The Scarlet Pimpernel 1934

In 1792, just before the Reign of Terror shakes France, a covert network of twenty English noblemen fights to save aristocrats marked for execution. Their elusive mastermind is Sir Percy Blakeney, Leslie Howard, a wealthy English baronet who plays the part of a frivolous dandy to mask a razor‑sharp intellect. Behind his careful cloak of foppish charm lies a steadfast courage and a talent for orchestrating daring rescues, earning him the nickname of the Scarlet Pimpernel. His ally and equal in spirit, the Band operates with discipline and secrecy, turning seemingly ordinary social occasions into opportunities for liberation and escape, all while maintaining a cordial relationship with the British royal circle, including the Prince of Wales, Nigel Bruce.

Marguerite Blakeney, Merle Oberon, Percy’s wife and a former French actress, is pulled into the danger as the Revolution intensifies. She is torn between her loyalty to her husband and the perilous consequences of the Pimpernel’s clandestine work. When her brother Armand St. Just, Walter Rilla, is identified as one of the Pimpernel’s agents, the stakes rise dramatically. The newly appointed French ambassador to England, Citizen Chauvelin, Raymond Massey, uses the threat of Armand’s execution to force Marguerite to reveal the Pimpernel’s identity, hoping to unmask the man who has repeatedly outwitted him.

Chauvelin believes the Pimpernel will surface at a forthcoming ball, and he pressures Marguerite to betray the secret. At the ball, Marguerite manages to intercept a note about the Pimpernel’s whereabouts, and she passes the information to Chauvelin, who heads to the library at midnight to confront Blakeney. The Pimpernel, seemingly asleep, leaves Chauvelin a taunting message, a sly reminder that the game is far from over. The next day, the Blakeneys retreat to their country estate, where Marguerite’s confession about Armand’s arrest and her deal with Chauvelin changes the dynamic between husband and wife. Percy, who remains deeply in love with Marguerite, wrestles with trust and strategy as he faces the threat against both of them.

A crucial clue emerges from a portrait—the ring on the first baronet’s finger bearing a pimpernel motif—hinting that the Pimpernel’s true identity may be closer than Marguerite thought. Realizing the danger, she rushes to warn Percy, but her revelation sets off a chain of events that lead Chauvelin to escalate his pursuit. Meanwhile, Percy’s network braces for action in London, preparing to move Armand and Count de Tournay, [O.B. Clarence], to safety. The Count de Tournay’s wife, Countess de Tournay, [Mabel Terry-Lewis], and ailing tensions within their circle compound the stakes as Percy’s plan unfolds.

The plan unfolds in Boulogne-sur-Mer, where the Pimpernel’s agents orchestrate a daring defection to free Armand and the Count de Tournay, bribing guards and exploiting the chaos of the port. The movement of the prisoners is monitored by Chauvelin’s agents, but the window closes only after the characters circle back to a climactic confrontation. Marguerite, attempting to avert disaster, goes to the tavern where Percy is expected, only to fall into Chauvelin’s hands. Percy arrives with nerve and wit, holds Chauvelin’s attention long enough for Armand and the Count de Tournay to board a ship, and then makes a dramatic choice: he surrenders himself to spare Marguerite. The firing squad life-and-death moment appears grim, but it is revealed that the soldiers are actually Percy’s loyal men in disguise, and the Pimpernel escapes intact.

In the end, Chauvelin is thwarted, and the couple reconciles on a triumphant return to England. The Scarlet Pimpernel’s audacious rescue mission succeeds once more, and Percy’s love for Marguerite endures as they sail away together, their partnership stronger after the danger they faced. The story blends romance, suspense, and clever storytelling into a timeless tale of sacrifice, wit, and daring escape, anchored by a cast whose performances bring the era to vibrant life.