“Hollow Triumph” (1948)

 Hollow Triumph

Also known as The Scar

Brief Description:

On the run from the law and the big-time gambler he just ripped off, thief John Müller assumes a psychiatrist’s identity with unfortunate results.

(from Tubi)

Date: 1948

Genre: American crime drama thriller film noir

Running time: 1 hour 22 minutes

Cast: 

Paul Henreid (John Müller / Dr. Victor Emil Bartok)

Joan Bennett (Evelyn Hahn)

Eduard Franz (Frederick Müller)

Leslie Brooks (Virginia Taylor)

John Qualen (Swangron)

Mabel Paige (Charwoman)

Herbert Rudley (Marcy)

Charles Arnt (Coblenz)

George Chandler (Artell, Assistant)

Sid Tomack (Aubrey, Manager)

Alvin Hammer (Jerry)

Ann Staunton (Blonde)

Paul E. Burns (Harold)

Charles Trowbridge (Deputy)

Morgan Farley (Howard Anderson)

Thom Browne Henry (Rocky Stansyck)

Jack Webb (Bullseye)

Henry Brandon (Big Boy)

Director: Steve Sekely

Production company: Bryan Foy Productions

Based on: Hollow Triumph by Murray Forbes

Wikipedia page

Watch on Archive

(watched on Tubi)

Setting/Aesthetic/Feel: 4/5

Good 1940s feel, with an unusual setting in psychiatry. As for aesthetic, it was dark, gloomy, bitter, hard, and sharp, with crescendos of passion for Müller and Evelyn. 

Characters: 2/5

Ok, so I didn’t love Müller from the beginning. He wasn’t good to Marcy! But I was rooting for a second chance/new life/redemption arc when he met Evelyn… and then promptly lost all liking when he decided to murder a perfectly innocent man to save his own skin (item: because he’d robbed another man). I was also not crazy about Evelyn, because she was so hard, but I felt sorry for her with her obvious rough past and really wanted a new beginning/redemption arc for her too. She was a very interesting character, anyways. As for Frederick, he was the only one I truly felt sorry for. 

Plot: 2/5

I already said a lot about the plot above, specifically what I disliked about it. There was action, but mostly it was just Müller using his brains and people to figure out how to stay safe. Like I said, I did like the addition of the 1940s psychiatry, because that was a new thing for me. 

Romance: 2/5

Why in the world did Evelyn fall for him?? She knew better—but she chose to do it. And it didn’t work, and it just broke her. 

Theme/Message/Topics: 3/5

A sobering real life answer to the popular romantic “love the bad boy and redeem/change/fix him” trope.

A reminder of how you can run and scheme as hard as you can but evilness is always punished—“hollow triumph,” indeed.

A warning about becoming bitter and expecting no good from life.

And more lightly, an interesting perspective on how unobservant and self-centred the average person is. 

Content: 4/5 (medium)

Besides the above: kissing & hugging; language?? 

Violence: 4/5 (low)

Off-screen violence.

Overall: 2/5

A very sobering film, but not one I enjoyed or will watch again. Worth one shot though, I think. 

“Baby Face Morgan” (1942)

 Baby Face Morgan

Brief Description:

When crime boss “Big Mike” Morgan is killed, his lieutenant, “Doc” Rogers, learns that Morgan has a son named Edward living in the country with his mother. Rogers has Edward brought to the city and installs him as the head of Acme Protective Agency, which, unbeknownst to Eddie, is just a cover for the gang’s racketeering activities…

(from Archive, slightly edited by me)

Date: 1942

Genre: American comedy crime

Running time: 59 minutes

Cast: 

Mary Carlisle (Virginia Clark)

Richard Cromwell (Edward “Baby Face” Morgan)

Robert Armstrong (“Doc” Rogers)

Chick Chandler (Oliver Harrison)

Warren Hymer (“Wise Willie”)

Charles Judels (“Deacon” Davis)

Vince Barnett (“Lefty” Lewis)

Ralf Harolde (Joe Torelli)

Hal K. Dawson (J.B. Brown)

Toddy Peterson (Mabel)

Kenneth Chryst (“Mouse”)

Pierce Lyden (Gap)

Director: Arthur Dreifuss

Production company: Producers Releasing Corporation

Wikipedia page

Watch on Archive

(watched on Tubi)

Setting/Aesthetic/Feel: 4/5

Super 1940s in feel with plenty of contempoary-to-the-time jokes!

