The Return of the Scarlet Pimpernel (1937) User Reviews

More heads to be saved

[PeterJackson · 6/10 · 13 January 2001]

Or should I say: more of the same? Nevertheless, this is a decent if somewhat unremarkable follow-up to THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL. This time, the Pimpernel's wife is being kidnapped in order to set the trap for him, forcing Sir Percy to go to France to save her. What follows is an amusing film, nothing more, but certainly nothing less. The sequel has to do it without the leads of the first film, but the cast here generally does a pretty good job as well. They all make very likeable characters, what surely makes up for the quite far-fetched story.

This obviously is a little-known film, but if you have the chance to see it, you might want to check it out. It's not a masterpiece and not as good as the first "Pimpernel", but rather good fun. 6/10

Pity about Robespierre!

[benbrae76 · 6/10 · 26 March 2009]

A rather tame yet amusing sequel to the Howard/Oberon movie. Sophie Stewart plays Marguerite Blakeney without a vestige of a French accent. Barry Barnes is passable as the eponymous hero. Anthony Bushell repeats his role as Sir Andrew Ffoulkes, and a youthful James Mason plays a minor role with his normal suavity. Raymond Massey is sorely missed as Chauvelin. His place is taken by a somewhat hammy Francis Lister.

The whole piece is not so much swash and buckle as tosh and truckle. However it's still enjoyable. What amused me most of all was the casting of the role of Robespierre. A 46 year old Henry Oscar was made up to look an older 56 or so, when he should have been made to look younger. Robespierre was only 36 years old when he went to the guillotine.

Fine sequel set on the Reign of Terror with Sir Percy Blackeney against a sinister Robespierre

[ma-cortes · 7/10 · 12 June 2010]

This is the second version of the much-filmed adventure classic with the immortal hero named Scarlet Pimpinel ( Barry Barnes), and again the English aristocrat engaged in the underground effort to snatch out from under the blade of the guillotine Frenchmen caught in the Reign of Terror ( 1794 ) . This time Robespierre assigns the mission to track down Pimpinel in England . As Spanish Teresa Cabarrus , Tellien's lover , and Chauvelin (Francis Lister ) travel towards Brighton where abduct his wife ( Sophie Stewart ). Pimpinel returns to Paris and then Sir Percy hides his activities under various guises . His ruse may throw off the French authorities but the elusive pimpernel is also attempting to free his wife , though he is suddenly caught by Chauvelin.

Barnes does a dashing hero leading several characters and posing as an officer , pauper or revolutionary . This lavish production results to be a good sequel with spectacular production design , impressive sets and nice scenarios . Less than stellar cast plenty of unknown actors with exception a young James Mason as Tallien. The motion picture is professionally directed by Hans Swartz , a Hungarian filmmaker in his last movie .

In the film appears historical characters as Tallien , Theresa Cabarrus (Margarett Scott ) and is developed an intrigue about downfall's Robespierre ( Henry Oscar ). The actual events are the followings : Robespierre appeared at the Convention and delivered a two-hour-long speech. He defended himself against charges of dictatorship and tyranny, and then proceeded to warn of a conspiracy against the Republic. Robespierre implied that members of the Convention were a part of this conspiracy, though when pressed he refused to provide any names. The speech however alarmed members particularly given Fouché's warnings. These members who felt that Robespierre was alluding to them tried to prevent the speech from being printed . The next day, Saint-Just began to give a speech in support of Robespierre. However, those who saw him working on his speech the night before expected accusations to arise from it. He only had time to give a small part of his speech before Jean-Lambert Tallien ( James Mason ) interrupted him . Robespierre then attempted to secure the tribune to speak but his voice was shouted down. Robespierre soon found himself at a loss for words after one deputy called for his arrest . The Convention ordered the arrest of Robespierre, his brother Augustin, Couthon, Saint-Just, François Hanriot and Le Bas. Troops from the Commune arrived to free the prisoners and then marched against the Convention itself. The Convention responded by ordering troops of its own under Barras to be called out. When the Commune's troops heard the news of this, order began to break down, and Hanriot ordered his remaining troops to withdraw to the Hôtel de Ville, where Robespierre and his supporters also gathered. The Convention declared them to be outlaws, meaning that upon verification the fugitives could be executed within twenty-four hours without a trial. As the night went on, the forces of the Commune deserted the Hôtel of Ville and, at around two in the morning, those of the Convention under the command of Barras arrived there . Robespierre tried to kill himself with a pistol but only managed to shatter his jaw.For the remainder of the night, Robespierre was moved to a table in the room of the Committee of Public Safety where he awaited execution. He lay on the table bleeding abundantly until a doctor was brought in to fix up his jaw. The next day, 28 July 1794, Robespierre was guillotined without trial in the Place of the Révolution. His brother Augustin, Couthon, Saint-Just, Hanriot and twelve other followers . Only Robespierre was guillotined face-up.

