The Scarlet Pimpernel

Plot synopsis:
In 1792, at the bloody height of the French Revolution's Reign of Terror, vengeful French mobs are outraged when again and again French aristocrats are saved from death by the audacious "Band of the Scarlet Pimpernel", a secret society of 20 English noblemen, "one to command, and nineteen to obey". Among the latest scheduled for execution are the Count de Tournay, former ambassador to Great Britain, and his family. However, one of the Scarlet Pimpernel's men visits them in prison disguised as a priest and gives them a message of hope. As the prisoners are being escorted to the cart to be taken to the guillotine, the guards take the count away; French leader Maximilien Robespierre wishes to question him further. The countess and her daughter are rescued and spirited away to England.
Back in Paris, Robespierre meets with Chauvelin, the republic's new ambassador to Britain, to discuss the problem of the Scarlet Pimpernel. Summoning the Count de Tournay, they offer him his life in return for information from his English contacts as to the Pimpernel's true identity. The Scarlet Pimpernel is Sir Percy Blakeney, a wealthy English baronet and friend of the Prince of Wales. Sir Percy cultivates the image of a fop in order to throw off suspicion. His pose is so successful that not even his French wife Marguerite suspects the truth. Though the two are in love, Sir Percy no longer trusts his wife because of her past denunciation of the Marquis de St. Cyr, which led to the execution of the marquis and his family.
Through his network of spies, Chauvelin discovers that Armand St. Just, Marguerite's brother is one of the Scarlet Pimpernel's agents. Chauvelin orders Armand's arrest, then uses the threat of his execution to force Marguerite into helping him discover the identity of the Pimpernel, who he knows will be at an upcoming ball. At the ball, Marguerite intercepts a message given to Sir Andrew Ffoulkes, a member of the Pimpernel's band, stating that the Pimpernel will be in the library at midnight. She passes the information along to Chauvelin, who goes to the library to find only Percy, apparently asleep. While waiting, Chauvelin falls asleep; when he wakes up, he finds a message from the Pimpernel mocking him.
The next morning, Percy and Marguerite travel to their house in the country. There, Marguerite breaks down and tells her husband of Armand's arrest and her deal with Chauvelin. Confronting her, Percy learns the truth behind the denunciation of the marquis; he had her imprisoned for consorting with his son. After the revolution freed her, she told her friend Chauvelin, who was the one who denounced them. Promising to use his influence at court on Armand's behalf, Percy leaves for London. Afterward, Marguerite notices a detail on a portrait of the 1st baronet hanging in the library – on his finger is a ring decorated by a pimpernel. Realizing that she has inadvertently betrayed her own husband, she rushes out of the room, only to be presented a letter from Chauvelin announcing that he had discovered the Pimpernel's true identity as well. Racing back to London, she warns Ffoulkes that Percy's life is in danger. Ffoulkes agrees to mobilise the band to warn Percy.
To lure Percy into his trap, Chauvelin has both Armand and the Count de Tournay transferred to Boulogne-sur-Mer. Despite the vigilance of Chauvelin's men, the Pimpernel frees the two men from prison through bribery. However, one of the prison guards tells Chauvelin that the Pimpernel will be at a certain tavern (the Lion d'Or) that evening. Marguerite goes there to warn Percy, only to be arrested by Chauvelin and his troops. Percy arrives at the appointed time and is met by a gloating Chauvelin. Percy distracts him long enough for Armand and the count to board the ship, but as he prepares to leave, Chauvelin announces that he has Marguerite in custody. Percy surrenders on the condition that she be freed. He is led away by soldiers to be shot by a waiting firing squad. Chauvelin exults at the sound of gunfire, but Percy returns to the tavern very much alive, revealing that the men in uniform are in fact his. After securing Chauvelin in the basement, Percy joins his wife on the ship back to England.

Tags: action, historical fiction

Review:
The film is set during the French Revolution and makes the horror of the guillotine, along with the triumph of the secret band of the Scarlet Pimpernel very believable.
The acting is excellent, especially on the part of the three leading actors, Anthony Andrews, Jane Seymor, and Ian McKellen.The movie also has excellent replay value--it seems almost every time you watch it you pick up on something new about the plot.I highly recommend this movie to anyone who appreciates a full plot, a great story, and interesting twists that prove in the end good triumphs over evil..
The chemistry between Andrews and Seymour adds to the romantic tension between Sir Percy and Marguerite, and you can hardly wait until she discovers her husband's true identity (although you have to wonder which element of his personality she actually loves, and whether she would have stayed with him had she never figured it out)..
Ian McKellan wonderfully captures Chauvelin's zeal and nervousness, with the added bonus of seeing more of his background with Marguerite and Sir Percy.I have never seen any of the other version of The Scarlet Pimpernel, but as this one is so good I feel I do not need to even bother.