Characters: 4/5

I love Baby Face Morgan, haha! He is so sweet, but totally rises to the occasion when he has to. (He’s also super cute, just sayin’…) Virginia is such a spitfire and totally the perfect partner. Oliver is such a pain for most of the film but it’s worth it to see him at the end—and see Eddie deal with him! “Doc” and Torelli make good stereotypical gangsters, and Davis, “Lefty,” and Willie make good mobsters. As for Mabel, she’s a pain, but she does bring humour… 

Plot: 5/5

This screwball comedy is one of my favourite films—and I am not a fan of comedies in general! I like the plot, which is really interesting; I enjoy the humour, which relies several times on 1940s slang puns; I love the characters. It’s a very simple story, but the ending is full of twists and wraps everything up perfectly. 

Romance: 5/5

Eddie & Virginia are adorable. ;) 

Content: 4/5 (low)

Smoking; drinking; a girl with her skirt hitched up over her knees; mild language?? 

Violence: 4/5 (low)

Low; scene where the gangsters get rough with Eddie while giving him a crash course on how to act like a tough guy.

Overall: 5/5

One of my fav 1940 films and something I enjoy popping on when I need to unwind! I’ve heard that many people dislike it and it’s “best left to aficionados of the 1940’s,” and I accept that happily! 

“Half a Sinner” (1940)

Half a Sinner

Brief Description:

Schoolteacher Anne Gladden has the spring in her blood and just wants to kick the traces. When her coworker Margaret reminds her she isn’t getting any younger and being too studious leaves no room to meet love, Anne decides to be mad, glad, and young. She dresses up and goes off for a day in town. When she is frightened by a hood’s unwanted attention, Anne finds herself thoughtlessly stealing his car to escape. Things only get worse when she picks up a young man whose car broke down and he discovers a dead body in the back of her car. How will they escape the police on their track? And who is the real criminal? 

(written by me)

Date: 1940

Genre: American comedy mystery adventure

Running time: 59 minutes

Cast: 

Heather Angel (Anne Gladden)

John “Dusty” King (Lawrence Cameron)

Constance Collier (Mrs. Jefferson Breckenbridge)

Walter Catlett (Station Attendant)

Tom Dugan (Red Egan)

Robert Elliott (Officer Kelly)

Clem Bevans (Snuffy)

Emma Dunn (Granny Gladden)

Henry Brandon (Handsome)

William B. Davidson (Slick Kopesco)

Fern Emmett (Margaret Reed)

Sonny Bupp (Willy)

Wilbur Mack (Mason)

Joe Devlin (Steve, Kopesco’s henchman)

Director: Al Christie

Production company: Arcadia Pictures

Based on: Dalton Trumbo (“Lady Takes a Chance”)

Wikipedia page

Watch on Archive

(watched on Tubi)

Setting/Aesthetic/Feel: 5/5

Super 1940s, but a different aesthetic than most 1940s crime films I’ve seen. This one is the open road, teahouses, and cute little cottages with lovely kitchens! 

Characters: 5/5

Anne is adorable, and there’s no other word for it. She’s sooo pretty and sooo cute! She’s super innocent and can’t help telling the truth to Lawrence—and he’s the perfect partner: quick talker, quick thinker, protective, witty… and awfully handsome, lol! Mrs. Jefferson Breckenbridge was hilarious and delightful (poor Mason) and the Station Attendant was a hoot’n’a half. The criminals and cop were all great comedic reliefs, too. ;)

Plot: 5/5

The synopsis I wrote doesn’t do the story justice! It’s actually super humorous and very sweet, with plenty of action and excitement. Even the whole part with the criminals and murder is very light-hearted and non-disturbing at all—it’s more slapstick than anything else. And the twist at the end—and Mrs. Jefferson Breckenbridge’s reveal—is just epic!!