Other versions about this classic novel by Baroness Orczy are the following : First and the best in 1939 by Harold Young with Leslie Howard and Leslie Caron ; The Elusive Pimpernel , 1950, by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger with David Niven and Margaret Leighton and made for TV in 1982 by Clive Donner with Anthony Edwards and Jane Seymour and in 1999 with Richard E Grant and Elizabeth McGovern .

Too Much of a Good Thing

[rmax304823 · 6/10 · 16 January 2009]

This time around, Sir Percy Blakeney (Barry K. Barnes), aka the Scarlet Pimpernel, has left off rescuing the French nobility from the guillotine, having promised his wife never to return to Paris. But the villainous Robespierre and his henchman are determined to get hold of Blakeney any way they can and lop off his head from crimes against France. They lure him to France by kidnapping his wife, a French aristocrat, and sentencing her to death, knowing that Blakeney and his gang will be forced to come to her rescue. He does. And he succeeds too, not only in rescuing his wife but, with the help of an honest citizen, Tallion (James Mason), he manages to bring down Robespierre and seemingly end the Reign of Terror.

Well, Barry K. Barnes isn't Leslie Howard, the original Scarlet Pimpernel, and this is, after all, a sequel, so many of the incidents we see have a familiar ring. Most missed -- the "latent status" of Sir Percy Blakeney as the intriguing master of disguise, the brave and adventurous hero. Barnes still has his disguises, by Guy "Frankenstein" Pearce, and he's still stalwart and noble, but he no longer has any reason to play the effete pouf. Everyone in both England and France knows that Blakeney is the Scarlet Pimpernel. I missed that effete poser. Only for a few minutes, and for no discernible reason, does Blakeney hold that triangular lorgnette up to his nose and exclaim, "Sink me!", in the sort of inflection that would feel entirely at home in Julius's in Greenwich Village. Part of the thrill of these masquerades is knowing that the harmless fop is actually a deadly swordsman like Zorro, or in this case a clever manipulator of circumstance.

Still, if you liked "The Scarlet Pimpernel", you'll certainly like this one because of its close family resemblance to the original. I only wish that there were more of Howard's pouf persona present, and that it had an enjoyable and witty set piece like Howard's snoozing on the library couch and putting one over on Raymond Massey's Chauvelin.

Sir Percy is a fictional character, of course, and no one actually ended the Reign of Terror, a case of yet another revolution bringing about too much of a good thing. Robespierre, the rabid revolutionary, was himself beheaded. Even M. Guillotine, who invented the demonic machine, met Mme. Guillotine. The result was chaos until order was restored by Napolean, who didn't take long to proclaim himself Emporer.

Still The Elusive Pimpernel

[bkoganbing · 6/10 · 30 October 2011]

Barry K. Barnes continues in the fine foppish tradition that Leslie Howard set in The Scarlet Pimpernel. I suspect that Howard was over on this side of the pond on Broadway or in Hollywood or he probably would have done this sequel.

Even though his identity as Regency fop Sir Percy Blakeney is now known to one and all, in The Return Of The Scarlet Pimpernel Barnes is still operating a rescue service to one and all who have fallen afoul of the French Revolution. Things have gotten worse over in France though and the Reign Of Terror under Robespierre is now in high gear as the fanatical and psychotic Robespierre is guillotining everyone whom he even THINKS might be against him.

