IMDb RATING
7.3/10
4.8K
YOUR RATING
A noblewoman discovers her husband is The Scarlet Pimpernel, a vigilante who rescues aristocrats from the blade of the guillotine.A noblewoman discovers her husband is The Scarlet Pimpernel, a vigilante who rescues aristocrats from the blade of the guillotine.A noblewoman discovers her husband is The Scarlet Pimpernel, a vigilante who rescues aristocrats from the blade of the guillotine.
- Awards
- 1 win
Morland Graham
- Treadle (the tailor)
- (as Moreland Graham)
- Director
- Writers
- Baroness Emmuska Orczy(uncredited)
- Alexander Korda(uncredited)
- Montagu Barstow(uncredited)
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America admonished: "There is cleavage in Reel 1. There is cleavage in Reel 4. There is gross cleavage in Reel 8", adding that it was the last film it would pass containing "scenes of offensive cleavage".
- GoofsBlakeney and the Prince of Wales are seen at a boxing match in which the combatants are in a structure similar to a modern 'square' ring. This form of the ring was not used until around 1838.
- Quotes
Percy Blakeney: They seek him here, they seek him there, / Those Frenchies seek him everywhere. / Is he in heaven? Or is he in hell? / That damned elusive Pimpernel!
- ConnectionsFeatured in Minute Movie Masterpieces (1989)
- SoundtracksLa Marseillaise
(1792) (uncredited)
Music and lyrics by Claude Joseph Rouget de Lisle
Played during the opening credits
Reprised by singing citizens
Featured review
Well worth seeking
Have said many times about being a huge fan of classic film, of all genres. The cast consists of immensely talented actors, hard to go wrong with Leslie Howard and Raymond Massey. Have always had a lot of fondness for period adventures, many classics around, and Baroness Emma Orczy's 'The Scarlet Pimpernel' is deservedly highly regarded. So this 1934 version of 'The Scarlet Pimpernel' had a lot going for it.
Fortunately, this version of 'The Scarlet Pimpernel' does the source material justice, one of the better adaptations of 'The Scarlet Pimpernel' and one of the better available adaptations of Orczy's work. In terms of how often Orczy's work has been adapted, she is hardly obscure but she is not as prolific as other authors (which won't be named for fairness sake but one gets the idea), she does in my opinion deserve to be adapted more. 1934's 'The Scarlet Pimpernel' is evidence of that.
There is hardly anything to complain about. Maybe there is a little too much talk in places.
Also thought there was some occasional moments where it was a little static and staginess occasionally came through.
On the other hand, there is so much to recommend. 'The Scarlet Pimpernel' goes at a lively and crisp pace, to me it did not creak at all. The script was literate and also very witty and deliciously ironic as it should have been. The story on the most part was immensely absorbing and entertaining with well staged and exciting action. The odd static moment aside, Harold Young's direction was more than capable.
Where 'The Scarlet Pimpernel' most excels is in the lavish production and costume design, beautifully complemented by the photography, and the pitch perfect casting of Leslie Howard, bringing boundless dashing charisma and haughtiness to the title role. The rest of the cast are on the money, with Raymond Massey's ruthlessness and Merle Oberon's (nice chemistry with Howard too) charm standing out. Nigel Bruce doesn't overdo his character thankfully and it suits him well.
In conclusion, very good, often great actually, and well worth seeking. 8/10 Bethany Cox
Fortunately, this version of 'The Scarlet Pimpernel' does the source material justice, one of the better adaptations of 'The Scarlet Pimpernel' and one of the better available adaptations of Orczy's work. In terms of how often Orczy's work has been adapted, she is hardly obscure but she is not as prolific as other authors (which won't be named for fairness sake but one gets the idea), she does in my opinion deserve to be adapted more. 1934's 'The Scarlet Pimpernel' is evidence of that.
There is hardly anything to complain about. Maybe there is a little too much talk in places.
Also thought there was some occasional moments where it was a little static and staginess occasionally came through.
On the other hand, there is so much to recommend. 'The Scarlet Pimpernel' goes at a lively and crisp pace, to me it did not creak at all. The script was literate and also very witty and deliciously ironic as it should have been. The story on the most part was immensely absorbing and entertaining with well staged and exciting action. The odd static moment aside, Harold Young's direction was more than capable.
Where 'The Scarlet Pimpernel' most excels is in the lavish production and costume design, beautifully complemented by the photography, and the pitch perfect casting of Leslie Howard, bringing boundless dashing charisma and haughtiness to the title role. The rest of the cast are on the money, with Raymond Massey's ruthlessness and Merle Oberon's (nice chemistry with Howard too) charm standing out. Nigel Bruce doesn't overdo his character thankfully and it suits him well.
In conclusion, very good, often great actually, and well worth seeking. 8/10 Bethany Cox
helpful•90
- TheLittleSongbird
- Dec 23, 2018
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Details
Box office
- Gross worldwide
- £420,000
- Runtime1 hour 37 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.33 : 1
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