This is a film with a scene that happens today – August 12. I hope you
will enjoy this movie and watch it tonight.
THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL
An underground group, led by the mysterious Scarlet
Pimpernel, smuggles aristocrats who have been condemned to death by the French
revolutionies out of the country. The Scarlet Pimpernel is actually Sir Percy
Blakney, who acts as a fop, to divert suspicion. After Blakney saves Armand St.
Just from an attack by agents of the Marquis St. Cyr, he meets and is smitten
by his sister, Marguerite. She is involved with Paul Chauvelin, who has the
task of tracking down the Scarlet Pimpernel. Chauvlin deduces the Scarlet
Pimpernel is English and plans to go to England to try and ferret out who he
is, using the Count de Tourney to introduce him into society. Blakney uses a picnic with Marguerite to
smuggle an aristocrat out of the city. Chauvelin discovers a note that
Marguerite had found that proves St. Cyr is a traitor and Marguarite breaks it
off with him, as she is upset by his bloodthirstiness Armand St. Just becomes
disgusted with the revolution and starts working with the Scarlet Pimpernel.
St. Cyr is arrested after Chauvelin files a warrant listing Maurgurite as the
accuser. Blakney and Marguerite are married. The Count de Tourney tells Blakney
about Marguerite’s apparent involvement in the arrest and execution of St. Cyr
and his family. When Marguerite is accused to her face of complicity in St.
Cyr’s death and Blakney does not defend her, she doubts his love for her.
Chauvelin discovers Armand is in league
with the Scarlet Pimpernel. Chauvelin uses this info to blackmail Margurite
into working for him as an agent to ferret out the identity of the Scarlet
Pimpernel. On August 12, 1794 [Part 2 - 15:09 to 25:48] the Blakneys attend a
ball in honor of the Prince of Wales birthday. At the
ball Margurite learns that the Scarlet Pimpernel has a meeting at midnight and
tell Chauvelin. Marguerite goes and warns the Scarlet Pimpernel, but does not
discover his identity. However, Blakney learns that she is being blackmailed by
Chauvelin and that she had nothing to do with St. Cyr’s death. Chauvelin
doesn’t catch the Scarlet Pimpernel, but learns Margurite betrayed him.
Margurite learns her husband is the Scarlet Pimpernel. The Count de Tourney
warns Armand that Chauvelin is on to him and he is arrested. Armand had
succeded in getting the family who guarded the Dauphin replaced. Marguerite
follows Percy to France to help save him. The Scarlet Pimpernel, acting as the
contractors hired to haul off the belongings of the guard’s family, smuggles
the Dauphin out of jail. Blakney
returns to save Armand, but is arrested. A deal is arranged: the Dauphin for
the lives of Sir Percy. Armand and Marguerite.
Chauvelin travels with his three hostages to where the Dauphin is
located. Hoever, the Dauphin has already been sent on across the border.
Chauvelin orders Sir Percy to be shot. However, the guards are part of the
Scarlet Pimpernel’s organization. Sir
Percy and Chauvelin duel. Sir Percy wins, but refuses to kill him. Sir Percy
and Marguerite return to England.
A classic swashbuckling
adventure. You have to pay attention as the twists and turns of the plot are
somewhat complicated. All in all and enjoyable adventure film that concentrates
on developing the characters as much as the action. Many versions of this omit the scene that gives the date.
At about 20:55 – Part 2 Chauvelin says he’s attending this
ball “to celebrate the birthday of the Prince of Wales” which was on this date
as per Prince of Pleasure: The Prince of Wales and the Making of the Regency
by Saul David (Atlantic Monthly Press, New York, 1998) at page 5
Producer - David Conroy
Director - Clive Donner
Screenplay -William Bast
Awards – The movie won the Outstanding Costume Design for a
Limited Series or
Special. It was also nominated for
Outstanding Drama Special and Outstanding
Art
Direction for a Limited Series or Special at the 35th Primetime
Emmys.
Runtime – 2 hours 22 minutes
Released – November 9, 1982
Starring –
Anthony Andrews as Sir Percy Blakeney/ the Scarlet
Pimpernel, an English aristocrat
Jane Seymour as Marguerite St. Just, a French actress whom
Percy Blakeney meets
Ian McKellen as Paul Chauvelin, the chief agent of the
Committee of Public Safety
James Villiers as the Baron de Batz, an Austrian nobleman
involved in a covert operation
Malcolm Jamieson as Armand St. Just, the brother of
Marguerite
Eleanor David as Louise, a French actress and understudy of
Marguerite St. Just's
Richard Morant as Robespierre, a leader of the French
Revloution
Dominic Jephcott as Sir Andrew Ffoulkes, a member of the
League
Christopher Villiers as Lord Antony Dewhurst, a member of
the League
Denis Lill as the Count de Tournay, a French aristocrat and
friend of Percy Blakeney
Ann Firbank as the Countess de Tournay, the wife of Count de
Tournay
Tracey Childs as Suzanne de Tournay, the daughter of Count
and Countess de Tournay
Julian Fellowes as the Prince of Wales, the somewhat foppish
heir to the British throne
Mark Drewry as Lord Timothy Hastings, a member of the League
John Quarmby as Ponceau, a Frenchman who works for the
Committee of Public Safety
David Gant as Fouquet, a Frenchman who works for Robespierre
Geoffrey Toone as the Marquis de St. Cyr, a French
aristocrat
Joanna Dickens as Aunt Lulu, the aunt of Louise
Richard Charles as Louis-Charles, Dauphin of France
Gordon Gostelow as Duval, the caretaker of the young Dauphin
in prison
Carol MacReady as Madame Duval, the wife of Duval
Daphne Anderson as Lady Grenville, an English noblewoman
Nick Brimble as Bibot, a French soldier
Tony Caunter as Pochard, a French soldier
Timothy Carlton as the Count de Beaulieu, a French
aristocrat rescued from the guillotine
Kate Howard as the Countess de Beaulieu, the wife of Count
de Beaulieu
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