Francis Lister plays a far different Chauvelin than the revolutionary true believer that Raymond Massey did. Lister is trying to compete with Barnes in the wit department and making a not bad stab at it. Still he comes up way short every time.

He uses the same gambit to try to trap Barnes as in the first Pimpernel film. Lister has French actress Margharetta Scott go to Great Britain as an exile and she induces Barnes's wife Sophie Stewart who is French to follow her on a pretext. No going to France this time, some paid thugs just kidnap Stewart and spirit her back to France. So Barnes has to assemble his crew and work another rescue.

This time however there are rumblings of discontent against Robespierre and the Terror. Barnes enlists the aid of a prominent member of the National Assembly in his cause. James Mason plays that part in one of his earliest film roles and one that got him his first real notice with the movie-going public.

Barnes and Stewart are good substitutes for Leslie Howard and Merle Oberon from the original. I truly do miss Raymond Massey as Chauvelin as did others. The Return Of The Scarlet Pimpernel still holds up well as entertainment and a portrait of some terrible times in France.

Not much of a sequel

[ctomvelu1 · 5/10 · 11 December 2011]

Hollywood is hardly the only one to crank out unnecessary sequels. Britain was also guilty of it, and early on, too. "Return" is essentially a rehash of the first movie, made a couple of years earlier. It even reuses footage and sets from that classic. The leads have changed, but not the basic plot, which has Sir Percy forced to go back to France one last time, in this case to rescue his wife from the clutches of the sinister Robespierre. It clearly is a trap, but nothing will keep the good old Pimpernel from carrying out his mission. He is up against the usual clods and dolts, after all. A young James Mason has a small role. This is no worse, I suppose, than "Son of Monte Cristo" or "Son of Robin Hood." Mercifully, there was to be no third Pimpernel film.

A good sequel--even if the leading man is not the same as in the original film.

[planktonrules · 7/10 · 21 April 2012]

Barry Barnes plays the title part in this sumptuous Alexander Korda film. In addition, a very young James Mason has a small role.

This film picks up at the end of "The Scarlet Pimpernel". The Pimpernel's enemy, Chauvilland, has just been tricked into allowing him and his men to escape. However, Chauvilland now knows that Percival Blakeney is the Scarlet Pimpernel and he'll stop at nothing to lure him from England to France in order to arrest and execute him. Urging him on is the insane Robespierre—who threatens to have Chauvilland guillotined if Blakeney is not captured.

There are no huge surprises in the film—once again, Blakeney is a master of disguises and once again he and his colleagues are always just a step away from the guillotine. The only surprise comes to those who know history, as this otherwise excellent film takes HUGE liberties with the real downfall of Robespierre—and in this case, the real historical account is far more exciting. Robespierre was himself accused of treason and sentenced to death—but he tried killing himself to deprive the audience of seeing his head removed. However, in the process, he shot off part of his face and was executed anyway! In addition to the ending being historically inaccurate, it was also pretty tough to believe…no, impossible! Up until then, it was a solid and exciting film. This botched ending brings the rating down to 7—meaning it's still well worth watching but could have stood improvement.

Apologies to Baroness Orczy.

[brogmiller · 3/10 · 3 May 2020]

Hanns Schwarz is known to most cinephiles as the director of the miraculous 'Incredible Lies of Nina Petrovna'. Hardly surprising that with the surname of Schwarz he felt obliged to leave Germany pretty smartish in 1933. He directs this sequel to the successful 'Scarlet Pimpernel' of 1934. This is lame, mediocre stuff and is saddled with the curse of twee, 'teddibly, teddibly' acting. Notable exceptions are Henry Oscar as Robespierre although a little mature for the role, the appealing Margaretta Scott and James Mason. Huddersfield born Mason is really the only feature of interest in this and impresses with his earthy presence and modern delivery. He is not yet the finished article but has ingredient 'X' in spades. The title character is played by someone named Barry K. Barnes. The screen empties whenever he is on it. Such a pity that the directorial career of Schwarz finished so disappointingly. Following this he went off the radar and died in California in 1945. At least we have Nina Petrovna to remember him by.

