Dotsthavesp
I wanted to but couldn't!
Odelecol
Pretty good movie overall. First half was nothing special but it got better as it went along.
filippaberry84
I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.
trimmerb1234
This is a sequel which instead sets its own terms. Lacking a star name, it is not a vehicle for a star to lift and be given entertaining scenes (and mask weaknesses), instead it is a very well crafted artistic production. Completely unremarked is the quality of the cinematography there is a still photographer's eye at work not to mention the sets and the handling of action. Instead of a star and their schtick which a production is obliged to both labour and indulge, there is point and purpose throughout in the screenplay which reflects the mixture of brutality, passion, paranoia, scheming and insecurity of the times. The pimpernel is more subtly acted than the sign-posted performance of a big star. His ruses, being the centre piece of the character, have to be and are more impressive including the disguises than in the case of a star who probably wishes to be recognisable at all times. Lacking any stars, it must rely on pure merit - and succeeds. It is after all a Korda production so would one expect less?
ma-cortes
This is the second version of the much-filmed adventure classic with the immortal hero named Scarlet Pimpinel ( Barry Barnes), and again the English aristocrat engaged in the underground effort to snatch out from under the blade of the guillotine Frenchmen caught in the Reign of Terror ( 1794 ) . This time Robespierre assigns the mission to track down Pimpinel in England . As Spanish Teresa Cabarrus , Tellien's lover , and Chauvelin (Francis Lister ) travel towards Brighton where abduct his wife ( Sophie Stewart ). Pimpinel returns to Paris and then Sir Percy hides his activities under various guises . His ruse may throw off the French authorities but the elusive pimpernel is also attempting to free his wife , though he is suddenly caught by Chauvelin.Barnes does a dashing hero leading several characters and posing as an officer , pauper or revolutionary . This lavish production results to be a good sequel with spectacular production design , impressive sets and nice scenarios . Less than stellar cast plenty of unknown actors with exception a young James Mason as Tallien. The motion picture is professionally directed by Hans Swartz , a Hungarian filmmaker in his last movie .In the film appears historical characters as Tallien , Theresa Cabarrus (Margarett Scott ) and is developed an intrigue about downfall's Robespierre ( Henry Oscar ). The actual events are the followings : Robespierre appeared at the Convention and delivered a two-hour-long speech. He defended himself against charges of dictatorship and tyranny, and then proceeded to warn of a conspiracy against the Republic. Robespierre implied that members of the Convention were a part of this conspiracy, though when pressed he refused to provide any names. The speech however alarmed members particularly given Fouché's warnings. These members who felt that Robespierre was alluding to them tried to prevent the speech from being printed . The next day, Saint-Just began to give a speech in support of Robespierre. However, those who saw him working on his speech the night before expected accusations to arise from it. He only had time to give a small part of his speech before Jean-Lambert Tallien ( James Mason ) interrupted him . Robespierre then attempted to secure the tribune to speak but his voice was shouted down. Robespierre soon found himself at a loss for words after one deputy called for his arrest . The Convention ordered the arrest of Robespierre, his brother Augustin, Couthon, Saint-Just, François Hanriot and Le Bas. Troops from the Commune arrived to free the prisoners and then marched against the Convention itself. The Convention responded by ordering troops of its own under Barras to be called out. When the Commune's troops heard the news of this, order began to break down, and Hanriot ordered his remaining troops to withdraw to the Hôtel de Ville, where Robespierre and his supporters also gathered. The Convention declared them to be outlaws, meaning that upon verification the fugitives could be executed within twenty-four hours without a trial. As the night went on, the forces of the Commune deserted the Hôtel of Ville and, at around two in the morning, those of the Convention under the command of Barras arrived there . Robespierre tried to kill himself with a pistol but only managed to shatter his jaw.For the remainder of the night, Robespierre was moved to a table in the room of the Committee of Public Safety where he awaited execution. He lay on the table bleeding abundantly until a doctor was brought in to fix up his jaw. The next day, 28 July 1794, Robespierre was guillotined without trial in the Place of the Révolution. His brother Augustin, Couthon, Saint-Just, Hanriot and twelve other followers . Only Robespierre was guillotined face-up.Other versions about this classic novel by Baroness Orczy are the following : First and the best in 1939 by Harold Young with Leslie Howard and Leslie Caron ; The Elusive Pimpernel , 1950, by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger with David Niven and Margaret Leighton and made for TV in 1982 by Clive Donner with Anthony Edwards and Jane Seymour and in 1999 with Richard E Grant and Elizabeth McGovern .
benbrae76
A rather tame yet amusing sequel to the Howard/Oberon movie. Sophie Stewart plays Marguerite Blakeney without a vestige of a French accent. Barry Barnes is passable as the eponymous hero. Anthony Bushell repeats his role as Sir Andrew Ffoulkes, and a youthful James Mason plays a minor role with his normal suavity. Raymond Massey is sorely missed as Chauvelin. His place is taken by a somewhat hammy Francis Lister.The whole piece is not so much swash and buckle as tosh and truckle. However it's still enjoyable. What amused me most of all was the casting of the role of Robespierre. A 46 year old Henry Oscar was made up to look an older 56 or so, when he should have been made to look younger. Robespierre was only 36 years old when he went to the guillotine.
Robert J. Maxwell
This time around, Sir Percy Blakeney (Barry K. Barnes), aka the Scarlet Pimpernel, has left off rescuing the French nobility from the guillotine, having promised his wife never to return to Paris. But the villainous Robespierre and his henchman are determined to get hold of Blakeney any way they can and lop off his head from crimes against France. They lure him to France by kidnapping his wife, a French aristocrat, and sentencing her to death, knowing that Blakeney and his gang will be forced to come to her rescue. He does. And he succeeds too, not only in rescuing his wife but, with the help of an honest citizen, Tallion (James Mason), he manages to bring down Robespierre and seemingly end the Reign of Terror.Well, Barry K. Barnes isn't Leslie Howard, the original Scarlet Pimpernel, and this is, after all, a sequel, so many of the incidents we see have a familiar ring. Most missed -- the "latent status" of Sir Percy Blakeney as the intriguing master of disguise, the brave and adventurous hero. Barnes still has his disguises, by Guy "Frankenstein" Pearce, and he's still stalwart and noble, but he no longer has any reason to play the effete pouf. Everyone in both England and France knows that Blakeney is the Scarlet Pimpernel. I missed that effete poser. Only for a few minutes, and for no discernible reason, does Blakeney hold that triangular lorgnette up to his nose and exclaim, "Sink me!", in the sort of inflection that would feel entirely at home in Julius's in Greenwich Village. Part of the thrill of these masquerades is knowing that the harmless fop is actually a deadly swordsman like Zorro, or in this case a clever manipulator of circumstance.Still, if you liked "The Scarlet Pimpernel", you'll certainly like this one because of its close family resemblance to the original. I only wish that there were more of Howard's pouf persona present, and that it had an enjoyable and witty set piece like Howard's snoozing on the library couch and putting one over on Raymond Massey's Chauvelin.Sir Percy is a fictional character, of course, and no one actually ended the Reign of Terror, a case of yet another revolution bringing about too much of a good thing. Robespierre, the rabid revolutionary, was himself beheaded. Even M. Guillotine, who invented the demonic machine, met Mme. Guillotine. The result was chaos until order was restored by Napolean, who didn't take long to proclaim himself Emporer.
