I remember watching this movie in bits and pieces as a teen. My friends absolutely loved this movie and I never got a chance to watch it all the way through for some reason. So when I finally read The Scarlet Pimpernel I knew I had to watch my friends’ favorite version of the movie – the 1982 version with Anthony Andrews, Jane Seymour and Ian McKellen (Hi evil and very young Gandalf!!).
I was surprised while watching the credits that this movie is also based on the book Eldorado by Baronness Orczy. The last half with trying to rescue the Prince comes from the book Eldorado and isn’t actually in The Scarlet Pimpernel. Other than that, the movie sticks pretty close to the book. We get to see more of the back story of their love, how they meet and fall in insta-love.
The best part of this whole movie is the character of Percy and his ridiculously pompous attitude that he uses as a disguise. While I was watching it, I was very aware that this is a bad TV movie but I just loved the whole thing because of the character and acting of Percy.
Prince Regent: Percy. Fashionably late, as usual.
Sir Percy: Sink me, your highness, it was this damned cravat. Simply refused to tie. I ask you. Sticking out like a pincushion.
Prince Regent: I might have known it would be something serious.
Jane Seymour is great too. She has the most awesome big hair ever.
Also what is this strange non-French accent that the actors seem to have? I mean it’s hilarious but what is it? I can’t be too picky really. This is a TV movie after all.
Overall, the movie was much more detailed than the book and I liked the movie better. You can check out my review of the The Scarlet Pimpernel novel.
I can’t find a trailer for this movie, but check out this clip of Percy being awesome and pompous.
Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
My name is Jessica. I love to read Young Adult and classic literature. I’ve been a book blogger for six years and I haven’t gotten tired of it yet. I’m a very curious reader. Writing about all the questions and thoughts I had while reading a book is the best hobby ever.
I. LOVE this movie SO much it’s not even funny. I’d seen the movie so many times before I originally read the book and so that’s what really got me into it! I agree with your points! The characters are just fantastic! Anthony is the perfect pimpernel in my opinion and I always love some Ian McKellen. Haha. Though I admit it is kinda weird so see him years later as Gandalf. And Jane Seymour! I liked her as well! IT’S JUST SO GOOD. Obviously, Percy has brainwashed me with his pompous and nobeling ways. And I actually really like how they mashed up the two books! Like you I’ve only read the first one, but hopefully I can get to Eldarado soon.
I just love this book/movie duo so much. SO MUCH.
If that wasn’t obvious already.
Xoxo, Inky
I had never seen Ian in anything other than lord of the rings so that’s how I see him. :) I love this movie too!!!!
Oh, how I heart this movie! I haven’t read the book yet. I started it for book club a few months ago, but never finished it. Too much going on at the time. I’ve heard that they’re not the same, but you’re saying they are (other than the Eldorado). That’s good to know! Most of the people who have read the book and seen the movie that I’ve talked to say they like the movie better. I’m still interested in reading the story, though.
I can see why people would say that they are not the same. The plot basically is but the novel isn’t long or very detailed so a lot of the lines and scenes are not in the book. So while they don’t actually get married in the book like they do in the movie they don’t deviate from the story. Does that make sense? I thought it was a great adaption especially if you see what they had to work with from the book.
I definitely prefer the movie over the book but I haven’t read Eldorado so. ..
I don’t know if I would read elodorado. Rescuing the crown prince was not historically accurate at all. No one knows for sure what happened to him but I doubt it was a happy ending
I LOVE this movie. Serious fan-girl right here. I don’t actually think of it as a bad tv-movie, but I do think it’s quite dated. I just think Anthony Andrews rocks it as Percy. He’s so good!!!!! Have you read Across a Star-Swept Sea by Diana Peterfreund? If not, you should. It’s a retelling of TSP, and AMAZING.
Dang, the movie sounds great! I absolutely loved Across A Star-Swept Sea so of course I’ve been wanting to read the original book (actually, I wanted to read the original first before the retelling, but that never happened…) and now you’ve turned me on to the movie, which I didn’t even know existed before now!
I haven’t actually read or watched The Scarlet Pimpernel yet, but I’d love too! You make both the movie and the book sound really good.