Action saves this second Pimpernel film

[SimonJack · 7/10 · 19 January 2016]

"The Return of the Scarlet Pimpernel" is a sequel to the 1934 movie, "The Scarlet Pimpernel." Most Hollywood sequels are creations by studios to cash in on big hit movies. But not so, this one. It is based on the further writings of author Baroness Emmuska ("Emma") Orczy. The Hungarian-born aristocrat became a highly successful writer of mystery, intrigue and detective stories. She lived most of her adult life in England and wrote in English, which was her third language. Her most famous character is English nobleman, Sir Percy Blakeney. His cunning and organization of the Scarlet Pimpernel underground helped many of the landed gentry in France escape the guillotine under Robespierre.

Orczy wrote more than a dozen novels and stories in the Scarlet Pimpernel Series. Four were made into movies. The original and "The Elusive Pimpernel" were first made as silent films in 1917 and 1919. The first sound film of "The Scarlet Pimpernel" came out in 1934. Its cast of Leslie Howard, Merle Oberon and Raymond Massey was superb. This film, "The Return of the Scarlet Pimpernel," is the second sound film. The third film was "Pimpernel Smith" in 1941, and the fourth was "The Fighting Pimpernel" in 1950. Later British TV programs ran Pimpernel stories, and a couple of TV series aired in 1956 and 1999-2000.

While all of the Pimpernel stories are entertaining, none of the sequels could come close to the original. Perhaps that is in part because the subject was new and very fresh when introduced. But, I think also that it is due to the superb casting for the original story – in 1934 and in a 1982 remake movie for TV. The color, lavish sets, excellent scenery and screenplay of the latter film equaled or bettered the first sound production of 1934. And its cast of Anthony Andrews, Jane Seymour and Ian McKellen was equally superb.

Only a few of the first film actors are in this or the other two sequels. This film continues with the action of the original, but it is lacking in other areas. Barry Barnes is fair as Sir Percy, but Sophie Stewart is a very weak Lady Marguerite Blakeney. Francis Lester is far too gentle in the role of Chauvelin. Henry Oscar is too old as Robespierre, although he shows the citizen's paranoia that most likely led to his downfall. The introduction of the real person, Jean Tallien, and the undoing of Robespierre's hold over the revolution add much to earn this film its rating. James Mason is excellent as Tallien.

While this film can't match the original story for intrigue, interest, action and acting, it is an interesting work of historical fiction. That was a favorite style of Baroness Orczy. She excelled at it as seen, especially, in all of her Pimpernel stories. I think most people will find this movie entertaining.

The Pimpernel Triumphs again

[Flippitygibbit · 9/10 · 9 April 2006]

The only element this film lacks is 'star quality', other than that, it's a very worthy sequel to the 1934 'Scarlet Pimpernel'. The story is based upon Orczy's 'The Triumph of the Scarlet Pimpernel', with elements of 'Elusive' (Marguerite's arrest and Percy's escape) and even 'Sir Percy Hits Back' (Chauvelin's fate) added to make the action flow better on film. Barry K. Barnes, despite not being as fair or famous as Howard, makes for a passable fop (sounding like Leslie 'Ding Dong!' Phillips with a speech impediment: "Stap me, Senorita, don't dwag me into it!"), a revered leader of the League, and a truly devoted and romantic husband. In fact, this film is probably more in the spirit of Orczy's books than any other, with the characters portrayed nearly exactly as you would find them written; there is a great deal of heart and natural charm in the sequel, which I always find lacking in the Howard/Oberon version. Barnes does not have the commanding screen presence of his predecessor, and as such is sometimes lost amongst the sea of League faces, but he is far more believable as the 'husband in love with his own wife' and as a friend to nineteen brave men. Sophie Stewart is similarly indistinctive as Marguerite, but I think she brings more to the role than Oberon: at once 'the sweetest woman in France', naive and easily lead into danger, and a brave and noble wife, willing to sacrifice her own life for that of her husband's, when she needs to be strong. Diminutive and bright-eyed, Stewart is endearing as a rather more innocent Lady Blakeney. Francis Lister plays a diplomatic and reserved Chauvelin, who fears for his own life as the Terror reaches its peak and Robespierre hunts out 'the men at his elbow', traitors amongst his own supporters. The discredited agent parries words with the dictator, and enlists Theresia Cabarrus, lover of Tallien (a young James Mason, given a rousing speech at the end of a minor role), in a final bid to destroy the Pimpernel. Margaretta Scott is formidable and intelligent as the Spanish double agent who is introduced to Sir Percy and Marguerite as an actress seeking the protection of the English court. Marguerite is of course immediately taken in, Sir Percy is naturally more wary of her motives.

