The Scarlet Pimpernel
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Anthony Andrews, Eleanor David, Ian McKellen, James Villiers, Jane SeymourBrand: Image Entertainment
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown), Dolby Digital 1.0; English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 1.0
Format: Color, DVD, Full Screen, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 142 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2004-02-24
Audience Rating: Unrated
Studio: Image Entertainment
Movie Reviews of The Scarlet Pimpernel
Movie Review: Outstanding production
Summary: 5 Stars
This is an outstanding production. My wife and I found transfer to DVD to be just about perfect. Stars, pacing, storyline, scenery, sound, lighting, costumes--everything--just first rate. Anthony Andrews is great as the elegant but often foppish, then heroic, Sir Percy. Jane Seymour is quite good as Marguerite, too. Supporting players, including Ian McKellen as Chauvelain, all do well. And we have a happy, surprise ending. Running time is a generous 2 hours, 16 minutes, so you have to allow time to take in the whole saga.
When comparing to the original version from 1935, starring Leslie Howard and Merle Oberon, there really is nothing to compare. The 1935 offering we bought was released in December, 2008, by Reel Classics. Apparently, it was done for widescreen applications as the video was severely letter-boxed. We don't own a widescreen TV, so maybe it's unfair to evaluate. Nevertheless, video and sound were poor and there were no subtitles, chapters, or special features. Being a -R format, the disk would not play on our trusty Philips 711 player so we had to figure running time on our newer Panasonic. It came to a sparse 1 hour, 36 minutes. The whole story would have been unintelligible had we not read the book or seen the 1982 version beforehand. Sadly, we have trouble even giving the 1935 a single star.
The 1998 version of "The Scarlet Pimpernel," starring Richard E. Grant and Elizabeth McGovern, is also quite good but we give it 4 stars, compared to 5 for the 1982 offering. In the 1998, there were three (3) separate installments, totalling about 4 ½ hours, so the story line has been expanded. Production values are fine, as well. But this DVD set rates just a notch below the one from 1982, in our view.
Back on the 1982 version, what is rather puzzling to us is the fact that Anthony Andrews was not propelled to greater stardom after this movie. He really is so appealing and dynamic in this show, you'd think he'd have been offered all the Leslie-Howard-type roles by Hollywood. We've read that he turned down the lead role in "Remington Steele," though, shortly after "The Scarlet Pimpernel," so maybe he was blacklisted by movie producers. (If he'd accepted you wonder if he, rather than Pierce Brosnan, would have gone on to play James Bond). Anthony's still extant, however, and we see he's to be starring in a London stage production of "Camelot." Apparently, he's also done work in "My Fair Lady," as well. Being born in 1948, Anthony's only 61 at this point; so maybe, like Rex Harrison, he'll find greater stardom later in life. We hope that proves true.
Summary of The Scarlet Pimpernel
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