The Scarlet Pimpernel (1934 film)
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| The Scarlet Pimpernel | |
|---|---|
 1934 film poster |
|
| Directed by | Harold Young Toung |
| Produced by | Alexander Korda |
| Written by | Baroness Orczy Lajos Biró Sam Bermann Robert Sherwood Arthur Wimperis |
| Starring | Leslie Howard Merle Oberon Raymond Massey |
| Music by | Arthur Benjamin |
| Cinematography | Harold Rosson |
| Release date(s) | December 23, 1934 |
| Running time | 94 min |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| IMDb profile | |
The 1934 film of The Scarlet Pimpernel was produced by Alexander Korda, directed by Harold Young and starred Leslie Howard and Merle Oberon.
Alexander Korda (another Hungarian, who had been born in a town not far from the Orczy farm) had recently had great success with the actor Charles Laughton in the film The Private Life of Henry VIII, so he understandably asked the famous British actor to play the role of Sir Percy. But when the announcement went out to the press, the reaction from the Pimpernel's many fans was horror - the pug-nosed Laughton to play the suave Sir Percy? Never! Korda was nothing if not pragmatic and he offered the role to Leslie Howard, with Merle Oberon as Marguerite.
Filmed in black and white, Howard set the standard with his portrayal of Sir Percy Blakeney and this version is widely regarded as the best screen adaptation, although Orczy herself believed Oberon was miscast.
[edit] Cast
- Leslie Howard as Sir Percy Blakeney/The Scarlet Pimpernel
- Merle Oberon as Lady Blakeney, née Marguerite St. Just
- Raymond Massey as Citizen Chauvelin
- Nigel Bruce as The Prince of Wales
- Walter Rilla as Armand St. Just
- Anthony Bushell as Sir Andrew ffoulkes
- O.B. Clarence as Count de Tournay
- Ernest Milton as Robespierre