There is some recycled footage (as well as the odd recycled actor), but ultimately this film stands alone from its more well-known and oft-shown stablemate. The neat dialogue flows better, without the heavy-handed patriotism injected into the original story (strange, with World War Two looming even closer); fiction is supported by historical details from the eighteenth century (the popularity of cricket, dancing the cotillion, songs such as 'Aupres De Ma Blonde' and the rousing toast 'Here's a Health unto His Majesty'), which is surely a novelty for such an early film; there is more League action (and three members are actually given names from the book!), as well as more scenes of friendship between Sir Percy and his band of men; plus some excellent disguises (the deaf colonel had me in stitches: "Grilled trout?", "Yes, all right, I'll have half a bottle"). All in all, there is no reason not to watch this compact, entertaining little film, especially now that it's available on DVD, and I consider it a definite must for all fans of the Pimpernel.

Splendid zero star production

[trimmerb1234 · 7/10 · 20 September 2016]

This is a sequel which instead sets its own terms. Lacking a star name, it is not a vehicle for a star to lift and be given entertaining scenes (and mask weaknesses), instead it is a very well crafted artistic production. Completely unremarked is the quality of the cinematography there is a still photographer's eye at work not to mention the sets and the handling of action. Instead of a star and their schtick which a production is obliged to both labour and indulge, there is point and purpose throughout in the screenplay which reflects the mixture of brutality, passion, paranoia, scheming and insecurity of the times. The pimpernel is more subtly acted than the sign-posted performance of a big star. His ruses, being the centre piece of the character, have to be and are more impressive including the disguises than in the case of a star who probably wishes to be recognisable at all times. Lacking any stars, it must rely on pure merit - and succeeds. It is after all a Korda production so would one expect less?

Sequels! What would we do without them?

[JohnHowardReid · 7/10 · 2 October 2017]

A London Film Production. Filmed at Denham Studios, England. (Available on a poor quality Network DVD).

Copyright 27 January 1938 by London Film Productions, Ltd. Released worldwide through United Artists. New York opening at the Rivoli: 10 April 1938. U.S. release: 29 April 1938. U.K. release: 20 December 1937. Australian release: 28 April 1938. Running times: 94 minutes (UK), 88 minutes (USA), 79 minutes (American TV).

SYNOPSIS: Paris, 1794: Robespierre's assistant at tempts to trap the Scarlet Pimpernel by luring his wife to France.

NOTES: A sequel to The Scarlet Pimpernel (1935), this seems to be the last film directed by Hanns Schwarz (another of those guys who don't know how to spell their own names. How do idiot computers handle bozos like this I wonder!) who died in Hollywood about seven years later. He has a long list of German films to his credit, with stars of the first rank like Emil Jannings, Lillian Harvey, Brigitte Helm, Dita Parlo, Anna Sten, Hans Albers and Willy Fritsch. His only previous English-language film seems to have been The Prince of Arcadia (1933) starring Carl Brisson, Margot Grahame and Ida Lupino.