Romance: 5/5

Anne & Lawrence are the cutest, bestest couple ;) 

Content: 5/5 (low)

A kiss; lying.

Violence: 5/5 (low)

Mostly slapstick violence. 

Overall: 5/5

Such a fun, cute, exciting, light-hearted vintage film, with excellent humour! One of my favs :)  

“‘Pimpernel’ Smith” (1941)

“Pimpernel” Smith 

Also known as Mister V

Brief Description:

In the spring of 1939, months before the outbreak of the war, eccentric Cambridge archaeologist Horatio Smith takes a group of British and American archaeology students to Nazi Germany to help in his excavations. However, he has a secret agenda: to free inmates of the concentration camps. What happens when his students get wind of his activities? And when the daughter of a Polish prisoner is pressured to help the Nazis in exchange for her father’s life? 

(from Wikipedia, added to by me)

Date: 1941

Genre: British action adventure romance WWII comedic thriller drama

Running time: 1 hour 56 minutes

Cast: 

Leslie Howard (Professor Horatio Smith)

Francis Sullivan (General von Graum)

Mary Morris (Ludmilla Koslowski)

Hugh McDermott (David Maxwell)

Raymond Huntley (Marx)

Manning Whiley (Bertie Gregson)

Peter Gawthorne (Sidimir Koslowski)

Allan Jeayes (Dr. Beckendorf)

Dennis Arundell (Hoffman)

Joan Kemp-Welch (Schoolteacher)

Philip Friend (Spencer)

Laurence Kitchin (Clarence Elstead)

David Tomlinson (Steve)

Basil Appleby (Jock MacIntyre)

Percy Walsh (Dvorak)

Roland Pertwee (Embassy Official Sir George Smith)

A. E. Matthews (Earl of Meadowbrook)

Aubrey Mallalieu (Dean)

Ben Williams (Graubitz)

Ernest Butcher (Weber)

Arthur Hambling (Jordan)

Mary Brown (Girl Student)

W. Phillips (Innkeeper)

Ilse Bard (Gretchen)

Ernest Verne (German Officer)

George Street (Schmidt)

Hector Abb((Karl Meyer)

Neal Arden (Second Prisoner)

Richard George (Prison Guard)

Roddy Hughes (Zigor)

Hwfa Pryce (Wagner)

Oriel Ross (Lady Willoughby)

Brian Herbert (Jaromir)

Suzanne Claire (Salesgirl)

Charles Paton (Steinhof)

Michael Rennie (Guard Captain)

Director: Leslie Howard

Production company: British National Films

Based on: “Pimpernel” Smith by A.G. Macdonell & The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Emmuska Orczy

Wikipedia page

Watch on Archive

Setting/Aesthetic/Feel: 5/5

Very German, except that all the Nazis have strong British accents and use specifically British words… ;P  

Characters: 5/5

Smith is delightfully absent-minded and excessively witty. He reminds me intensely of Sherlock Holmes, the Ronald Howard version… unsurprisingly! Ludmilla is very German in feel, and a great romantic side character, as well as an awesome female spy. Neither of them are anything like the Blakeneys, nor is the General like Chauvelin, but I don’t mind that. The students are individually interesting and amusing, but particularly the American and the Scot. ;) 

Plot: 5/5

Inspired by the Orczy novel, this film doesn’t follow the plot of the book at all, and spins its own delightful story. It’s a great adventurous romp with plenty of humour and excitement! I love the recurring Shakespeare gag and how Smith mocks the American’s slang… and the Jabberwocky bit… and so much more...

Romance: 5/5

Such a sweet romance, this is ;) 

Theme/Message/Topics: 5/5

Very anti-nazi British propaganda, but ultimately true in its sentiments. 

Content: 3/5 (medium)

The general’s office has a huge painting of naked people (all women?) and there are several scenes in his office. In the beginning of the film the Professor is in a museum by a statue of Aphrodite (evidently nude), where she figures in a whole scene, and throughout the film he references her. Some language & drinking. A student suggests that the professor is “s*x starved.” 

Violence: 4/5 (low)

Off-screen fighting.

