The Scarlet Pimpernel 1934

Don't buy this one!
If you're looking for a DVD of the Leslie Howard/Merle Oberon version of _The Scarlet Pimpernel_, buy _Drama Classics Triple Feature, Vol. 2_ (The Black Pirate / The Scarlet Pimpernel / The Iron Mask) from Navarre Corporation.

This one chops lines and even entire scenes out of the movie. The one on the triple-feature DVD is all there, and the transfer is better too. ('Better', not 'good'. This film is badly in need of restoration.) And the extra two bucks gets you a pair of Doug Fairbanks features into the bargain. (And if _that's_ not a good enough deal for you, the film is also included in _50 Movie Family Classics_.)

It's beyond me why anyone would release this classic swashbuckler in such a hacked-up edition. But it's even further beyond me why anybody would _buy_ it while there's a better version available. That damned elusive Pimpernel isn't _that_ hard to find!

A wonderful classic
The Scarlet Pimpernel

This 1935 telling of the classic story has many pluses; first is the cast, with Leslie Howard as Sir Percy Blakeney, Merle Oberon as Lady Marguerite Blakeney, Raymond Massey as Chauvelin, and Nigel Bruce as Prince of Wales. The next is the script, which was adapted from the novel by Robert E. Sherwood, Sam Berman, Arthur Wimperis, and Lajos Biro. Finally, the overall production and look is superb -- while the story may be short on action, it is strong in character and intrigue.

I do quibble with the tape quality -- it looks as if it was taken from an old print of the film; there are several scratches and one apparent break; however, the sound is pretty good. I hope that one day, the film will be restored and new audiences will have an opportunity to watch Leslie Howard and Merle Oberon together in this project.

If you are a fan of Leslie Howard or Merle Oberan, if you are a fan of films from Hollywood's "Golden Age" or if you simply...

One of the All Time Great Movies - Butchered
This movie has been one of my favorites. I just purchased this DVD for my collection. I can live with poor film quality, I can live with bad sound, but missing scenes is unacceptable.

The scene where Percy tells Armand that he still loved Marguerite is missing!! This my be the most important scene in the movie.

I love the Leslie Howard version, lets hope someone will do a proper restore of this great classic.

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