Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.

It's funny, it's tense, it features two great performances from two actors and the director expertly creates a web of odd tension where you actually don't know what is happening for the majority of the run time.

One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.

This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

"They seek him here, they seek him there, those Frenchies seek him everywhere..." He's the cunning English spy code-named Pimpernel: master of disguises, savior to guillotine-bound aristocrats during the French Revolution, and most likely to be found in London making as big an ass of himself as credulity will allow. No one (not even his wife) would ever suspect the idiotic Sir Percy Blakeney of being the leader of an underground network of anti-Republic rebels, and it's still a joy to watch Leslie Howard, in the title role, successfully negotiating the ruse under the disdainful noses of his enemies. Without the unexpected element of farce the whole thing would be just another dated exercise in derring-do and low adventure, but the Pimpernel's foppish alter ego makes him one of the more unique (and hilarious) heroes ever to grace the silver screen. The poetry is, by the way, Sir Percy's own: "Is he in heaven, or is he in hell, that damned elusive Pimpernel?" ("It has a certain something..." he tells a giggling audience of landed gentry, "which gives it a certain...something.")

I just finished watching it on TV, it was shown minus the commercials too, so that was excellent.The film is so incredibly real. Although it is black and white, this is the closest thing you are going to get to that period of time. More so than most modern period pieces, I feel. Most modern period pieces are so full of special effects, unbelievable characters and situations that push the boundaries of suspension of belief too far, and most importantly, often overlong running times, that you do not find yourself engrossed in the film as much as you should.This is not the case here. Oh, by golly no! When you see this film, you not only behold spectacles of rich and of splendour, of dense halls, candlelit niches of magic in all it's purest...foggy waters, great barges, and damp cabins that force you to breath in the salty winds of the sea. Oh no, you go back in time. You go on a highly pleasant outing back in time to dwell for a little while--in the realm of dreams.

I first saw this movie when black and white-television had first arrived, and was captivated by the plotting as well as by Leslie Howard's genius and beautiful Merle Oberon's eyes. This is romantic adventure at its peak, and considering the early stage of the industry in which it was made, sound still a novelty, it remains magnificent. I have seen it since, of course, although it has been some time now. And, oh yes, the greatest villain of all times is here too. Who could ever have done better than Raymond Massey in the role of Citizen Chauvelin, whom I also remember as Sherlock Holmes in The Speckled Band (1931)? And the eminently lovable Nigel Bruce, later paired with Basil Rathbone in a whole series of memorable Sherlock Holmes movies. I may be nostalgic, but have they ever been bettered? Anyway, he is a suitably silly Prince of Wales here, adding some of that comic relief that could easily spoil an adventure if not rightly done, but this one, like Leslie Howard's acting balances on the finest of edges with supreme precision. They will never do stuff like this anymore. Too bad.

I caught this movie the other day on Film Four and was pleasantly surprised I was expecting a rather dated swashbuckler but it comes across as more of a character piece. In fact there's not a great deal of action through out the movie apart from a chase at the beginning and a small burst of action at the end. The film chooses to focus instead on the intrigue aspect of the Scarlet Pimpernel, his relationship with his friends, the masquerade he must maintain and how he deals with the possibility his wife may be a traitor.Both Leslie Howard and Merle Oberon are superb as is Nigel Bruce (who you may remember as Watson from the Basil Rathbone Sherlock Solmes B-movies of the 40's). The badies fare equally as well Raymon Massey's Citizen Chauvlin comes across as a despicable and unscrupulous adversary for Sir Percy Blakney to match wits with. The period settings are well realised, costumes and backgrounds are sumptuous. Although it has to be said depending on your point of view the politics of the film could be viewed as morally dubious (after all should we be siding with the aristocracy who were living in luxury while the common people starved?). There is also a little overacting in places for my liking but this was the style of the time and the plot does drag in places in the middle section of the film.Overall I enjoyed the film and would recommend it to most people not adverse to the older style of film making. 7/10