Scarlet Pimpernel
by Harold Young
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DVD details
Actor: Leslie Howard, Merle OberonDirector: Harold Young
DVD: Region Code 0
Format: NTSC
Running Time: 97 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2007-05-15
Studio: Synergy Ent
DVD Reviews of Scarlet Pimpernel
DVD Review: Excellent Howard film
Summary: 4 Stars
The Scarlet Pimpernel was taken from a 1903 play. It made its film debut in 1917 and there were a total of 4 Pimpernel silent films. Leslie Howard stars, supported by Merle Oberon and Raymond Massey, in this 1934 Alexander Korda production, the first of the talking Pimpernel films.
The rich man with a secret crime fighting life was copied by characters like Zorro, Batman, The Phantom, and Green Arrow. The Pimpernel has no super powers, but survives on his cunning and bravery, as well as a small group of supporters who keep his secret.
In his brief career and 34 films Leslie Howard (1893-1943) was twice nominated for an Oscar ("Berkeley Square" and "Pygmalion") and gave us memorable performances in "GWTW" (1939) and "The Petrified Forest" (1936). He started in films in the U.K. in 1914 and came to the U.S. in 1930. His big breakthrough came in 1933 with "Berkeley Square" and his great performance in this film helped secure his stardom.
Merle Oberon (1911-79) started in films in 1928 but it was her role as Anne Boleyn opposite Charles Laughton in "The Private Life of Henry VIII" (1933) that brought her to stardom, and like Howard, her follow-up in this film helped move her to the A list where she stayed for more than a decade. She was nominated for an Oscar for "The Dark Angel" (1935) but is probably best remembered for her role as Cathy in "Wuthering Heights" (1938). She plays the Pimpernel's wife.
The great Raymond Massey (1896-1983) is best remembered for his roles as Lincoln. He was nominated for an Oscar for playing "Abe Lincoln in Illinois" (1940) which remains, to date, the best ever portrayal of Lincoln. He reprised the role on TV in "The Day Lincoln was Shot" (1950) and again in "How the West Was Won" (1962). On TV he played Dr. Gillespie in the series "Dr Kildare" (1961-5). He made nearly 100 films. I remember him best for his over the top portrayal of John Brown in "Santa Fe Trail" (1940). Massey plays the evil Citizen Chauvelin. Prior to playing Lincoln, most of his roles were villainous (e.g., Philip of Spain in "Fire Over England", Black Michael in "The Prisoner of Zenda", Prince Ghul in "The Drum").
Nigel Bruce (1895-1953) has a small role as The Prince of Wales. Bruce is best remembered for his role as Dr. Watson in 14 Sherlock Holmes films, but he had quite a distinguished career apart from the Holmes' film, appearing in many films like "Treasure Island" (1934), "Charge of the Light Brigade" (1936), and "Kidnapped" (1938). He worked with Hitchcock in "Rebecca" (1940) and "Suspicion" (1941).
If I'm not mistaken, a very young James Mason (1909-84) has a small speaking part near the start of the movie. He did work with Korda and he did appear in "Return of the Scarlet Pimpernel" (1937) but his appearance in this film is otherwise un recorded.
Alexander Korda (1893-1956) produced nearly 60 films in his career that started in 1923 in Hungary. His break through film was "The Private Life of Henry VIII" (1933) and there followed a series of historical dramas including "Rise of Catherine the Great" (1934), "Private Life of Don Juan" (1934), and "Rembrandt" (1936).
The costumes are lavish but the sets are relatively cheap. Painted backdrops are obvious and the outdoor scenes appear to be filmed in Los Angeles scrub rather than the French countryside.
Harold Rosson (1895-1988) was the cinematographer. Rosson filmed nearly 150 films and was nominated for an Oscar 6 times, winning for "The Garden of Allah" (1937). He made such notable films as "The Wizard of Oz" (1939), "30 Seconds Over Tokyo" (1944), and "The Asphalt Jungle" (1950). Rosson turns in his usual fine job, offering varying angles and a plethora of long, medium, and close-ups. His action scenes with horses chasing a carriage are particularly good for the time.
This is a better than average period piece and may be one of Leslie Howard's best performances.
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