Overall: 5/5

Delightfully vintage WWII comedic adventure film! 

“The Scarlet Pimpernel” (1982)

 The Scarlet Pimpernel

Brief Description:

In 1792 during the Reign of Terror, the Scarlet Pimpernel rescues French aristocrats while posing as the wealthy but foppish and seemingly empty-headed Sir Percival Blakeney. Percy marries the beautiful French actress Marguerite St. Just, but her previous relationship with Robespierre’s agent Paul Chauvelin may endanger the Pimpernel’s plans to save the young Dauphin, eldest son of the former King of France. 

(from Wikipedia)

Date: 1982

Genre: British action adventure romance historical fiction 

Running time: 2 hours 16 minutes

Cast:

Anthony Andrews (Sir Percy Blakeney)

Jane Seymour (Lady Marguerite St. Just Blakeney)

Ian McKellen (Paul Chauvelin)

James Villiers (Baron de Batz)

Eleanor David (Louise Langé)

Malcolm Jamieson (Armand St. Just)

Richard Morant (Robespierre)

Dominic Jephcott (Sir Andrew Ffoulkes)

Christopher Villiers (Lord Antony Dewhurst)

Mark Drewry (Lord Timothy Hastings)

Julian Fellowes (Prince of Wales)

Denis Lill (Count de Tournay)

Ann Firbank (the Countess de Tournay)

Tracey Childs (Suzanne de Tournay)

Timothy Carlton (Count de Beaulieu)

Kate Howard (Countess de Beaulieu)

Geoffrey Toone (Marquis de St. Cyr)

John Quarmby (Ponceau)

David Gant (Fouquet)

Joanna Dickens (Aunt Lulu)

Richard Charles (Dauphin)

Gordon Gostelow (Duval)

Carol MacReady (Madame Duval)

Daphne Anderson (Lady Grenville)

Nick Brimble (Bibot)

Tony Caunter (Pochard)

Director: Clive Donner

Production company: London Films

Based on: The Scarlet Pimpernel & Eldorado by Baroness Emmuska Orczy

Wikipedia page

Watch on YouTube

Setting/Aesthetic/Feel: 5/5

The film set is very rich and captures the lavish life of the Blakeneys very well. The island and the picnic grounds added a very different aesthetic to the more gloomy black & white aesthetic of the classic Pimpernel films. The prisons and other revolutionary aspects were well done. And the music + filmography is epic. 

Characters: 4/5

Anthony Andrews does make a splendid Sir Percy. He’s just as good as Leslie Howard at capturing the switch from fop to hero, and he’s also tall enough, big enough, and English-looking enough; he also has the right voice/tone and the humour down pat. Jane Seymour, too, is a fantastic Marguerite—really very beautiful, passionate, expressive… I think she does even better than Merle Oberon. Finally, Ian McKellen as Chauvelin is excellent. He’s not quite according to the books, but he expresses Chauvelin’s personality very, very well, especially in dealing with Percy. These three get a 5/5. 

The other really great characters are the Comtesse de Tournay (very accurate), Armand (also hugely accurate, except when it comes to Louise… ugh), Ponceau (not in the books, but quite an interesting character), and the Prince of Wales (I like Nigel Bruce better as the princely Prince, but Julian Fellowes is more amusing and more like the Prince in the later Pimpernel books, like Lord Tony’s Wife). 4/5 for those.

Everyone else was lacking to me. No one replaces Anthony Bushell as Sir Andrew, and Mark Drewry + Christopher Villiers are sadly lacking as Lord Hastings and Lord Anthony Dewhurst. Richard Morant as Robespierre and James Villiers as the Baron were decent, as well as Denis Lill as the Comte de Tournay, though. Louise was nothing like Jeanne Langé in the books, either. 3/5 for these ones. 

