{"id":16647,"date":"2011-04-21T13:11:27","date_gmt":"2011-04-21T20:11:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=16647"},"modified":"2020-12-27T11:17:24","modified_gmt":"2020-12-27T18:17:24","slug":"scarlet-pimpernel-the-1934","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=16647","title":{"rendered":"Scarlet Pimpernel, The (1934)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;They seek him here, they seek him there, those Frenchies seek him everywhere.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/04\/Scarlet-Pimpernel-Poster.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/04\/Scarlet-Pimpernel-Poster-217x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"217\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-16650\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/04\/Scarlet-Pimpernel-Poster-217x300.jpg 217w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/04\/Scarlet-Pimpernel-Poster-92x128.jpg 92w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/04\/Scarlet-Pimpernel-Poster.jpg 580w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 217px) 100vw, 217px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nA British baronet (Leslie Howard) secretly rescues French aristocrats from death during the Reign of Terror, hiding his identity from both his unhappy wife (Merle Oberon) and a ruthless French ambassador (Raymond Massey) determined to nab the elusive &#8220;Scarlet Pimpernel&#8221; at any cost.\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Folk Heroes<\/li>\n<li>French Revolution<\/li>\n<li>Historical Drama<\/li>\n<li>Leslie Howard Films<\/li>\n<li>Merle Oberon Films<\/li>\n<li>Mistaken Identities<\/li>\n<li>Royalty and Nobility<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Response to Peary\u2019s Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nPeary accurately labels this Alexander Korda production &#8220;one of cinema&#8217;s most enjoyable historical romances\/adventures&#8221;, noting that it has &#8220;suspense, ironic wit, excellent cinematography&#8230;, beautiful costumes, and impressive sets&#8221;. <\/p>\n<p>In perhaps his best-known role (other than playing Ashley Wilkes in <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=41976\"><em>Gone With the Wind<\/em><\/a>), Leslie Howard is note-perfect as the title character, the &#8220;damned elusive&#8221; Scarlet Pimpernel &#8212; a &#8220;fine and dandy hero who, refreshingly, succeeds by quick wits rather than a quick sword&#8221;, and possesses a simply fabulous alter ego. (Indeed, I may call this one of the best &#8220;mistaken identity&#8221; films out there.) <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/04\/Scarlet-Pimpernel-Howard6.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/04\/Scarlet-Pimpernel-Howard6-1024x731.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"457\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-59937\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/04\/Scarlet-Pimpernel-Howard6-1024x731.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/04\/Scarlet-Pimpernel-Howard6-300x214.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/04\/Scarlet-Pimpernel-Howard6-128x91.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/04\/Scarlet-Pimpernel-Howard6-768x549.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/04\/Scarlet-Pimpernel-Howard6-378x270.png 378w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/04\/Scarlet-Pimpernel-Howard6.png 1197w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\nHe fearlessly presents his non-heroic front as &#8220;a frivolous, foppish, clothes-conscious, poetry-reciting weakling&#8221; &#8212; the exact stereotype of the nobility he&#8217;s risking his life to save. To that end, as Peary notes, there is a &#8220;bias&#8221; in the film in terms of the way it makes us &#8220;fantasize nobleness in the nobility&#8221;, but we&#8217;re willing to roll with this given that it clearly wasn&#8217;t okay for Robespierre and his henchmen to wantonly kill off an entire class of people, no matter how disgruntled they may have felt. Meanwhile, Oberon, as Peary notes, &#8220;is a stunningly beautiful heroine&#8221; in her &#8220;tight bodices&#8221; and &#8220;fancy hats and dresses&#8221;: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/04\/Scarlet-Pimpernel-Oberon3.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/04\/Scarlet-Pimpernel-Oberon3-1024x757.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"473\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-16658\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/04\/Scarlet-Pimpernel-Oberon3-1024x757.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/04\/Scarlet-Pimpernel-Oberon3-128x94.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/04\/Scarlet-Pimpernel-Oberon3-300x221.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/04\/Scarlet-Pimpernel-Oberon3.png 1199w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>and Raymond Massey gives an appropriately &#8220;devilish performance&#8221; as the film&#8217;s ruthless baddie. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Redeeming Qualities and Moments: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Leslie Howard as Sir Percy Blakeney (nominated by Peary as one of the best actors of the year in his <em>Alternate Oscars<\/em> book)<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/04\/Scarlet-Pimpernel-Howard3-1.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/04\/Scarlet-Pimpernel-Howard3-1-1024x765.