Though he will always be remembered for his Ashley Wilkes role in "Gone With The Wind," the Scarlet Pimpernel is Leslie Howard's finest hour on the big screen. His tragic death as a casualty in Hitler's war on England makes his soliloquy from William Shakespeare's Richard II even more relevant today.
Based on a popular novel and play by Baroness Orczy, "The Scarlet Pimpernel" concerns a secret organization led by Sir Percy Blakeney during the Reign of Terror to aide victims to escape the guillotine in France to find sanctuary in England. He pretends to be an effete arrogant aristocrat, callous to humanity's suffering, neglectful of his beautiful wife, who wanders around reciting bad poetry that he has composed and making snide remarks about the clothing of fellow gentry men. In reality he is the magnificent man of steel, the Scarlet Pimpernel, fighting for true liberty, equality, and fraternity, not the perverted forms espoused by Robespierre and his ilk. Sounds like Bruce Wayne and Batman. There's even a Robin, a fellow aristocrat who assists with messages and at times as a go-between. He also dons a cool costume and often travels incognito. There's no Batmobile, but, hey, it's not a perfect world.
Other talented Thespians shine in a stellar cast. There's the nefarious Citizen Chauvelin, played to perfection by the underrated Raymond Massey, whose life depends on finding the wild weed that's choking the Revolution. He has old connections with Sir Percy's lovely wife played magnificently by the charming Merle Oberon who would receive critical raves for "Wuthering Heights" just five years later. There's Nigel Bruce, the future Watson, as the Prince of Wales whose minute intellect cannot fathom the depth and dangers to England of the French Revolution. The rest of the cast down to the most infinitesimal role show no blemishes.
There's plenty of action and romance mixed with suspense and pageantry, never a dull moment. Don't miss it.
Based on a popular novel and play by Baroness Orczy, "The Scarlet Pimpernel" concerns a secret organization led by Sir Percy Blakeney during the Reign of Terror to aide victims to escape the guillotine in France to find sanctuary in England. He pretends to be an effete arrogant aristocrat, callous to humanity's suffering, neglectful of his beautiful wife, who wanders around reciting bad poetry that he has composed and making snide remarks about the clothing of fellow gentry men. In reality he is the magnificent man of steel, the Scarlet Pimpernel, fighting for true liberty, equality, and fraternity, not the perverted forms espoused by Robespierre and his ilk. Sounds like Bruce Wayne and Batman. There's even a Robin, a fellow aristocrat who assists with messages and at times as a go-between. He also dons a cool costume and often travels incognito. There's no Batmobile, but, hey, it's not a perfect world.
Other talented Thespians shine in a stellar cast. There's the nefarious Citizen Chauvelin, played to perfection by the underrated Raymond Massey, whose life depends on finding the wild weed that's choking the Revolution. He has old connections with Sir Percy's lovely wife played magnificently by the charming Merle Oberon who would receive critical raves for "Wuthering Heights" just five years later. There's Nigel Bruce, the future Watson, as the Prince of Wales whose minute intellect cannot fathom the depth and dangers to England of the French Revolution. The rest of the cast down to the most infinitesimal role show no blemishes.
There's plenty of action and romance mixed with suspense and pageantry, never a dull moment. Don't miss it.