Plot: 5/5

The film merges The Scarlet Pimpernel with Eldorado (the Dauphin part + Armand’s disobedience) and even a bit of The Elusive Pimpernel with the duel and I Will Repay with the cart, etc, but still differs from all of them. I really enjoyed seeing Percy & Marguerite’s courtship while he carried out Scarlet Pimpernel rescues. The love triangle with Chauvelin’s attraction to Marguerite was a fascinating new angle, as was the part about Percy rescuing Armand; and the film’s take on the St. Cyr fiasco was great and threaded through the plot so well. Armand’s position as Chauvelin’s assistant was another super cool addition (reminded me of De Calmet from the 1937 Return of the Scarlet Pimpernel), as was seeing more of the angst between Percy & Marguerite, and the library scene. Finally, the ending was epic. 

Also, there were even a few bits of dialogue so like the 1934 that I think it must have been inspired?? 

Romance: 3/5

This film capitalizes on the passion between Percy & Marguerite instead of the sweetness of their love. It was good, but I still like the 1934 take on their romance better. Armand & Louise’s relationship, though, disgusts me and I’m so annoyed it got added because it is SO not a part of the books and so gratuitous. 

Content: 2/5 (high)

Language (d**n, Ga*, possibly more). Drinking. Kisses & hugging between M+P and A+L, plus Chauvelin kisses Marguerite’s face twice. Lots of low-necked dresses (typical 1790s style). A few open shirts/chest showing scenes. A scene where Marguerite tucks a note into her bust. A scene where she dresses behind a screen when Chauvelin is in the room. A short scene where Armand & Louise are in bed (Armand shirtless, Louise in a nightgown) from 36:52 to 37:12 and they hug. A scene where Chauvelin asks if Percy satisfies Marguerite and tries to seduce her to become his lover (1:14:04-1:14:28). A scene where Marguerite asks Percy to stay with her that night. Another scene (1:39:58-1:42:08) where Armand & Louise are in bed and soldiers arrive; there is much talk of “the man asleep in her boudoir”; several scenes of Louise in a négligée and Armand shirtless; he throws his clothes on at the end; Chauvelin remarks later that the man Louise claimed was in her room was “celibate as a monk” and probably hasn’t “slept with his wife these ten years.” A scene where the Dauphin is forced to call his mother a w*ore. At the end, Percy orders Chauvelin stripped so he can borrow his clothes to impersonate him. 

Violence: 4/5 (low)

The killing and fighting is mostly off-screen; one scene where Armand is beaten and bloodied up. 

Overall: 4/5

There’s a lot I don’t like about this film; the content is really unneeded and not from the books at all. But the plot is epic and the three principal characters are great, and end up totally making up for the several blocks of content (they’re really not scattered throughout but in consecutive scenes). Overall, it’s not my favourite Pimpernel film, but I do really, really enjoy it and as a film, and a Scarlet Pimpernel adaptation, it’s really good. 

“A Tale of Two Cities” (1935)

A Tale of Two Cities

Brief Description: 

France and England, 1775-1792

Lucie Manette has just recovered her father after eighteen years of unjust imprisonment., and the two seek a quiet life of recovery in England. Charles Darnay, ex-aristocrat who chose honest work and a quiet English gentleman’s life, finds himself falsely accused of spying and on trial. Sidney Carton, raging alcoholic lawyer, drags out a miserable, shameful existence bullied and used by his much less capable superior. 

Lucie loves Charles. Charles loves Lucie. Carton loves Lucie enough to step aside and use his love for her as motivation to clean his life. But that isn’t enough to break him free from his chains…

When Darnay returns to France on an errand of mercy and is caught in the meshes of the Terror, can anyone save him from the guillotine? Will Carton ever rise above his struggles and prove his real character? And can true freedom ever be found? 

(written by me)

Date: 1935

Genre: British romance historical fiction action adventure drama thriller

Running time: 2 hours 6 minutes

Cast: 

Ronald Colman (Sydney Carton)

Donald Woods (Charles Darnay)

Elizabeth Allan (Lucie Manette)

Henry B. Walthall (Dr. Alexandre Manette)

Edna May Oliver (Miss Pross)

Reginald Owen (C.J. Stryver)

Basil Rathbone (Marquis St. Evremonde)

Mitchell Lewis (Ernest Defarge)

Blanche Yurka (Madame Defarge)

Walter Catlett (John Barsad)

Claude Gillingwater (Jarvis Lorry)

