The Elusive Pimpernel is a period
adventure filmAdventure films are a genre of film.-History:The adventure film reached its peak of popularity in 1930s and 1940s Hollywood, when films such as Captain Blood, The Adventures of Robin Hood and The Mark of Zorro were regularly made with major stars, notably Errol Flynn and Tyrone Power, who were...
by the British-based director-writer team of
Michael Powell and Emeric PressburgerThe British film-making partnership of Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger, also known as The Archers, made a series of influential films in the 1940s and 1950s, and in were recognized for their contributions to British cinema with the BAFTA Academy Fellowship Award, the most prestigious award...
, based on
The Scarlet PimpernelThe Scarlet Pimpernel is a classic play and adventure novel by Baroness Emmuska Orczy, set during the Reign of Terror following the start of the French Revolution. The story is a precursor to the "disguised superhero" tales such as Zorro or Batman....
by
Baroness Emmuska OrczyBaroness Emma Magdolna Rozália Mária Jozefa Borbála "Emmuska" Orczy de Orczi was a British novelist, playwright and artist of Hungarian noble origin. She was most notable for her series of novels featuring the Scarlet Pimpernel...
, and its sequel
The Elusive PimpernelFirst published in 1908, The Elusive Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy is the 4th book in the classic adventure series about the Scarlet Pimpernel....
. Despite having been shot in color, tt was released in the United States in black and white and retitled
The Fighting Pimpernel. The film stars
David NivenJames David Graham Niven , known as David Niven, was an English actor and novelist, best known for his roles as Phileas Fogg in Around the World in 80 Days and Sir Charles Litton, a.k.a. "the Phantom," in The Pink Panther.-Early life:David Niven was born in London, England...
as Sir Percy Blakeney (aka The Scarlet Pimpernel),
Margaret LeightonMargaret Leighton was a two-time Tony Award-winning English leading actress with an exquisite sense of grandeur and refinement...
as Marguerite Blakeney and features
Jack HawkinsJohn Edward "Jack" Hawkins was an English film actor of the 1950s, 1960s and early 1970s.-Career:Hawkins was born at Lyndhurst Road, Wood Green, Middlesex, the son of master builder Thomas George Hawkins and his wife, Phoebe née Goodman...
,
Cyril CusackCyril James Cusack was an Irish actor, who appeared in more than 90 films.-Early life:Cusack was born in Durban, Natal, South Africa, the son of Alice Violet , an actress, and James Walter Cusack, a sergeant in the Natal mounted police. His parents separated when he was young and his mother took...
and
Robert CooteRobert Coote was an English actor. He played aristocrats or British military types in many films, and created the role of Colonel Hugh Pickering in the long-running original Broadway production of My Fair Lady.Coote was educated at Hurstpierpoint College in Sussex...
.
Originally planned to be a musical, the film was re-worked as a light-hearted drama, not entirely successfully.
During the
French RevolutionThe French Revolution was a period of political and social upheaval and radical change in the history of France, during which the French governmental structure, previously an absolute monarchy with feudal privileges for the aristocracy and Catholic clergy, underwent radical change to forms based...
, the Scarlet Pimpernel, (
David NivenJames David Graham Niven , known as David Niven, was an English actor and novelist, best known for his roles as Phileas Fogg in Around the World in 80 Days and Sir Charles Litton, a.k.a. "the Phantom," in The Pink Panther.-Early life:David Niven was born in London, England...
), who is really Sir Percy Blakeney in disguise, risks his life to rescue French noblemen from the
guillotineThe guillotine was a device used for carrying out executions by decapitation. It consists of a tall upright frame from which a blade is suspended. This blade is raised with a rope and then allowed to drop, severing the victim's head from their body...
and spirit them across the
English ChannelThe English Channel is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that separates England from northern France, and joins the North Sea to the Atlantic. It is about long and varies in width from at its widest, to only in the Strait of Dover...
to safety.
The Elusive Pimpernel is a period
adventure filmAdventure films are a genre of film.-History:The adventure film reached its peak of popularity in 1930s and 1940s Hollywood, when films such as Captain Blood, The Adventures of Robin Hood and The Mark of Zorro were regularly made with major stars, notably Errol Flynn and Tyrone Power, who were...
by the British-based director-writer team of
Michael Powell and Emeric PressburgerThe British film-making partnership of Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger, also known as The Archers, made a series of influential films in the 1940s and 1950s, and in were recognized for their contributions to British cinema with the BAFTA Academy Fellowship Award, the most prestigious award...
, based on
The Scarlet PimpernelThe Scarlet Pimpernel is a classic play and adventure novel by Baroness Emmuska Orczy, set during the Reign of Terror following the start of the French Revolution. The story is a precursor to the "disguised superhero" tales such as Zorro or Batman....
by
Baroness Emmuska OrczyBaroness Emma Magdolna Rozália Mária Jozefa Borbála "Emmuska" Orczy de Orczi was a British novelist, playwright and artist of Hungarian noble origin. She was most notable for her series of novels featuring the Scarlet Pimpernel...
, and its sequel
The Elusive PimpernelFirst published in 1908, The Elusive Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy is the 4th book in the classic adventure series about the Scarlet Pimpernel....