Anthony Andrews is very good in the role of Sir Percy Blakeney, who- in nearly the very beginning of the movie- utters some of the most romantic lines I've ever heard, as well as some of the most humorous (my personal favorite is: "T'would seem your friend is in distress...
It shows life in the French Revolution, and what it was truly like, it follows the book, the Scarlet Pimpernel very well, and the actors chosen were perfect for their parts, especially Anthony Andrews, and Sir Ian McKellan.
Jane Seymour is oh so beautiful, and I don't know why Percy isn't quite what I pictured (I read the book BEFORE I saw the movie)I think Anthony Andrews is a very talented actor and did an amazing job.
Jane Seymour is equally at home as a medieval damsel under his spell.Set during the French Revolution, the movie very entertainingly wraps the viewer into the suspenseful story of British covert actions to rescue the French royalty.
The acting, the period setting, the locations and the storyline have all stood the test of time.I grew up on these kinds of productions and as a bookworm was much more familiar with the novels than with the televised/film versions of classics such as the works of Alexander Dumas, Baroness Orczy, Charles Dickens, you name it.
Of course, I was always familiar with the 1934 version of The Scarlet Pimpernel but this 1983 production is definitely the most superior telling of the story I've seen.With background development of the characters, time spent allowing the characters to build up their interactions with each other, humour, action, romance and emotional swings and roundabouts we end up with the Baroness's characters being brought to life in a way even she herself failed to do.
We end up with a production that used its limited budget wisely creating a film that is brilliantly acted, wonderful to watch and  beautifully scripted to show us there's actually no bad guys in the film - everyone has a motive and a reason for behaving as they do, from the traditionalistic idealism of the English aristocrats trying to save French nobility to the tormented lovesick zealousness of Chauvelin who really does believe he's creating a better France without understanding that to make a better tomorrow you can't afford to repeat the mistakes of the past.
And then there's the great Baron de Batz whose allegedly mercenary reputation at the beginning of the film develops until we see he is a much more complicated individual than he first appears.The foppish behaviour of Sir Percy is grating initially until it becomes clear that Anthony Andrews does have a good handle on the character and you begin to see the subtle changes that reveal the difference between the real Percy and the prancing peacock that he carefully cultivates for  the public arena.
This is one of the innumerable versions of the much-filmed adventure classic with the immortal hero named Scarlet pimpernel ( Anthony Andrews), 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 ( 1792 ) .
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.Anthony Andrews plays it to perfection , fitting the role like elegant glove , he does a dashing hero leading several characters and posing as an officer , pauper old woman or revolutionary .
Andrews match up efficiently to the popular conception of the Pimpernel who remains the archetypal acting , catching exactly the false foppishness as well as the mythical qualities which make the personage seem so invincible .In the film appears historical characters as Saint Just , Fouche and Robespierre and is developed an intrigue about the little boy prince Louis XVII , guillotined king Louis XVI's son .
This is almost as good as the classic rendition and being stunningly directed by Clive Donner .Other versions about the supposed dandy of the English court who assumes the identity of foppish Sir Percy in order to outwit the French republicans and aid innocent aristocrats and based on classic novels by Baroness Orczy are the following : First and the best swashbuckling vintage (1939) produced by London Films and directed by Harold Young with Leslie Howard and Leslie Caron ; The Elusive Pimpernel (1950) by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger with David Niven , Cryl Cusack and Margaret Leighton and TV series( 1999 ) by Patrick Lau with Richard E Grant and Elizabeth McGovern and another series (1955) starred by Marius Goring as Sir Percy , the Scarlet Pimpernel ..
Beautiful production design and great costuming convincingly pull the viewer into post-revolutionary France, there to be captivated by a young and beautiful Jane Seymour and handsome Anthony Andrews, perfectly cast as lovers held apart by a mysterious secret: Andrews' double life as the daring Scarlet Pimpernel!
Delicious fun as Anthony Andrews, Jane Seymour and Ian McKellen bring Baroness Orczy's wonderful story to life.
Though artistic license has been taken in some cases, like the romance between Chauvelin and Marguerite, and the name of Madm'selle Lange being changed from Jeanne to Louise, among others, this film has captured the flavor of the original novels, which I believe has not been captured by any other film as of yet, including Leslie Howard's.I have also read comments saying that Anthony Andrew's portrayal of Sir Percy was "Over the top" but that's just how one would imagine Sir Percy would act.
I have also heard Jane Seymour's acting berated by commentaters, but I believe she caught the sparkle and fire of Marguerite.I have loved this film for years and years, and watch it every chance I get.
Anthony Andrews steals the show brilliantly as Sir Percy Blakeney, the dandy-ish fop from England who devotes all his time and energy to rescuing hapless French nobility from Madame Guillotine, even when that appears to be furthest from his mind.
