The Scarlet Pimpernel

Rating:
Summary: Great historical romp, but don't watch it for history!
Review: This movie was the second version of THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL that I saw in a ten-day fix on the Red Flower. The first version I watched (years back) was the one starring Leslie Howard and Merle Oberon, and ever since then, I have always associated Howard with Sir Percy. Well, Anthony Andrews comes close - and his portrayal brings in the man of action, the master of disguise as well as the passionate lover [No one can touch Howard for the fop, IMHO]. Jane Seymour is quite convincing as Marguerite, although I give Merle Oberon the palm.

So why doesn't this film (which I have watched three times!) get a five-star rating from me? Simple. Firstly, the film deviates in major ways from the original books, beginning with the messed-up chronology and the portrayal of key historical figures (already messed up by the thoroughly biased Baroness Orczy). Contrary to what its die-hard fans think, the film is *not* a good source of history, even though it gives a good flavor to what some of the Revolution was about. For one, the film begins in 1792, with Sir Percy rescuing Armand from the evil Marquis de St Cyr's henchmen and thus winning the gratitude of the lovely Marguerite St Just, Armand's sister. This is not in keeping with the book's chronology, or with the motivations of the book-Sir Percy in setting up the Scarlet Pimpernel (where love, betrayal and redemption play a crucial role, along with the politics and the social context). The 1934 version gives a better sense of the politics, and so does the book - flawed as that is, as a literary work on the French revolution. Don't watch the 1982 version, therefore to get an accurate chronology either of the League (as described by Orczy) or of the French revolution.

For the record, the 1982 version moves quickly from events in 1792 to events in 1793, when the French nation was at war with every other nation, including the British. [It would have been hard and very risky indeed for an Englishman to go running around France, after the execution of Louis XVI]. I mention the flawed chronology, because the more recent A&E/BBC version (with an alternate reality Scarlet Pimpernel) has been accused of flawed chronology.

It is true that Chauvelin is portrayed as a much younger man - and one who is in love with Marguerite (which *never* happened in the books). But on the other hand, Sir Ian McKellen does such a superb job [watch him wince and swallow during the bridal dance] that fans can easily forgive this change in the story, compared to other changes.

One last point. Chauvelin, who is said to resemble a fox, is well-played by Ian McKellen. Anthony Andrews and Jane Seymour do not however resemble the book-Sir Percy and the book-Marguerite. This was probably one of the reasons why I tend to consistently favor the 1934 version (flawed as it is in some respects as well).

In summary - a great historical romp, somewhere above Beau Brummell in historical accuracy, but certainly not the gold standard for history-based films. Enjoy the movie as a great romp, and an affecting love story between two saintly figures (which they were not in the book).

Rating:
Summary: VHS transfer
Review: Picture and color transfer were good. The story was well done and the acting excellant.

Rating:
Summary: "The absolute best movie ever made, ever!"
Review: This movie has history, sophistication, humor, action and romance. Never have I seen a movie so well done. Jane Seymour and Anthony Andrews are brilliant together. Other characters are superb as well. Indeed a movie to release for others who have never seen it. A movie for all ages and for people who really appreciate drama style threatre, and a story ending with a twist. It would be to the credit of the studio who produced this film to re-release it on DVD and VHS because of its overwhelming popularity.

Rating:
Summary: The Scarlet Pimpernel (Andrews/Seymore)
Review: They seek it here, they seek it there, those fans seek it everywhere! This classic is a must to own, I only wish it was available!! DVD, sounds good to me, too bad I can't drop by Europe for a weekend...

Rating:
Summary: Very good, but not really the best
Review: Okay, I know that thousands of fans will hate me for this, but I just can't see this as the definitive Scarlet Pimpernel movie.

First off, I loved the movie. Jane Seymour, Ian Mckellan, and Anthony Andrews were great. The costumes and settings were gorgeous. Wonderful acting. Wonderful action. Wonderful romance.

BUT, I can't give it five stars for several reasons: first, Anthony Andrews. He is good at times, but what the heck was he doing with that hideous, fingernails-dragged-across chalkboard voice? Arrrrgh. And that snuff. ick! On the other side, he was gorgeous, and heroic.

Second, the estrangement. In the book, Marguerite inadvertantly contributes to the death of the St. Cyrs when she warns some friends about his correspondence with Austria. (Gasp-she warns her friends about a man committing treason-how wicked!) But Percy thinks that she deliberately sent the man and his family to the guillotine out of hate. (He knows that she despised the man, but not why) Marguerite is too proud to tell him the truth, and Percy is too damned self righteous to reach out to her. The problems between them are caused by their own pride and refusal to bend. This is a very important theme in the book. These people are good, but flawed.