. Despite having been shot in color, tt was released in the United States in black and white and retitled
The Fighting Pimpernel. The film stars
David NivenJames David Graham Niven , known as David Niven, was an English actor and novelist, best known for his roles as Phileas Fogg in Around the World in 80 Days and Sir Charles Litton, a.k.a. "the Phantom," in The Pink Panther.-Early life:David Niven was born in London, England...
as Sir Percy Blakeney (aka The Scarlet Pimpernel),
Margaret LeightonMargaret Leighton was a two-time Tony Award-winning English leading actress with an exquisite sense of grandeur and refinement...
as Marguerite Blakeney and features
Jack HawkinsJohn Edward "Jack" Hawkins was an English film actor of the 1950s, 1960s and early 1970s.-Career:Hawkins was born at Lyndhurst Road, Wood Green, Middlesex, the son of master builder Thomas George Hawkins and his wife, Phoebe née Goodman...
,
Cyril CusackCyril James Cusack was an Irish actor, who appeared in more than 90 films.-Early life:Cusack was born in Durban, Natal, South Africa, the son of Alice Violet , an actress, and James Walter Cusack, a sergeant in the Natal mounted police. His parents separated when he was young and his mother took...
and
Robert CooteRobert Coote was an English actor. He played aristocrats or British military types in many films, and created the role of Colonel Hugh Pickering in the long-running original Broadway production of My Fair Lady.Coote was educated at Hurstpierpoint College in Sussex...
.
Originally planned to be a musical, the film was re-worked as a light-hearted drama, not entirely successfully.
Plot
During the
French RevolutionThe French Revolution was a period of political and social upheaval and radical change in the history of France, during which the French governmental structure, previously an absolute monarchy with feudal privileges for the aristocracy and Catholic clergy, underwent radical change to forms based...
, the Scarlet Pimpernel, (
David NivenJames David Graham Niven , known as David Niven, was an English actor and novelist, best known for his roles as Phileas Fogg in Around the World in 80 Days and Sir Charles Litton, a.k.a. "the Phantom," in The Pink Panther.-Early life:David Niven was born in London, England...
), who is really Sir Percy Blakeney in disguise, risks his life to rescue French noblemen from the
guillotineThe guillotine was a device used for carrying out executions by decapitation. It consists of a tall upright frame from which a blade is suspended. This blade is raised with a rope and then allowed to drop, severing the victim's head from their body...
and spirit them across the
English ChannelThe English Channel is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that separates England from northern France, and joins the North Sea to the Atlantic. It is about long and varies in width from at its widest, to only in the Strait of Dover...
to safety. As cover, Sir Percy poses as a fop at Court, and curries favor with the Prince of Wales (
Jack HawkinsJohn Edward "Jack" Hawkins was an English film actor of the 1950s, 1960s and early 1970s.-Career:Hawkins was born at Lyndhurst Road, Wood Green, Middlesex, the son of master builder Thomas George Hawkins and his wife, Phoebe née Goodman...
) 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 CusackCyril James Cusack was an Irish actor, who appeared in more than 90 films.-Early life:Cusack was born in Durban, Natal, South Africa, the son of Alice Violet , an actress, and James Walter Cusack, a sergeant in the Natal mounted police. His parents separated when he was young and his mother took...
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 LeightonMargaret Leighton was a two-time Tony Award-winning English leading actress with an exquisite sense of grandeur and refinement...
) by threatening to expose her criminal brother Armand (
Edmond AudranEdmond Audran was a French composer best known for several internationally successful operettas, including Les noces d'Olivette , La mascotte , Gillette de Narbonne , La cigale et la fourmi , Miss Helyett , and La poupée .- Life and career :He was born at Lyon, the son of Marius-Pierre Audran...
), but Margeurite doesn't believe her husband is capable of being the daring Pimpernel.
Cast
- David Niven
James David Graham Niven , known as David Niven, was an English actor and novelist, best known for his roles as Phileas Fogg in Around the World in 80 Days and Sir Charles Litton, a.k.a. "the Phantom," in The Pink Panther.-Early life:David Niven was born in London, England...
as Sir Percy Blakeney/ The Scarlet Pimpernel
- Margaret Leighton
Margaret Leighton was a two-time Tony Award-winning English leading actress with an exquisite sense of grandeur and refinement...
as Marguerite Blakeney
- Jack Hawkins
John Edward "Jack" Hawkins was an English film actor of the 1950s, 1960s and early 1970s.-Career:Hawkins was born at Lyndhurst Road, Wood Green, Middlesex, the son of master builder Thomas George Hawkins and his wife, Phoebe née Goodman...
as Prince of Wales/Footpad attacking Lord Anthony
- Cyril Cusack
Cyril James Cusack was an Irish actor, who appeared in more than 90 films.-Early life:Cusack was born in Durban, Natal, South Africa, the son of Alice Violet , an actress, and James Walter Cusack, a sergeant in the Natal mounted police. His parents separated when he was young and his mother took...