Anthony Andrews is well supported by a fine cast, including Ian McKellen (long before he found cinematic fame with X-Men and the Lord of the Rings trilogy) and Jane Seymour as Sir Percy's love interest, who has never been better than she is in this role.
In fact, I think it was better than Leslie Howard's movie overall--and that's saying a lot because his is also an excellent film.
While the French government (in particular their agent Chauvelin) hunts the elusive Pimpernel, Percy falls in love with the beautiful French actress Marguerite St Just (whose brother Armand works in the French Government, despite being a secret dissenter), and marries her.The movie is brilliantly scripted & executed.
The acting is brilliant - especially from Ian McKellan as Chauvelin, and Anthony Andrews as Percy/The Pimpernel.
It's rather rare that I would give a 10/10 for anything, so you would probably guess that this version of The Scarlet Pimpernel must be one of my very favourite movies - and you would be 100% right.This movie, though in of itself very stagey and utilising what one can tell are predominantly stage actors for most of its roles - is actually a terrific piece of cinema, coupling a wonderfully fleshed-out script that in places is pure poetry with action and the much-loved characters possibly even more detailed than Baroness Orczy herself originally imagined.Far from his supposed 'best-known role' as Sebastian Flyte in Brideshead Revisited, Anthony Andrews instantly makes Sir Percy Blakeney, known also as the Scarlet Pimpernel to his League, completely his own, with every other interpretation - even the wonderful Richard E.
Grant's endeavours - pale in comparison, playing what is possibly one of the best yet hardest parts to get right on screen and in theatre: a character whose real personality is the one least shown to others, and whom puts on a great act the rest of the time (all actors who have played super heroes with public counterparts - apart from, possibly Christopher Reeves as Superman, please take note!) Better yet than that, one falls in love with both sides of Andrews' character: one minute, the rich, foppish, naturally-funny-through-idiocy baronet; the next, the intelligent, moral and verging-on-wrecklessly-loyal aristocratic liberator.
If for no other reason, you must see this film for Andrews' perfect interpretation of a classic British literature hero.The on screen chemistry between himself and Jane Seymour is also something quite delectable, and will have most red-blooded females swooning at every even-slightly romantic scene.
Seymour herself is, as usual, on excellent form, at all points believable as the witty French actress with whom the genuine side of Percy falls in love, their romantic story as much of a focal point in the film (as much as in the original stories) as the daring getaways and well-planned rescues and escapes.
She holds her own side of the story very capably with genuine yet perfectly-tuned emotion, filling the role of Margeurite St Juste so perfectly, no one before or since has quite encapsulated her or done this complex character of great moral standing, get genuine, all-encompassing love for her husband, quite as much justice as Seymour herself.Ian McKellen, surprising quite a few viewers as an unexpected name in the cast as the wonderful antagonist Chauvelin, also singularly encompasses both the brutal force of the French revolution as well as an individual vulnerability and sense of having been wronged.
He masterfully makes Chauvelin both a character that at times one feels sorry for, and at others, one feels a great sense of joy at the Pimpernel's continuing victories and escapades at Chauvelin's expense, a very hard part to get right to serve the story best, with McKellen managing it superbly and seemingly effortlessly.The lesser roles are, as I've already said, peopled with actors who belong chiefly more on the stage than in the cinema, yet this in itself lends greatly to the atmosphere of the film, as no one therefore feels out of place in the cast and one feels almost as if one is watching an intricate play rather than a film.I can imagine Baroness Orczy herself watching it with great delight to see how actors of some thirty years ago interpreted her beloved characters and are entertaining cinema and classic literature lovers to this very day.
However, this modern adaptation of Baroness Orczy's French Revolution novel is excellent in all respects.The movie tells the story of an Englishman, Sir Percival Blakeney, who lives a dual life as a foppish aristocrat in British society, but is also the bold & mysterious personage known as the Scarlet Pimpernel, rescuing French aristocrats from the guillotine.
Marguerite is unaware that her husband is the Scarlet Pimpernel and also wonders at his apparent coolness, not realizing that Sir Percy believes her responsible for the deaths of a French family.The main actors are wonderful in their roles.
I typically love stories set amid the drama of the French Revolution, though confess to never having read the novel on which this movie is based.
The Scarlet Pimpernel is an extremely balanced film that seamlessly integrates an interesting plot and richly costumed historical setting with vibrant characters and even a bit of subtle humour at times.
Anthony Andrews is convincing as the foppish Percy, who leads a double life as the Scarlet Pimpernel, as whom he travels to France to the aid of refugee aristocrats fleeing the guillotine.
