The Return of the Scarlet Pimpernel (1937)

[finluithiel]

See, this is why I love them old movies: they make me feel all fluffy inside. Not only do they have different conventions and tropes that aren't applicable to the film industry these days, the posters bear no resemblance to the actors in the film at all. xD

The Return of the Scarlet Pimpernel is the sequel to the 1934 film The Scarlet Pimpernel. Barry K. Barnes plays Sir Percy Blakeney, whose secret identity as the Scarlet Pimpernel is already known by all and sundry. Since this is the case, Citizen Chauvelin (Francis Lister) plots to capture Sir Percy by kidnapping his wife, Lady Marguerite Blakeney (Sophie Stewart, whom, by the way, I think is waaaaay better than Merle Oberon). Add in a saucy Spanish actress, passionate orators of the Republic, and random clueless French soldiers, and you have yourselves a fine romp through the Reign of Terror.

This being a Pimpernel film, Sir Percy gets to wear outrageous disguises with funny accents. I also love that the League gets more screen time this time around, though I still resent the fact that they're only entitled to run-of-the-mill disguises. (However, Anthony Bushell, reprising his role as Sir Andrew Ffoulkes, was excellent eye-candy :D)

Plot-wise, I think this is weaker than its predecessor. Script- and acting-wise, however, it is far superior to the Leslie Howards version. The jokes seem to flow more naturally, and there were less stilted moments in the film. The only beef I have with this is the fact that we don't get to see Sir Percy the Effete Fop; we only get a washed-out version who swings his quizzing glass in time with his drawling.

While no other adaptation could possibly top the 1982 version with Anthony Andrews and Jane Seymour, I prefer this to the 1934 version with Leslie Howards. (Don't get me wrong, I love the Howards version -- it's just that Merle Oberon ruined the film for me.) First, it's because it's more true to the spirit of the book than the 1934 film; second, I actually liked the actor they got for Citizen Chauvelin (his cheeks are so big I wanted to pinch them!). But then again, I'm always happy to watch Pimpernel adaptations, so this film basically made my day for me. :D