The Elusive Pimpernel

Infobox Film
name = The Elusive Pimpernel
(The Fighting Pimpernel)


image_size = 205px
caption = theatrical poster
director = Michael Powell
Emeric Pressburger
producer = Michael Powell
Emeric Pressburger
writer = Baroness Orczy "(novels)"
Michael Powell
Emeric Pressburger
starring = David Niven
Margaret Leighton
music = Brian Easdale
cinematography = Christopher Challis
editing = Reginald Mills
distributor = British Lion Films
Carroll Films "(US)"
released = 6 February fy|1950 "(UK)"
17 April fy|1954 "(NYC)"
fy|1955 "(US general)"
runtime = 109 minutes
country = United Kingdom
language = English
budget =
gross =
imdb_id = 0042432

"The Elusive Pimpernel" (fy|1950) is a period adventure film by the British-based director-writer team of Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger, based on "The Scarlet Pimpernel" by Baroness Emmuska Orczy, and its sequel "The Elusive Pimpernel". Despite having been shot in color, tt was released in the United States in black and whiteDeming, Mark [http://www.allmovie.com/cg/avg.dll?p=avg&sql=1:15645~T0 Overview] ] and retitled "The Fighting Pimpernel". The film stars David Niven as Sir Percy Blakeney (aka The Scarlet Pimpernel), Margaret Leighton as Marguerite Blakeney and features Jack Hawkins, Cyril Cusack and Robert Coote.

Originally planned to be a musical, the film was re-worked as a light-hearted drama, not entirely successfully.

Plot

During the French Revolution, the Scarlet Pimpernel, (David Niven), who is really Sir Percy Blakeney in disguise, risks his life to rescue French noblemen from the guillotine and spirit them across the English Channel to safety. As cover, Sir Percy poses as a fop at Court, and curries favor with the Prince of Wales (Jack Hawkins) 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 Cusack 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 Leighton) by threatening to expose her criminal brother Armand (Edmond Audran), but Margeurite doesn't believe her husband is capable of being the daring Pimpernel.

Cast

*David Niven as "Sir Percy Blakeney/ The Scarlet Pimpernel"
*Margaret Leighton as "Marguerite Blakeney"
*Jack Hawkins as "Prince of Wales/Footpad attacking Lord Anthony"
*Cyril Cusack as "Chauvelin"
*Robert Coote as "Sir Andrew ffoulkes"
*Arlette Marchal as "Contesses de Tournai"
*Gérard Nery as "Philippe de Tournai"
*Danielle Godet as "Suzanne de Tournai"
*Edmond Audran as "Armand St. Juste"
*Charles Victor as "Colonel Winterbotham"
*Eugene Deckers as "Captain Merieres"
*David Oxley as "Captain Duroc"
*Raymond Rollett as "Bibot"
*Philip Stainton as "Jellyband"
*John Longden as "The Abbot"
*Robert Griffiths as "Trubshaw" [Trubshaw" was a name often given to minor characters in Niven's films (at his insistence) - it was a back-handed tribute on Niven's part to his old army friend, Michael Trubshawe.]

Cast notes:
*Patrick Macnee, who played the "Hon. John Bristow", later became well known for playing "John Steed" in "The Avengers". "The Elusive Pimpernel" was his sixth film appearance.
*Richard England, 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". [imdb title|0042432]

Production

"The Elusive Pimpernel" was financed by Samuel Goldwyn and Alexander Korda. Neither director Michael Powell 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.TCM [http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title.jsp?stid=74844&category=Notes Notes] ]

The film was shot in fy|1949TCM [http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title.jsp?stid=74844 Overview] ] at various British film studios in Boreham Wood, Elstree and Shepperton, Surrey. Location shooting took place in Bath, Dover, in Savernake Forest, on the Marlborough Downs, and in the stables of Carlton House Terrace, St. James's, London. In France, filming took place in the chateaux of the Loire Valley and on Mont Saint-Michel. [IMDB [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0042432/locations Filming locations] ]

"The Elusive Pimpernel" was released in the U.K. in fy|1950, but because of the falling out between Korda and Goldwyn, didn't get an American distributor until July fy|1953 when Carroll Pictures acquired the rights. The film then premiered in New York City on 17 April fy|1954.

References

Notes

Bibliography

* Christie, Ian. "Arrows of Desire: the films of Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger". London: Faber & Faber, 1994. ISBN 0-571-16271-1. 163pp (illus. filmog. bibliog. index)
* Orczy, Baroness. "The Scarlet Pimpernel". London: Hutchinson & Co, 1905.
* Orczy, Baroness. "The Elusive Pimpernel". London: Hutchinson & Co, 1908.
* Powell, Michael. "A Life in Movies: An Autobiography". , 1986. ISBN 0-434-59945-X.
* Powell, Michael. "Million Dollar Movie". London: Heinemann, 1992. ISBN 0-434-59947-6.

External links

* [http://www.powell-pressburger.org/Reviews/50_TEP "The Elusive Pimpernel"] reviews and articles at the [http://www.powell-pressburger.org Powell & Pressburger Pages]
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*. Full synopsis and film stills (and clips viewable from UK libraries).