Ian McKellen is suitably brooding and angry as the miserly French Republican who wants to be the one who traps and unmasks him, and Jane Seymour stars as Percy's wife Marguerite, who realises almost too late her husband's alter ego.Probably my favourite part of the film is the sword fight towards the end.
From the wonderful choice of apparel, to the romance and plot, The Scarlet Pimpernel is a film worth watching!
From head to toe, she was ordained perfectly and everything that she wore accented the magnificence of that time era The costume designers excelled when it came to Sir Percy Blakeney and the Scarlet Pimpernel's "disguises." Not only were they interesting to look at, but they really had an impact and conveyed the message that the director wanted to convey about the characters.
The cast are also pretty good including AA as the foppish Sir Percy and Jane Seymour is gorgeous in the part originally played by Merle Oberon.
This is a definate must own for anybody who likes the following kinds of movies: 1)Romance 2)Action/Adventure 3)Slapstick Comedy 4)Sir Ian McKellen(very great as Chauvelin) 5)Jane Seymour(Beautiful even with the Helmet Hair) 6)A million other reasons anybody should see this movie.Description The swashbuckling classic comes to rip-roaring life in this lavish production, filled with breathless romance and derring-do!
Sir Percy also falls head over heels for the beautiful Marguerite (Somewhere in Time's Jane Seymour), who is also wooed by the villainous Paul Chauvelin (The Lord of the Rings' Sir Ian McKellan), Robespierre's Chief Agent for the Committee of National Security.
Anthony Andrews was wonderful as the Scarlet Pimpernel/Percy Blakeney, as was Ian McKellan as Chauvelin.
And the total misunderstanding between he and Jane's Seymour's character made you want to yell at the screen and tell Percy that Marguerite had nothing to do with the death of that aristocrat and to Marguerite that Percy was a good guy, loved her, and was the Scarlet Pimpernel!
The movie prompted my sister and her friends to start their own club, the League of the Scarlet Pimpernel, and it also promoted our interest in the novels by Baroness Orczy.All I can say is that we've worn out three copies of this film...I believe that speaks for itself..
His interaction with Jane Seymour's Marguerite St-Just was fraught with electricity.It is quite true that Leslie Howard was fabulous as the Scarlet Pimpernel in 1934, but I found Anthony Andrews quite enjoyable as well.
Anthony Andrews and Jane Seymour are great in this movie.
I can watch it over and over and I have never grown tired of it.There is action, romance, daring escapes and an excellent sword fight to round the film off.All the acting is superb and the twist, intrigues and role playing that goes on will make you return to this again and again.The film is set during the French Revolution, a time when no one was safe.
all up i think it is a wonderful film and would recommend it to any one who loved a good romance/action.
It doesn't follow the books very well, but I personally think it's the best Pimpernel movie out there.This was my first introduction to Ian McKellan, and I immediately felt that he's an amazing actor.
Jane Seymour did a marvelous job as Marguerite, and Anthony Andrews made a great Sir Percy, even if he wasn't as handsome as  Broadway fans would like...More to the point, the most recent A&E remake was extraneous.
He is an excellent actor with an upper-class accent who can just nail a foppish dandy like Sir Percy Blakeney (aka The Scarlet Pimpernel) with ease.
Jane Seymour and Anthony Andrews star in this remake of "The Scarlet Pimpernel".
I haven't seen the original with Leslie Howard, but it's probably a good guess that it's notch above this made-for-TV version.The film centres on a secret organisation of do-gooders, led by a man named Percy Blakeney (Anthony Andrews), who risk their own necks in order to help prisoners escape execution during the French Revolution.
To complicate matters though, Percy meets Marguerite (Jane Seymour), falls in love with her and ends up marrying, which leads to all sorts of problems.The script is incredibly ordinary at times and the acting in places is a bit stiff.
Now, I understand that this is a very well liked movie and for good reasons: Number 1: it has Jane Seymour and Ian McKellen in it, Number2: um...um...
It tells a great story about the Scarlet Pimpernel and Jane Seymour's character.
Of several versions of Baroness Orczy's "Scarlet Pimpernel" made into movies or put on TV, only two excel.
The second is this TV movie of 1982, starring Anthony Andrews and Jane Seymour.
The two pluses of the roles in this "Pimpernel" version are McKellen's Chauvelin and Sir Percy Blakeney, played by Anthony Andrews.
Anthony Andrews is wonderful as both the dashing Scarlet Pimpernel and the foppish, foolish Sir Percy.
I have never read Baroness Orczy's original novels (are they still in print?), but the story of "The Scarlet Pimpernel" is familiar enough to me from various film and television versions.
Andrews may have taken on the role of the Pimpernel as a deliberate change of image.The lovely Jane Seymour as Marguerite makes a charming heroine, although I thought that the best performance came from Ian McKellen as Chauvelin.