THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL
UK, 1934, 98 minutes, Black and white.
Leslie Howard, Merle Oberon, Raymond Massey, Nigel Bruce, Bramwell Fletcher, Anthony Bushell, Walter Rilla.
Directed by Harold Young.
The Scarlet Pimpernel is a classic English costume drama from the '30s. Produced by Alexander Korda, it was a star vehicle for Leslie Howard and for the up-and-coming Merle Oberon. Raymond Massey, spending some time in England, for example also in Things to Come, is an excellent snarling villain. With attractive and interesting sets and decor, the film shows a far-fetched story of 18th. century espionage during the French revolution - echoing A Tale of Two Cities. The film is brief, brisk and entertaining.
Based on a romantic adventure by Baroness d'Orczy, the film was remade with David Niven and Margaret Leighton in the late '40s and as a lavish and long telemovie in the early '80s with Anthony Hopkins and a British TV series in 2001 with Richard E.Grant.
1. Classic adventure costume entertainment? Enjoyable cinema? The popularity of the story and its remakes?
2. British '30s production, the work of Alexander Korda? Re-creation of period, France and England? The stars and their status? Musical score?
3. The traditions of the romantic adventure: heroics and romance? The two sides of heroics - seemingly cowardly, undercover strong? Loyalty and betrayal? Espionage?
4. The atmosphere of France during the French revolution? Paris, the prisons, executions, the threats to families? The initial rescue, the hag, the talk about the plague etc.? An appropriate introduction to the Scarlet Pimpernel - with the expectations roused by the family in danger and expecting to be rescued?
5. Leslie Howard as Percy: as the Scarlet Pimpernel and the significance of his emblem? The disguise as a fop, his manners at the club, his expertise on scarves, his verse and the repetitions of it and his laughter., tired manner. the ladies' man, his excuses for absence? His jokes, advice to the Prince Regent? The parties and his sleep? An excellent cover for his activities? The realitg~of his concern, his hostility towards Margaret and the change in her, the attack on the principles of the revolution, the compassionate helping of nobles to escape? The confrontation with Chauvelin? Deceiving him with his sleeping routine? The plans, the rescues? The confrontations and the final confrontation with Chauvelin? The success? His disguised troops? The truth with Margaret and the reconciliation? The cinema hero?
6. Margaret as French, her reiputation, snubbed by her husband? Her wondering why she was rejected? The clashes? The confrontation with Chauvelin and the story of her brother? The betrayal and the truth? The note and her trying to get information for Chauvelin - her fainting routine? Her repentance, telling Percy? The discovery of the pimpernel in the portrait? Her hurrying to France? Taken by Chauvelin? The happy ending? Romantic and ambiguous heroine - especially in the light of the story of her being victimised and misunderstood?
7. Chauvelin as villain - stereotype of the French revolution villain? Contact with Robespierre? His spies? Raymond Massey's sinister style - eye-rolling etc.? The pressure on Margaret? His despising Percy? The ball, falling asleep, the note? The return to France? The confrontation - and the ironic disguise as the Abbe? The confrontation and defeat?
8. The group of English nobles supporting Percy and their very English rah-rah style? The contrast with the French nobility? The soldiers?
9. The atmosphere of British society, balls, the Regency period? Percy's poem? The appearance of the British as fops - yet their real heroism!
10. The background of the French revolution, sympathy with the ideals, condemnation of the bloodshed?
11. Audience involvement in such adventures? Historical romance mystery, puzzle, fantasy and heroics?
