The Scarlet Pimpernel

TV Movie
1982
Not Rated
2h 22m

IMDb RATING

YOUR RATING

Paris, 1792: After France becomes a republic, aristocrats are guillotined. The English Sir Percy tries to save as many as he can as The Scarlet Pimpernel in disguises.Paris, 1792: After France becomes a republic, aristocrats are guillotined. The English Sir Percy tries to save as many as he can as The Scarlet Pimpernel in disguises.Paris, 1792: After France becomes a republic, aristocrats are guillotined. The English Sir Percy tries to save as many as he can as The Scarlet Pimpernel in disguises.

Director
- Clive Donner
Writers
- William Bast
- Baroness Emmuska Orczy
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.6/10

5.3K

YOUR RATING

Director
- Clive Donner
Writers
- William Bast
- Baroness Emmuska Orczy
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

Won 1 Primetime Emmy
- 1 win & 2 nominations total

Trivia
The dramatic scene performed on stage by Marguerite, and later by Louise, is from "Phaedra" by Jean Racine (1677).

Goofs
During the chase after he rescues the dauphin, Percy reacts as if he's shot, but his clothing shows no sign of damage from the bullet. Also, flintlock pistols had a very short effective range. If a soldier had really hit him, Percy couldn't have been so far ahead that the soldiers didn't see where he went after the wagon tipped over.

Quotes
Marguerite: They seek him here, they seek him there / Those Frenchies seek him everywhere / Is he in heaven, or is he in hell?/ My own elusive Pimpernel.
Sir Percy: Sink me, the lady is a poet.
[they kiss]

Connections
Featured in The 35th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (1983)

Soundtracks
You Are My Home
Performed by Peabo Bryson and Linda Eder

User reviews90

Review

Featured review

9/10

Excellent rendition of a wonderful tale

I have loved this movie since I was a child, but even more so now having re-watched it after reading the two books it is based upon. Anthony Andrews perfectly captures the dual nature of Sir Percy - the lazy eyelids, drawly voice, and then the flashes of passion when alone with Marguerite. His appearance is always impeccable, and his disguises are always extremely good but still true to what he would have been able to accomplish at that time.

The script manages to flawlessly interweave the plot of "The Scarlet Pimpernel" and "Eldorado", the two Orczy books on which it is based (both revolving around the Scarlet Pimpernel). The resulting story allows for wonderful character development, especially between the three main characters. 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. Even without knowing the story or reading the two books, it stands on its own merit as a wonderfully entertaining film, which might just as easily have been made for the big screen as for TV.