Billy Bevan (Jerry Cruncher)

Isabel Jewell (Seamstress)

Lucille LaVerne (The Vengeance)

Fritz Leiber (Gaspard)

H. B. Warner (Theophile Gabelle)

Tully Marshall (Woodcutter)

Fay Chaldecott (Lucy Darnay, child)

Eily Malyon (Mrs. Cruncher)

E.E. Clive (Judge in Old Bailey)

Lawrence Grant (Prosecutor)

Robert Warwick (Judge at Tribunal)

Ralf Harolde (Prosecutor)

John Davidson (Morveau)

Tom Ricketts (Tellson Jr.)

Donald Haines (Jerry Cruncher Jr.)

Barlowe Borland (Jacques)

Director: Jack Conway

Production company: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

Based on: A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens

Wikipedia page

Watch on Archive

Setting/Aesthetic/Feel: 5/5

OKAY THE OPENING MUSIC IS FANTASTIC. Mixing La Marseillaise with O Come, All Ye Faithful?? Brilliant. And then the setting is EXCELLENT. So accurate to the book and to the actual history. They captured the times, the cities, the people, everything, perfectly. My only complaint is, of course, that everyone has a British accent and decidedly can’t pronounce French!

Characters: 5/5

Ronald Colman was Sydney Carton. Perhaps not in looks—but the personality, oh my heart, he got it, right down to the look in Carton’s eyes and the pathetic impudence in his manners. And Donald Woods was Charles Darnay—polished, upright, the perfect gentleman. Lucie was perfect—sweet, passionate, beautiful Lucie—and Dr. Manette was just as good. As for Miss Pross, Cruncher, Barsad, the Dufarges, Stryver, Evremonde, the Seamstress, and the Vengeance, they were all equally perfect and themselves. I don’t think a single person in this cast was not perfect, or could be done better. 

Plot: 5/5; Theme/Message/Topics: 5/5

The film followed the plot of the book more faithfully than most films ever do. There were small changes, but they always mirrored a scene from the book or showed something the book told—and they showed it well. This film is a masterpiece of filming and writing. It has all the art and grandeur, beauty and pathos, heaviness and humour of the novel, and it captured the message of the book excellently. Every time I read the book I want to watch the film, and every time I watch the film I have to read the book. They complement each other perfectly. The only thing I wish was shown was Carton’s conversion. It’s only hinted at the end… But otherwise, literally all of this is perfect. I’m in awe.

Content: 5/5 (low)

A kiss or two (Lucie & Darnay, Carton & the Seamstress). Drinking. 

Violence: 3/5 (medium)

Like the book, the film doesn’t mince on the horrible conditions of the poor of France—or the horrors of the Terror. Nothing is gratuitous, though, and nothing is over-disturbing to me, though granted I knew of all the disturbing things ahead of time… There is a scene where Jerry Cruncher throws things at his wife; he never actually beats her but he acts aggressive and she is evidently afraid of him. 

Overall: 5/5

One of the best films ever produced, in my humble opinion; and equally the top best film adaption of a novel I have ever seen; and finally, the best visual presentation of A Tale of Two Cities—all high praise, because this is one of my top favourite books ever. 

“The Return of the Scarlet Pimpernel” (1937)

The Return of the Scarlet Pimpernel 

Brief Description:

Sir Percy Blakeney, aka the Scarlet Pimpernel, has left off rescuing the French nobility from the guillotine, having promised his wife never to return to Paris. But the villainous Robespierre and his henchman are determined to get hold of Blakeney any way they can and lop off his head from crimes against France. 

They lure him to France...

