Superheroes and vigilantes have become a staple in pop culture. Whether it be well-known heroes such as Spiderman and Batman or more unknown heroes, the idea that an everyday civilian can save the day has captivated the public for decades. The 1982 film “The Scarlet Pimpernel,” despite being more unknown, is one of the most captivating films to feature a vigilante character, with rich characters, an intriguing mystery, and a well-fleshed-out superhero at its heart.
Based on the novels “The Scarlet Pimpernel” and “Eldorado” by Baroness Orczy, the film follows Sir Percy Blakeney, an English baronet who takes on the persona of “The Scarlet Pimpernel” to save French aristocrats from execution during the French Revolution. While he is saving aristocrats from the guillotine, he is also evading capture from the radicals in the government, most notably Citizen Chauvelin, a member of the Committee of General Security. The main story follows Percy and his inner circle, known as the League of the Scarlet Pimpernel, as they attempt to rescue the Dauphin of France, Louis-Charles (Louis XVII), and bring him to England. His greatest challenge, however, is keeping his identity hidden from his estranged wife, Marguerite, who is blackmailed into helping Chauvelin discover the identity of the Scarlet Pimpernel.
Percy Blakeney is one of the film’s strongest characters and is portrayed excellently by Anthony Andrews. In public, he presents himself as a dim-witted fop, only caring for outward appearances as a means to protect his identity as the Scarlet Pimpernel. He is extremely dedicated to his cause, so much so that he is heartbroken when he finds out that Marguerite may have had a part in sending a prominent family to the guillotine, which causes their estrangement. Andrews’ portrayal of Percy encompasses this and more, and he is able to capture his emotions with just his eyes alone. One of the most important aspects of “The Scarlet Pimpernel” is that the audience must be able to sympathize with Percy, despite his flawed and short-sighted judgment at times, and Andrews succeeds immensely in that regard.
The film’s other two stars, Ian McKellen (Chauvelin) and Jane Seymour (Marguerite) perfectly complement Andrews’ performance. McKellen portrays a diabolical Chauvelin, who is so dedicated to his morals that he will do anything to catch the Scarlet Pimpernel, including using blackmail and eventually even taking Marguerite and her brother, Armand, as hostages in the name of his cause. Seymour’s performance as Marguerite, however, steals the show. The role of Marguerite is incredibly emotional, and Seymour plays her superbly. She portrays Marguerite as multi-dimensional and someone who will do anything to save the people she loves, which can be difficult at times as the story is focused on Percy. However, sometimes it feels like Marguerite is used more as a plot device, and her character never reaches her fullest potential in the story. Despite this, with the material that was given to her, Seymour is still able to bring an emotional and memorable performance to the table despite the shortcomings in Marguerite’s character.
While the characters are rich and engaging, the plot falls short in some aspects. The film tries to merge two of Baroness Orczy’s novels into one plotline, and although I appreciate what they were aiming for, there are some sections that feel more dragged out than others. The film primarily focuses on Percy’s dual life as a fop and the Scarlet Pimpernel and Chauvelin’s pursuit of the Pimpernel. Although their cat-and-mouse chase is incredibly engaging, it leaves other characters and aspects of the plot underdeveloped, which ends up hurting the film more than benefiting it.
One aspect of the plot that doesn’t fall short, however, is the ending, where Chauvelin discovers Percy’s identity as the Scarlet Pimpernel and is able to apprehend him, demanding that the Dauphin must be returned to the prison where he was being held. Although Percy obliges, Chauvelin also reveals that he has taken Marguerite and her brother, Armand, as hostages and will execute them if Percy does not hand the Dauphin over to him. This setup leads to an incredibly climactic ending, including an unexpected plot twist and a sword fight between the two main rivals.
“The Scarlet Pimpernel” is not a perfect film; however, it is an incredibly engaging vigilante story that still captivates audiences today. If you have not seen “The Scarlet Pimpernel,” I highly recommend that you do, as its thrilling story and well-crafted characters still hold up well today.
