Main Cast: David Niven, Margaret Leighton, Jack Hawkins, Cyril Cusack, Robert Coote, David Hutcheson
Release Year: 1950
Country: UK
Run Time: 109 minutes
Plot
In this costume adventure set in France during the Reign of Terror, a mysterious man known only as the Scarlet Pimpernel rescues noblemen from the guillotine and leads them to safety across the English Channel. Chauvelin (Cyril Cusack) is determined to unmask the Pimpernel and bring him to justice. When evidence begins to suggest that the hero is actually foppish Sir Percey Blakeney (David Niven), Chauvelin blackmails Percey's wife, Marguerite (Margaret Leighton), into cooperating on the threat that he'll expose the criminal activities of her brother Armand (Edmund Audran). However, Marguerite doesn't much care for her husband, hardly believes he could be the heroic Pimpernel, and is startled when she finds out that he truly is the masked vigilante. The Elusive Pimpernel was originally shot in color as a musical, but the musical numbers were cut before the film was released, and the picture's American distributor chose to make only black-and-white prints (though the current home-video release is in color). ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
Review
There's so much talent involved in The Elusive Pimpernel that one can't help but be a little disappointed with the result. Not that Pimpernel is a failure, by any means; it's just that one expects more than one gets. The blame clearly rests with the producing/writing/directing team of Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger, a pair that turned out a number of exceptional films in their career but just couldn't turn the trick this time out. The chief problem is that they just seem a little tired; an adventure film such as this simply has to soar, and Pimpernel never really gets airborne at all. It comes close -- in the stage racing sequence, for example -- but never quite makes it. This is an even greater shame as there are elements of Pimpernel that are quite good. David Niven, in the title role, has all the foppishness one could wish for, but he's also appropriately dashing and suave. True, he lacks the matinee idol looks that are an unwritten requirement for the part, but he otherwise acquits himself quite well. Cyril Cusack is a believable personification of oily evil, and Margaret Leighton looks lovely and is a more than adequate Marguerite. There's some eye-filling scenery and colorful costumes, made quite eye-popping by Christopher Challis' extremely handsome Technicolor lensing. If it lacks fire and spark, Pimpernel still is a pleasant diversion. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide
Cast
David Niven - Scarlet Pimpernel/Sir Percy Blakeney
Arlette Marchal - Countesse de Tournai; Terry Alexander - Duke of Dorset; Edmund Audran - Armand St. Juste; Peter Copley; Eugene Deckers - Capt. Meiieres; Tom Duggan - Earl of Sligo; Archie Duncan - Man in bath; John Fitzgerald - Sir Michael Travers; Richard George - Sir John Coke; Danielle Godet - Suzanne de Touman; Hugh Kelly - Mr. Fitzdrummond; John Longden - Abbot; Patrick Macnee - Hon. John Bristow; Gerard Nery - Phillipe de Toumai; David Oxley - Capt. Duroc; Raymond Rollett - Bibot; Philip Stainton - Jellyband; Howard Vernon - Comte de Tournai; Charles Victor - Col. Winterbottom; Arthur Wontner - Lord Grenville; Michael Powell; John Hewitt - Maj. Pretty; George de Warfaz - Baron; Jane Gill Davies - Lady Grenville; Robert Griffiths - Trubshaw
Credit
Arthur Lawson - Art Director, Ivy Baker - Costume Designer, Bernard Sarron - Costume Designer, Sydney Streeter - First Assistant Director, Michael Powell - Director, Emeric Pressburger - Director, Reginald Mills - Editor, Brian Easdale - Composer (Music Score), Freddie Francis - Camera Operator, Hein Heckroth - Production Designer, Christopher G. Challis - Cinematographer, Samuel Goldwyn - Producer, Alexander Korda - Producer, Michael Powell - Producer, Emeric Pressburger - Producer, George R. Busby - Producer, Joseph Bato - Set Designer, Arthur Lawson - Set Designer, W. Percy Day - Special Effects, Charles Poulton - Sound/Sound Designer, Red Law - Sound/Sound Designer, Michael Powell - Screenwriter, Emeric Pressburger - Screenwriter, Baroness Orczy - Book Author
During the French Revolution, the Scarlet Pimpernel, (David Niven), who is really Sir Percy Blakeney in disguise, risks his life to rescue French noblemen from the guillotine and spirit them across the English Channel to safety. As cover, Sir Percy poses as a fop at Court, and curries favor with the Prince of Wales (Jack Hawkins) by providing advice about fashion, but secretly he leads The League, a group of noblemen with similar views.
Cauvelin, the head of the Revolution Cyril Cusack wants to find out who the Pimpernel is and bring him in to meet his fate under French justice. When evidence points to Sir Percy, Cauvelin blackmails Blankeney's wife, Margeurite (Margaret Leighton) by threatening to expose her criminal brother Armand (Edmond Audran), but Margeurite doesn't believe her husband is capable of being the daring Pimpernel.
Cast
David Niven as Sir Percy Blakeney/ The Scarlet Pimpernel
Patrick Macnee, who played the "Hon. John Bristow", later became well known for playing "John Steed" in The Avengers. The Elusive Pimpernel was his sixth film appearance.
Richard England, who played the part of the captain of the schooner Daydream, was the real-life owner of the boat that was used in the filming, The Nellie Bywater.[3]
Production
The Elusive Pimpernel was financed by Samuel Goldwyn and Alexander Korda. Neither director Michael Powell nor star David Niven was very interested in doing the film, but had their minds changed by threats of contract suspension. Powell wanted to make the film as a musical, but was not allowed to, and the casting of Margaret Leighton was done over his objection. Goldwyn forced numerous additions and changes to the film but when Powell delivered the final cut, Goldwyn refused to make the final payment, which caused Korda to sue him.[4]
The Elusive Pimpernel was released in the U.K. in 1950, but because of the falling out between Korda and Goldwyn, didn't get an American distributor until July 1953 when Carroll Pictures acquired the rights. The film then premiered in New York City on 17 April 1954.[4]
^ Trubshaw" was a name often given to minor characters in Niven's films (at his insistence) - it was a back-handed tribute on Niven's part to his old army friend, Michael Trubshawe.