(From Archive)

Sequel to The Scarlet Pimpernel (1934)

Date: 1937

Genre: British action adventure romance drama thriller

Running time: 1 hour 16 minutes

Cast: 

Barry K. Barnes (Sir Percy Blakeney)

Sophie Stewart (Lady Marguerite Blakeney)

Margaretta Scott (Theresia Cobarrus)

James Mason (Jean Tallien)

Francis Lister (Chauvelin)

Anthony Bushell (Sir Andrew Ffoulkes)

Patrick Barr (Lord Hastings)

David Tree (Lord Harry Denning)

John Counsell (Sir John Selton)

Henry Oscar (Robespierre)

Hugh Miller (De Calmet)

Allan Jeayes (Judge)

O.B. Clarence (De Marre)

George Merritt (Chief of Police)

Evelyn Roberts (Prince of Wales)

Ben Williams (Robespierre’s Spy)

Director: Hanns Schwarz

Production company: London Film Productions

Based on: The Scarlet Pimpernel and The Triumph of the Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Emmuska Orczy

Wikipedia page

Watch on Archive

Setting/Aesthetic/Feel: 4/5

Okay, so this setting is VERY unlike the French Revolution in the books, with all the fine dining and carriage riding and impressive tribunal. I haven’t studied the Revolution enough to say if it’s accurate to history. But given how inaccurate it is to the books, it does jar me a little. However, it fits the style of the film well and lends itself very well to the aesthetic. 

ALSO. The opening music is excellent once more. 

Characters: 5/5

Barry K. Barnes is the perfect follow-up to Leslie Howard as Percy Blakeney. He may be not tall enough and too slim, but he’s got the twinkle and the smile, and he also captures the personality of the fop and the mastermind perfectly. He’s also an adorable husband. ;) Sophie Stewart doesn’t make a satisfactory Marguerite at all—she’s too sweet and appealing and doll-like, and her face reminds me of Amy from Little Women. But she goes well with Barnes, so I forgive her non-Marguerite-ness. Even if she can’t pronounce a lick of French. 

Anthony Bushell is back as Sir Andrew Ffoulkes AND HE’S LITERALLY PERFECT!! And Patrick Barr is a fantastic Lord Hastings. Margaretta Scott (Theresia) can’t pronounce French either but and has no Spanish accent, but I can ignore that. James Mason is fascinating as Jean Tallien (I thought it was Talleyrand the first few times I watched the film) and I absolutely loved his character. Francis Lister looks nothing like Raymond Massey but he captures the suave side of Chauvelin, which I really appreciated. Finally, Henry Oscar is a great Robespierre and Hugh Miller as De Calmet is a GREAT addition which I hope is in the books!

Plot: 5/5

This film, besides The Scarlet Pimpernel and The Triumph of the Scarlet Pimpernel, also drew inspiration from Eldorado and The Elusive Pimpernel—according to me. The plot is a mix of the first two books, but I feel there’s bits from the latter two books as well—Tallien in this film is nothing like in The Triumph of the Scarlet Pimpernel but he is presented rather like Armand from Eldorado, although Theresia is nothing like Jeanne Lange or Désirée Candielle from Eldorado and The Elusive Pimpernel. And maybe there’s a bit of I Will Repay in here as well?

But I like how their version of Marguerite getting caught is similar to the books, yet different… Also Marguerite being pregnant is PRECIOUS and I hope that happens in the books. Anywho. Like The Elusive Pimpernel, this film mirrors The Scarlet Pimpernel while still being quite different, and I loved that. The society scenes are epic, the humour is good, the disguising and spying in Paris is awesome—I didn’t recognize Percy & Andrew at the trial for the first few times!—and finally the ending is super cool. It’s highly inaccurate to reality and slightly to the books but it’s fascinating and done really well. So much action and music and excitement! 

But the scene where Lord Hastings tries to convince Marguerite to believe Percy makes me sad, because why didn’t she trust him and obey him? It would have saved so much heartache. Why couldn’t she have been caught a different way? </3

Oh, and the tribunal scene is epic. I need more stirring tribunal speeches in films. ;P 

Romance: 5/5

Marguerite & Percy are adorable again. ;) And I love seeing Percy working so hard to save Marguerite and feeling all the emotions, haha. 

Content: 4/5 (low)

A few instances of language; a low-necked dress (hardly noticeable because of the black & white of the film); some drinking; kissing & hugging between Percy & Marguerite and Tallien + Theresia. 

Violence: 5/5 (low)

Mostly off-screen fighting.

Overall: 5/5

The perfect sequel to the 1934 The Scarlet Pimpernel and a great addition to the classic Pimpernel films!!