The Return of the Scarlet Pimpernel

Or should I say: more of the same? Nevertheless, this is a decent if somewhat unremarkable follow-up to THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL. This time, the Pimpernel's wife is being kidnapped in order to set the trap for him, forcing Sir Percy to go to France to save her. What follows is an amusing film, nothing more, but certainly nothing less. The sequel has to do it without the leads of the first film, but the cast here generally does a pretty good job as well. They all make very likeable characters, what surely makes up for the quite far-fetched story.

This obviously is a little-known film, but if you have the chance to see it, you might want to check it out. It's not a masterpiece and not as good as the first "Pimpernel", but rather good fun. 6/10

Hollywood is hardly the only one to crank out unnecessary sequels. Britain was also guilty of it, and early on, too. "Return" is essentially a rehash of the first movie, made a couple of years earlier. It even reuses footage and sets from that classic. The leads have changed, but not the basic plot, which has Sir Percy forced to go back to France one last time, in this case to rescue his wife from the clutches of the sinister Robespierre. It clearly is a trap, but nothing will keep the good old Pimpernel from carrying out his mission. He is up against the usual clods and dolts, after all. A young James Mason has a small role. This is no worse, I suppose, than "Son of Monte Cristo" or "Son of Robin Hood." Mercifully, there was to be no third Pimpernel film.

Hanns Schwarz is known to most cinephiles as the director of the miraculous 'Incredible Lies of Nina Petrovna'. Hardly surprising that with the surname of Schwarz he felt obliged to leave Germany pretty smartish in 1933. He directs this sequel to the successful 'Scarlet Pimpernel' of 1934. This is lame, mediocre stuff and is saddled with the curse of twee, 'teddibly, teddibly' acting. Notable exceptions are Henry Oscar as Robespierre although a little mature for the role, the appealing Margaretta Scott and James Mason. Huddersfield born Mason is really the only feature of interest in this and impresses with his earthy presence and modern delivery. He is not yet the finished article but has ingredient 'X' in spades. The title character is played by someone named Barry K. Barnes. The screen empties whenever he is on it. Such a pity that the directorial career of Schwarz finished so disappointingly. Following this he went off the radar and died in California in 1945. At least we have Nina Petrovna to remember him by.

Barry K. Barnes continues in the fine foppish tradition that Leslie Howard set in The Scarlet Pimpernel. I suspect that Howard was over on this side of the pond on Broadway or in Hollywood or he probably would have done this sequel.

Even though his identity as Regency fop Sir Percy Blakeney is now known to one and all, in The Return Of The Scarlet Pimpernel Barnes is still operating a rescue service to one and all who have fallen afoul of the French Revolution. Things have gotten worse over in France though and the Reign Of Terror under Robespierre is now in high gear as the fanatical and psychotic Robespierre is guillotining everyone whom he even THINKS might be against him.

Francis Lister plays a far different Chauvelin than the revolutionary true believer that Raymond Massey did. Lister is trying to compete with Barnes in the wit department and making a not bad stab at it. Still he comes up way short every time.

He uses the same gambit to try to trap Barnes as in the first Pimpernel film. Lister has French actress Margharetta Scott go to Great Britain as an exile and she induces Barnes's wife Sophie Stewart who is French to follow her on a pretext. No going to France this time, some paid thugs just kidnap Stewart and spirit her back to France. So Barnes has to assemble his crew and work another rescue.

This time however there are rumblings of discontent against Robespierre and the Terror. Barnes enlists the aid of a prominent member of the National Assembly in his cause. James Mason plays that part in one of his earliest film roles and one that got him his first real notice with the movie-going public.

Barnes and Stewart are good substitutes for Leslie Howard and Merle Oberon from the original. I truly do miss Raymond Massey as Chauvelin as did others. The Return Of The Scarlet Pimpernel still holds up well as entertainment and a portrait of some terrible times in France.

This is a sequel which instead sets its own terms. Lacking a star name, it is not a vehicle for a star to lift and be given entertaining scenes (and mask weaknesses), instead it is a very well crafted artistic production. Completely unremarked is the quality of the cinematography there is a still photographer's eye at work not to mention the sets and the handling of action. Instead of a star and their schtick which a production is obliged to both labour and indulge, there is point and purpose throughout in the screenplay which reflects the mixture of brutality, passion, paranoia, scheming and insecurity of the times. The pimpernel is more subtly acted than the sign-posted performance of a big star. His ruses, being the centre piece of the character, have to be and are more impressive including the disguises than in the case of a star who probably wishes to be recognisable at all times. Lacking any stars, it must rely on pure merit - and succeeds. It is after all a Korda production so would one expect less?