Rating: 
Summary: If you love the Scarlet Pimpernel...
Review: .. don't miss this version ... Even though most rental and sale copies of this film are based on very poor quality prints, some of the charm of this original will shine through. [There were earlier versions, but not widely distributed].The backgrounds of the leads and the producer lends this version a particular zest, I have always thought. The writer of the book, Baroness Orczy, was a Hungarian noblewoman who married an Englishman in the late 19th century. The producer Alexander Korda was Hungarian, who came to the UK to make his name in the film business - he also eventually married the star of this film, Merle Oberon (whose origins appear to be Anglo-Indian, or Eurasian). The other lead, Leslie Howard, was the descendant of Hungarian Jews, or so claim several websites. This odd melange however put together a production starring that quintessential Englishman (in historical romps, anyway) - Sir Percy Blakeney. For those of you who have not watched the film nor read the story, I will not give away too much of the story. I should add that this film version is the closest to the original book (important for purists and lovers of the book), except in some small matters such as the reason Marguerite hates a certain French aristocrat. For me, this version was long the only version I watched or cared to watch, and Leslie Howard *was* Sir Percy Blakeney, the consummate fop. To many persons he still is. I won't go into raptures about the other great performance - that of Raymond Massey as Chauvelin. Other reviewers have done fuller justice to his work. For many people, Merle Oberon is Marguerite, untouched even by Jane Seymour. For a great viewing experience, I recommend watching the 1934 version, followed by the 1982 version (starring Anthony Andrews and Jane Seymour). While keeping in mind that the 1982 version combines two novels and takes some liberties with historical chronology and geography, you might find it fruitful to wonder which version will better stand the test of time. I gave this film four stars, for the following reasons: 1) the film is not based on the greatest story in the world (and some scenes frankly irritate me, smacking as they do of 1930s sensibilities, rather than 1790s attitudes and beliefs) 2) the print quality of most VHS editions and the DVD edition is truly horrible.
Rating: 
Summary: Great Film/Terrible DVD
Review: As some others have said, you get what you pay for with this DVD. However, Leslie Howard is inspired in this movie and it is well worth watching despite the DVD's limitations. My rating of 3 is an average of the movie's 5 and the DVD's 1. The Scarlet Pimpernel is a great story, but no one brings the character to life like Howard.
Rating:
Summary: Great film, TERRIBLE print!
Review: Be warned, the copyright has apparently expired on this film, and it appears the same situation exists as it did with "It's a Wonderful Life" a few years ago (anyone can put out a crappy version). The picture is very muddy at times, and the sound is garbled. The movie is great, but this print is deadly.
Rating:
Summary: Swashbuckling Good Fun
Review: Excellent, though not quite as good as the colorized 80s version of the film. Adventure, romance, drama, and humor. Leslie Howard does a magnificent job as the Scarlet Pimpernel, as does the actress who plays Margaritte. The story is what really makes this a classic. Could you have a better ending?!!! I think not. "Sink Me" if this isn't my husband's favorite story.
Rating:
Summary: Older version and it shows....
Review: For this price, it probably doesn't matter, but if you want the best "Scarlett Pimpernel" by the one with Anthony Andrews. This is an old grainy black and white film, and it's not very well constructed. It's more like a stage play. If you're a history buff, or fan of Leslie Howard you may get more out of it but I was disappointed.
Rating: 
Summary: warning!
Review: I agree with the viewer from Chicago. This is a fabulous film. Leslie Howard is brilliant (I love the way he exclaims "Odds fish!" in his fop persona) but this DVD is absolute c**p. The film was made in 1935, but the print under review looks as though it was unearthed from the 19th century; it's muddy and the sound is unclear. I should have known better from the packaging - Leslie Howard is spelt Lelsie (twice) and the picture they've used is not of him but of Raymond Massey, who plays the villain. You'd do better to tape this off the TV next time it comes up.
Rating:
Summary: A Decent Old Movie Gets Shortsheeted.
Review: 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.
Rating: 
Summary: An Inspiration for the Cultured
Review: I have found this to be an extraordinarily inspiring film. In this day of the non-hero who fights only in favor of pederasty and the destruction of family and cultural values, it is rare to find a gem such as this movie which is insanely romantic (watch Oberon and Howard, their relationship) and heroic in the non-Byronic sense. I think this is a brilliant masterpiece. I would warn post-modernists, however, that it does not have as much blood, relentless violence, and death without meaning as that to which they may be used. Hollywood, eat your heart out. Dr. T. Arthur Behrens
Rating:
Summary: I love the Scarlet Pimpernel.
Review: I have read the book, "The Scarlet Pimpernel", and have seen the Broadway play nine times. This movie is a classic; Leslie Howard gives perhaps the best performance of the century in this movie. I urge everyone and anyone to buy it; you'll love the storyline! It's the best story of all time!
Rating:
Summary: This movie drives my family crazy! I watch it incessantly!
Review: I love this movie, after reading the play in a daily reader, and also reading tale of two cities, the french revolution intrigued me, All those innocent people meeting their fate by madame guilotines last kiss. The commen french man, being the victim, turning to their abusers, and reatliating with an unimaginably over zealous attack on the royals. Then there is this movie, where percy, an english fop by day is really the scarlet pimpernel, the rebel who snneks into frence and smuggels french nobels across the border into freedom ,and away from certin death. His wife, margerite, a former french prisoner, set free by the uprising at the bastill, inadvertently reveals her huspands identity to the man out to bring him in. She does not know who the pimpernell is but gets the information, and without finding out herself gives it to this man in exchange for the life of her brother armand, a french rebel. Later , when the truth is reveald, she rushes to france at risk of her life to save her husband. There she is captured, an percy must bargain for both their lives. It is a thrilling romance, that only takes true form with a fore-knowledge of the revolution. I love this move, and even though it is in black and white, and the pics are worn, and the sound is fuzzy, I wll still be watching it 40 years from now. It just has that much of an effect on me.
Viva la Frace! Viva la Scarlet Pimpernell!
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