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"478\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-59939\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/04\/Scarlet-Pimpernel-Howard3-1-1024x765.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/04\/Scarlet-Pimpernel-Howard3-1-300x224.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/04\/Scarlet-Pimpernel-Howard3-1-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/04\/Scarlet-Pimpernel-Howard3-1-768x574.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/04\/Scarlet-Pimpernel-Howard3-1-361x270.png 361w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/04\/Scarlet-Pimpernel-Howard3-1.png 1194w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Merle Oberon as Lady Blakeney<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/04\/Scarlet-Pimpernel-Oberon2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/04\/Scarlet-Pimpernel-Oberon2-1024x755.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"472\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-59935\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/04\/Scarlet-Pimpernel-Oberon2-1024x755.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/04\/Scarlet-Pimpernel-Oberon2-300x221.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/04\/Scarlet-Pimpernel-Oberon2-128x94.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/04\/Scarlet-Pimpernel-Oberon2-768x566.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/04\/Scarlet-Pimpernel-Oberon2-366x270.png 366w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/04\/Scarlet-Pimpernel-Oberon2.png 1201w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a>\n<\/li>\n<li>Raymond Massey as Chauvelin<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/04\/Scarlet-Pimpernel-Massey.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/04\/Scarlet-Pimpernel-Massey-1024x748.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"468\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-16659\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/04\/Scarlet-Pimpernel-Massey-1024x748.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/04\/Scarlet-Pimpernel-Massey-128x93.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/04\/Scarlet-Pimpernel-Massey-300x219.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/04\/Scarlet-Pimpernel-Massey.png 1195w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Harold Rosson&#8217;s cinematography<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/04\/Scarlet-Pimpernel-Cinematography2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/04\/Scarlet-Pimpernel-Cinematography2-1024x783.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"489\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-16660\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/04\/Scarlet-Pimpernel-Cinematography2-1024x783.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/04\/Scarlet-Pimpernel-Cinematography2-128x97.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/04\/Scarlet-Pimpernel-Cinematography2-300x229.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/04\/Scarlet-Pimpernel-Cinematography2.png 1119w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nYes, as a genuine classic. As a public domain title, it&#8217;s available for free viewing at <a href=\"http:\/\/archive.org\">http:\/\/archive.org<\/a>. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Categories<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Genuine Classic<\/li>\n<li>Noteworthy Performance(s)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0025748\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/movies.nytimes.com\/movie\/review?res=9500E2DD113FE53ABC4053DFB466838E629EDE\">NY Times Original Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.classicfilmguide.com\/indexe22a.html\">Classic Film Guide Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tcm.com\/tcmdb\/title\/21538\/the-scarlet-pimpernel#articles-reviews?articleId=111457\">TCM Article<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.timeout.com\/en_gb\/film\/the-scarlet-pimpernel\">Time Out Capsule Review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;They seek him here, they seek him there, those Frenchies seek him everywhere.&#8221; Synopsis: A British baronet (Leslie Howard) secretly rescues French aristocrats from death during the Reign of Terror, hiding his identity from both his unhappy wife (Merle Oberon) and a ruthless French ambassador (Raymond Massey) determined to nab the elusive &#8220;Scarlet Pimpernel&#8221; at any cost. Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors: Folk Heroes French Revolution Historical Drama Leslie Howard Films Merle Oberon Films Mistaken Identities Royalty and Nobility Response&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=16647\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16647","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-responses-to-peary"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16647","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=16647"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16647\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":59940,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16647\/revisions\/59940"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=16647"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=16647"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=16647"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}