Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #34059 in DVD
• Released on: 1998-07-07
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Black & White, DVD, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 95 minutes

Amazon.com
"That damned elusive Pimpernel" finds a dashing embodiment in Leslie Howard, who has the steel to be an action hero and the wit to hide behind his alter ego: a British fop. Based on Baroness Orczy's novel, the story focuses on the efforts of this British dandy to aid members of the French aristocracy in escaping the guillotines of the French revolution. He also romances Merle Oberon, a beauty forgotten by recent generations, and engages in a wonderfully wicked duel of wits with the humorless enforcer for the French Republicans (Raymond Massey). If somewhat short on swashbuckling, it's long on the kind of costume drama that Hollywood seems to have forgotten how to do. Remade in 1982 for television, in an equally engaging version starring Anthony Andrews. --Marshall Fine

Customer Reviews

Don't buy this one!
If you're looking for a DVD of the Leslie Howard/Merle Oberon version of _The Scarlet Pimpernel_, buy _Drama Classics Triple Feature, Vol. 2_ (The Black Pirate / The Scarlet Pimpernel / The Iron Mask) from Navarre Corporation.

This one chops lines and even entire scenes out of the movie. The one on the triple-feature DVD is all there, and the transfer is better too. ('Better', not 'good'. This film is badly in need of restoration.) And the extra two bucks gets you a pair of Doug Fairbanks features into the bargain. (And if _that's_ not a good enough deal for you, the film is also included in _50 Movie Family Classics_.)

It's beyond me why anyone would release this classic swashbuckler in such a hacked-up edition. But it's even further beyond me why anybody would _buy_ it while there's a better version available. That damned elusive Pimpernel isn't _that_ hard to find!

A wonderful classic
The Scarlet Pimpernel

This 1935 telling of the classic story has many pluses; first is the cast, with Leslie Howard as Sir Percy Blakeney, Merle Oberon as Lady Marguerite Blakeney, Raymond Massey as Chauvelin, and Nigel Bruce as Prince of Wales. The next is the script, which was adapted from the novel by Robert E. Sherwood, Sam Berman, Arthur Wimperis, and Lajos Biro. Finally, the overall production and look is superb -- while the story may be short on action, it is strong in character and intrigue.

I do quibble with the tape quality -- it looks as if it was taken from an old print of the film; there are several scratches and one apparent break; however, the sound is pretty good. I hope that one day, the film will be restored and new audiences will have an opportunity to watch Leslie Howard and Merle Oberon together in this project.

If you are a fan of Leslie Howard or Merle Oberan, if you are a fan of films from Hollywood's "Golden Age" or if you simply enjoy the story of the Scarlet Pimpernel, then add this video to your collection.

This wonderful movie has been butchered !
In the film "Scarlet Pimpernel", Leslie Howard plays Sir Percy Blakeney. He is able to bring across such nuances that no other actors has captured in the remakes. He mixes drama and comedy so masterfully that it's a delight watching him in each scene! I'm a great fan of Leslie Howard and I feel that this is one of his best work... HOWEVER, I cannot recomend this DVD because the quality IS SOOOO BAD! The image is muddy and even worst APROX 4 MINS HAD BEEN CUT FROM THE FILM! Most notable scenes that are missing:(1) the very opening of the film- the changing of the guards. (2) the "intro" of Lady Blakeney as she is sitting for her portrait. She is expressing her opinion about the mysterious Pimpernel. Just then Percy walks in as foppish as ever, critiquing the painting of Lady Blakeney and conversing with her lady friends. This is not a throw- away-scene! It establishes Lady Blakeney's character, the relationship between her and Percy as well as hints to its estrangment. Reading the other comments on this DVD, I agree, don't buy any movies under the MADACY label. This company puts out shoddy material. I have the "Scarlet Pimpernel" on video under the Samuel Goldwyn label. I recomend that version.