COMMENT: To judge from the American version broadcast on TV in May, 1994 (a nice print, but running only around 75 minutes, with deletions and jump cuts all over the place), this was an entertaining enough sequel. True, Barry K. Barnes has an enviable task in trying to fill the shoes of Leslie Howard, but he does quite well on his own account, even managing a couple of clever impersonations. In fact with the exceptions of Francis Lister's Chauvelin and Henry Oscar's equally villainous Robespierre, he tends to over-shadow the rest of the players.

James Mason gives a muted performance and Sophie Stewart makes little impression, though Margaretta Scott has a few fiery moments.

True to the spirit and flavor of Orczy's novels (which were exceptionally popular in the 1940s and 1950s), the script makes it as hard as possible for the hero, piling an impossible situation, a hair's breadth escape, and a one against-all-odds dilemma on top of another, all coming to an exciting conclusion.

Pictorially, the film looks great. Wonderful costumes and sets, lots of extras milling around — and no doubt a bit of stock footage or perhaps out-takes from Korda's original Pimpernel.

In the U.S.A. print under review, the pace is rapid, the direction showing plenty of drive and style. Greenbaum's camera-work as usual is first-class.

ANOTHER VIEW: Sequels are invariably down graded by critics. Part of the appeal of the original novel lies in its novelty. On the other hand, the general public is often more comfortable (and forgiving) than the critics with familiar characters and situations. And of course there is always an audience for a sequel to whom the picture is new anyway, as they haven't seen the original.

This sequel offers more of the same — and does it handsomely. The problems are mainly that although the plot has dash, it lacks freshness, and that though Barnes may even be a more convincing actor than Howard, he lacks Howard's charisma.

Sometimes traitors are a necessary evil.

[mark.waltz · 6/10 · 10 November 2020]

Both Leslie Howard and Merle Oberon, along with Raymond Massey have moved on to other things, passing their roles of Percy, Marguerite and Chauvelin on two factors that are not known today outside connoisseurs of British Cinema. Barry K. Barnes is well cast as Sir Percy Blakeney, now married to Sophie Stewart's Marguerite and living in England.

The continued evil of Robespierre is still going on in the revolutionary torn France, and in order to get Percy back so they can execute him for his abducting intended victims, they kidnapped Marguerite and intend to have her guillotined to get the pimpernel out in the open. When Marguerite is in court, it's obvious that Percy is there, disguised as a peasant, hysterically looking like Harpo Marx. there's also a French national who wants to take down Robespierre, played by a young James Mason, and he is the only familiar name in the movie.

For those who have studied French Revolution history, they will see several bits of truth in the continuing story, leading up to the downfall of Robespierre and the end of the reign of terror. But for most of this film, there is a lot of repeating of what happened in the first film including the "they seek him here, they seek him there" (memorably adapted for the stage musical), and a few other little bits are repeats of poetic humor from the film.

This time, Chauvelin gets in on the humor with Francis Lister playing the park as if he was auditioning for the role of Caligula in producer Alexander Korda's "I Claudius". Henry Oscar is a memorable Robespierre, a man so vile you long to see him become a victim of his own evils. This is a handsome film that I wouldn't call a great one, and had I watched both the 1934 original and this together, I might have had a different point of view as it would be difficult other than the casting to tell much of it apart.

The Return of the Scarlet Pimpernel

[MelindaL51 · 8/10 · 6 February 2006]

While I think the original, 1934 version is much better with better actors, I really enjoyed seeing this movie. The actor who plays Sir Andrew in the first one comes back and had a larger part and in my opinion Sir Andrew is allowed to shine in this one. Marguerite is just played differently, she is kidnapped and perhaps a bit over dramatic, but so was the one in the book on occasion. She is also a perhaps more innocent version than was played by Merle Oberon and later Jane Seymour. Chauvelin doesn't have the air of evil that Raymond Massey is able to portray, you almost feel sorry for him in fact, rather than thinking him a evil villain. Overall, I believe it is worth seeing and I liked it. You have the chance to meet some of the other League members, which is an improvement over the original where Dewhurst is seen and not heard or credited and the others, except Andrew and maybe Hastings, are virtually non existent.