time of rampant Leftism (revolutionary France, set on social and political implosion) and burgeoise England (eventually saved only by the rise of Rev. Wesley). My wife is one for early romantic movies, but I am the one who thinks the most romantic and tear-jerking scene (don't psychoanalyze me here -- I think I just love the play of raw courage vs. naivite) I have ever seen is in this movie. Holding Oberon by the shoulders in his palms, Howard stares her straight in the eyes, "What price did you pay?!!" he declares. This is the crux of their relationship. The political savior, Howard, is in a much more subtle plot -- saving men, women, and children one at a time from the reach of hard-Leftists set on destroying stability in Europe militantly and in blood in order to rebuild the society under their own ideal. Perhaps many people won't get it, but this movie is well worth the watching no matter by whom, a lesson for those who can think, and real entertainment for those who will not.

The seek him here they seek him there:
Them Frenchies seek him everywhere. Is he in Heaven? Is he in Hell? That damned elusive pimpernel. By Sir Percy Blakeney/The Scarlet Pimpernel (Leslie Howard) It is the French revolution and everone is losing their heads. Sir Percy Blakeney must fake being ridicules and may even lose the love of his life Lady Marguerite Blakeney (Merle Oberon.) This is necessary to save their friends from the guillotine. How long can he pull this off while right next to hem is Citizen Chauvelin (Raymond Massey) who is trying to track down The Scarlet Pimpernel. He even threatens Marguerite's with the life of her brother to find the pimpernel. The story, originally a play then a novel has been remade and in some ways improved through the years. However this version will always be the classic that others are measured by.

The Movie vs. the Book:
I would have liked this movie had I not read the book first. But once you read the book, you realize that this movie is a VERY poor adaption. The book is a lot more exciting and fun. And Leslie Howard was really miscast as Sir Percy Blakeney. He's too.....I guess depressing is the word. The point is that he doesn't do the character any justice. If you want "The Scarlet Pimpernel"....Read the Book.

A Decent Old Movie Gets Shortsheeted.:
I had a tattered old copy of this movie on video for years that had finally begun to degrade due to the number of passes it had endured through the VCR. When I brought this DVD home I had such high anticipation to see the classic on a digital format, but was sorely disappointed to find out that Madacy Entertainment had shortened the movie by removing scenes from it. Now, why they had done this is unknown, but it was a great disappointment to both me and my wife. I constantly wonder why the scenes aren't there (being in video post production myself), and often question whether the DVD has an error in it's encoding and is skipping the scenes, or if Madacy for some reason took the scenes out due to time constraints. In spite of this flaw, the movie is still a classic.