as Chauvelin
- Robert Coote
Robert Coote was an English actor. He played aristocrats or British military types in many films, and created the role of Colonel Hugh Pickering in the long-running original Broadway production of My Fair Lady.Coote was educated at Hurstpierpoint College in Sussex...
as Sir Andrew ffoulkes
- Arlette Marchal
Arlette Marchal was a French film actress. She appeared in 41 films between 1922 and 1951.She was born and died in Paris.-Selected filmography:* Die Sklavenkönigin * A Gentleman of Paris...
as Contesses de Tournai
- Gérard Nery as Philippe de Tournai
- Danielle Godet as Suzanne de Tournai
- Edmond Audran
Edmond Audran was a French composer best known for several internationally successful operettas, including Les noces d'Olivette , La mascotte , Gillette de Narbonne , La cigale et la fourmi , Miss Helyett , and La poupée .- Life and career :He was born at Lyon, the son of Marius-Pierre Audran...
as Armand St. Juste
- Charles Victor as Colonel Winterbotham
- Eugene Deckers
Eugene Deckers was a Belgian stage actor who relocated to England when his Nazi-held homeland was liberated by the Allies. Re-establishing himself on the British stage, Deckers made his first English language film appearance in 1946. Formerly a romantic lead, he specialized in "continental"...
as Captain Merieres
- David Oxley as Captain Duroc
- Raymond Rollett as Bibot
- Philip Stainton as Jellyband
- John Longden
John Longden , was a West Indian-born English film actor. He appeared in 84 films between 1926 and 1964, including five films directed by Alfred Hitchcock.He was born in the West Indies and died in London....
as The Abbot
- Robert Griffiths
Robert Griffiths may refer to:*Robert Griffiths , British communist politician*Robert Griffiths , American physicist*Robert Griffiths , Australian statistician...
as Trubshaw
Cast notes:
- Patrick Macnee
Patrick Macnee is an English actor, best known for his role as the secret agent John Steed in the series The Avengers.-Early life:...
, who played the "Hon. John Bristow", later became well known for playing "John Steed" in The AvengersThe Avengers is a British television adventure series about secret agents in 1960s Britain. The programmes were made by TV company ABC Weekend Television , and created by its Head of Drama Sydney Newman...
. The Elusive Pimpernel was his sixth film appearance.
- Richard England
Richard England is an Australian racing cyclist who rides for American continental team Bissell Pro Cycling Team. England turned pro in 2005 and is a sprinter...
, 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.
Production
The Elusive Pimpernel was financed by
Samuel GoldwynSamuel Goldwyn was an American film producer, and founding contributor executive of several motion picture studios.-Biography:...
and
Alexander KordaSir Alexander Korda was a Hungarian-born British film director and producer. He was a leading figure in the British film industry, the founder of London Films and the owner of British Lion Films, a film distributing company.The elder brother of future filmmakers Zoltán Korda and Vincent Korda,...
. Neither director
Michael PowellMichael Latham Powell was a British film director, born in Bekesbourne, Kent, England who was renowned for his partnership with Emeric Pressburger...
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.
The film was shot in at various British film studios in Boreham Wood,
ElstreeElstree is a village in the Hertsmere borough of Hertfordshire on the A5, north of London. It forms part of the civil parish of Elstree and Borehamwood . Elstree is in the Greater London Urban Area....
and
SheppertonShepperton is a town in the borough of Spelthorne, Surrey, England. To the South it is bounded by the river Thames at Desborough Island and is bisected by the M3 motorway....
,
SurreySurrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire, and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford...
. Location shooting took place in Bath,
DoverDover is a town and major ferry port in the home county of Kent, in South East England. It faces France across the narrowest part of the English Channel, and lies south-east of Canterbury; west of Kent's administrative capital Maidstone; and north-east along the coastline from Dungeness and Hastings...
, in
Savernake ForestSavernake Forest is located on a Cretaceous chalk plateau between Marlborough and Great Bedwyn in the English county of Wiltshire. Location: Grid Ref: SU225667, 51°23′59″N 1°40′39″W.It is privately owned by the Trustees of Savernake Estate, the...
, on the Marlborough Downs, and in the stables of
Carlton HouseCarlton House was a mansion in London, best known as the town residence of the Prince Regent for several decades from 1783. It faced the south side of Pall Mall, and its gardens abutted St. James's Park in the St James's district of London...
Terrace, St. James's, London. In France, filming took place in the chateaux of the
Loire ValleyLoire Valley is known as the Garden of France and the Cradle of the French Language. It is also noteworthy for the quality of its architectural heritage, in its historic towns such as Amboise, Angers, Blois, Chinon, Nantes, Orléans, Saumur, and Tours, but in particular for its world-famous...
and on
Mont Saint-MichelLe Mont-Saint-Michel is a rocky tidal island and a commune in Normandy, France. It is located approximately one kilometre off the country's north coast, at the mouth of the Couesnon River near Avranches. The population of the island is 50.-Formation:...
.
The Elusive Pimpernel was released in the U.K. in , but because of the falling out between Korda and Goldwyn, didn't get an American distributor until July when Carroll Pictures acquired the rights. The film then premiered in New York City on 17 April .
External links