Movie for a Sunday afternoon: "The Scarlet Pimpernel" (1934)

You Tube ^ | 1934 | Harold Young

[ReformationFan]

Today's feature is a great classic historical adventure. Leslie Howard plays essential a Batman/Bruce Wayne of the 1790s. As Sir Percy Blakeney, he pretends to be a foppish dandy of the upperclass while he secretly rescues innocent aristocrats from the guillotine as the heroic man of mystery, the Scarlet Pimpernel. One thing I love about this story is that the heroes are on the right while the villains are the politically correct, left wing Jacobins of the Reign of Terror. It's not often that Hollywood has made a truly conservative movie and this is definitely one of them.

[Dr. Sivana]

They seek him here, they seek him there
Those Frenchies seek him everywhere!

[ReformationFan]

ping

[ReformationFan]

Exactly ;)

[nickcarraway]

One interesting thing is Leslie Howard played this character again in 1941 fighting Nazis in Pimpernel Smith. Two Years later he was killed when a plane he was in was shot down by the Luftwaffe.

He was a real life Scarlet Pimpernel against the Nazis.

[Bobalu]

This film is a favorite of mine.

[al_c]

[ReformationFan]

Indeed. I think I read somewhere that the Scarlet Pimpernel was Howard’s favorite role and movie, not the one he’s most famous for, i.e., “Gone With The Wind”-Lesley Wilkes. In fact, I think he actively disliked GWTW and his character in it.

It’s understandable since his character is more stronger and heroic in the 1934 film.

[BenLurkin]

Great scene where Raymond Massey sees the Granger still sleeping on the couch. Massey thinks that maybe he has discovered the Pimpernal’s true identity but then shakes off the thought. A tour de force moment of silent acting.

[BenLurkin]

Correction: Granger should be Howard.

[jmacusa]

They seek him here. They seek him there. They seek him everywhere. Is he in Heaven or is he in Hell? That damned , elusive Pimpernel!

[ReformationFan]

Another great one!

You can watch it here-

http://www.220.ro/desene-animate/20-Daffy-Duck-Sylvester-The-Scarlet-Pumpernickel-1950/KJRkZjBcaE/

[ReformationFan]

Indeed. Great scene.

I also like the one where Lady Marguerite looks at the portrait and puts two and two together, i.e., realizing her supposedly foppish husband IS indeed the heroic Scarlet Pimpernel.

[nickcarraway]

I thought he was funny in a movie with Humphrey Bogart called The Stand In, where he plays a nerdy accountant that comes to Hollywood.

His son played Sherlock Holmes in a British series at the U.S. from the 50's.

[Dr. Sivana]

“Correction: Granger should be Howard.”

On the other hand, a mashup of Pimpernel and “Strangers on a Train” could be interesting.

[SkyDancer]

What??? A movie about bread????

[skinkinthegrass]

what time? ..Hollywood after GWTW, started to change
from "floppy-ish men" to "hard men" after that movie.

[urtax$@work]

Saw the Leslie Howard Scarlet Pimpernel
set in 40s war time Europe and how he foiled the Germans.

Was pretty entertaining. Thanks for posting this.

[skinkinthegrass]

when Gobbels; found out Howard's death, he pronounced it
gladly nationwide in NAZI Germany as if were a battlefield victory.

[Harold Shea]

Love the ending when Robiespeire(sp) knows

his head is gonna next on the block.

Great movie.