Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #4638 in DVD
• Released on: 2006-09-25
• Rating: Parental Guidance
• Formats: Box set, PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 136 minutes

DVD Description
During the time of the French revolution, the daring English gentleman the Scarlet Pimpernel spirits French aristocrats across the Channel to England. The ruthless spymaster Chauvelin is determined to stop the Scarlet Pimpernel and his men.

Also includes Baroness Emmuska Orczy's classic novel

Synopsis
In Paris 1792, a league of daring young gentlemen led by the Scarlet Pimpernel (Anthony Andrews, DAVID COPPERFIELD) rescue French aristocrats from the revolution and take them to England. Ruthless spymaster Chauvelin (Ian McKellen, X-MEN) is determined to stop the rescuers and the Scarlet Pimpernel and his men must use all their wits to avoid capture. This dazzling television production of Baroness Orczy's classic adventure novel features an all-British cast.

Customer Reviews

Covers do not maketh the DVD
This is a fairly basic repackaging of the 1982 film - no extras on the DVD, and the book has the same cover as the box design. The quality of the film itself does look to be an improvement on the earlier release, with a slightly cleaner picture (though still with unavoidable scratches and 'pops'), but otherwise it is exactly the same as the 2004 Image Entertainment copy. I would recommend this to anybody who doesn't already have the DVD, as the book will hopefully prompt fans of the film to read the original novel by the Baroness Orczy, but it's not worth buying to try and 'improve' on the previous release. For any other devoted fanatics of the story like myself, it is always useful to have a back-up copy - and well done to London Films for honouring the twenty-fifth anniversary of the film! - but this is nothing new.

Another excellent version of this classiv adventure.
I said in my review of the Leslie Howard version that he and Anthony Andrews are each the perfect Sir Percy and only if I was forced to choose would I rate Leslie Howard No.1, simply because he's just a touch better at the English Gentleman/fop/secret adventurer.

This exciting version of the classic story also includes the ElDorado sequel so it's double measures.

When it comes to the villainous Chauvelin, the actor playing the part in the Leslie Howard movie is extremely good as a thuggish bully with a veneer that will get him by in society to someextent, but the Andrews version has the bonus of Ian McKellan as a very sophisticated, more subtle and decidely attractive Chauvelin whom you can well imagine Marguerite would have been interested in as a lover before Sir Percy turned up and stole her heart and through his activities as the Pimpernel revealed to her Chauvelin's devious treachery.

If you want a DVD of this classic adventure, I'd advise you to buy this one and the Leslie Howard version as well.

The TV version with Richard E. Grant is great fun and he makes a charming Sir Percy, but he hasn't quite got the magnetism of Howard and Andrews.

Simply the Best
Scarlet Pimpernel needs no introduction. I am sure we have all seen it several times on TV or elsewhere. In recent times there has been a proliferation and remaking of this beautiful tale of courage and chivalry. To this end I was once asked by a friend to recommend the best version in my opinion. I did not have to think twice, this for me is still the best adaptation of this old favourite, the cast of Anthony Andrews, Jane Seymour, Ian McKellan, the whole ensemble cast and their beautiful portrayal of this movie has never been equalled.
'They seek him here, they seek him there, those Frenchies seek him everywhere, is he in heaven or in hell, that elusive pimpernel' - this poem of Lord Blakeney (the scarlet pimpernel) could well refer to this version in comparison to the rest. This particular DVD is in no different from its earlier release, no added special features, but it comes with the book which is a good addition. Several year ago I though the movie was historical until I read the book of the same name by Baroness Orczy. This makes a great present. You can't go wrong with this DVD.