This is totally missing in the movie, in which they are saintly creatures whose problems are caused by a typical romance novel sabotage by another character.

In the movie, Marguerite is an innocent victim, when Chauvelin places her name on an arrest warrent. Then Baron du Batz rushes off to tell Percy about it. And Percy, the dummy, BELIEVES it! On his wedding day, two minutes after bragging what a wonderful woman she is, he listens to a man he doesn't really trust, and condemns her as a murderer. WITHOUT EVEN ASKING HER!!!! He just turns away. "Poor me, in love with an unworthy creature". Please. All he had to do was ASK her.

At least in the book, he has some excuse for believing it, since she is so angry at him, she lets him think that she denounced the Marquis.

And Marguerite. Her husband turns on her, treats her like dirt, and she just accepts it. In the book, she gave as good as she got. He paid for his hideous treatment of her, and for listening to strangers and gossip. Not here. In the movie, she just meekly accepts the fact that the man who said he loved her more than anything in life listened to someone slander her and immediately believed it, because he is a hero.

One of the things that made the book so good was the fact that Marguerite and Percy were human beings who loved each other, but still hurt each other. They were both too proud and defensive, waiting for the other to "blink" first. The conflict in this movie was silly. It is like a million other romances, where an evil villain decides to cause trouble, and the lovers are just too dimwitted to see it.

But for all that, wonderful, mushy romance.

Rating:
Summary: Sink me, its demmed marvelous
Review: I have been looking for this movie for about 2 yrs, ever since I became truly obsessed with the pimpernel. I have seen 3 other film/tv versions of the scarlet pimpernel but this one is my favourite. Words cannot xpress how great this film is, it is romantic, passionate, swashbuckling, funny, everything that makes a good film. Anthony Andrews is brilliant in the title role (he is seen far too little nowadays) and conveys such brilliant emotion in his face, Jane Seymour is the best Marguerite I have seen, and Ian Mckellen is very good as well. If you remotely like the Pimpernel story, or you appreciate a good romantic/history/comical/adventure film then you should definitely try and find this film, it truly is "da bomb" !!!! Hope enjoy it as much as I did

Rating:
Summary: My Favorite!
Review: I love this movie, and so will anyone else who enjoys romantic adventure stories. In my opinion, it is cast perfectly, the plot is exciting, and the costumes and location add the finishing touches to a beautiful representation of the story's setting. The lead roles also could not have been performed better. Anthony Andrews and Jane Seymour ARE Percy and Marguerite, and Ian McKellen's performance as the villain is incredible. I can never see this movie too many times. It is by far my favorite, and I recommend it to anyone and everyone who is at all interested in the Scarlet Pimpernel. I only hope that the video will be held in stock here soon, though, or become available on DVD.

Rating:
Summary: The definitive Pimpernel
Review: I had heard of the musical, but this movie is what made me fall in love with the story of the Scarlet Pimpernel. It is simply the BEST version of the book ever filmed. The plot is actually a combination of the first novel "The Scarlet Pimpernel" and one of its many sequels, "Eldorado". The result is nothing short of greatness. I'm surprised it's out of stock, since it's a more famous film than I first thought. Hopefully the distributor will reissue a restored version soon.

Rating:
Summary: Scarlet Pimpernel is the best ,most wonderful movie ever.
Review: I simply felt in love with this movie from the first time I sow it, and I was eight back then. Anthony Adrews is hilarious, he is so funny, seroius and herois all at the same time. Jane Seymour makes a wonderful Marguearite. Although Chauvelin differs from the book character, his new style add romance and some spice to the move plot. Second time I sow the movie was in my history class, I was even more stunned then first time, although ten years passed. Ever since I was trying to get it, unfortunately it is out of print in US at present moment, haves knows why, after all it is a bestseller. Anyway, I sow everything, movies and musical, also I read a book. Scarlet Pimpernel is truly a historic classic, besides you can actually learn some facts regarding French Revolution, kind of one sided though.

Rating:
Summary: Positively Perfect Entertainment!
Review: Why I am only now discovering this movie nearly 20 years since it was released is truly a shame...this was such a delightful movie - the acting so superb (What woman could resist Anthony Andrews' Percy! ), the music so beautiful, and the story so exciting, I wish so much the studio would release it again soon! The more times I watched it, the more I caught the simply hilarious facial quirks and gestures of both Percy and Chauvelin...incredible and brilliant acting. My sincerest compliments for all involved with this film.