The Scarlet Pimpernel

1982 2h 22m EN

👍

6.8

SOLID

★6.8TMDB · 52

RomanceTV MovieAdventure

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

During the French Revolution, a mysterious English nobleman known only as The Scarlet Pimpernel (a humble wayside flower), snatches French aristos from the jaws of the guillotine, while posing as the foppish Sir Percy Blakeney in society. Percy falls for and marries the beautiful actress Marguerite St. Just, but she is involved with Chauvelin and Robespierre, and Percy's marriage to her may endanger the Pimpernel's plans to save the little Dauphin

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

WhatsApp X Facebook Telegram

Where to watch · US

Acorn TVSubscription

AcornTV Amazon ChannelSubscription

IndieFlixSubscription

Acorn TV Apple TV channelSubscription

IndieFlix Shorts Amazon ChannelSubscription

Apple TV StoreRent

Google Play MoviesRent

Google Play MoviesBuy

YouTubeBuy

Fandango At HomeBuy

Cast

Anthony Andrews
Sir Percy Blakeney/The Scarlet Pimpernel
Jane Seymour
Marguerite St. Just
Ian McKellen
Chauvelin
James Villiers
Baron de Batz
Eleanor David
Louise
Malcolm Jamieson
Armand St. Just
Denis Lill
Count de Tournay
Ann Firbank
Countess de Tournay

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Clive Donner
Languages: English
Countries: United Kingdom

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 6

ERA

Did you know

44 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 6

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Clive Donner, shot by Dennis C. Lewiston. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 6

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Peter Tanner shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 6

CAST

Did you know

Anthony Andrews and Jane Seymour and Ian McKellen carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 6

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0084637 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 6

WILD

Did you know

Only 52 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Clive Donner directs. Dennis C. Lewiston behind the camera. Peter Tanner cuts. Produced in United Kingdom. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

144 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
2Directed by Clive Donner, shot by Dennis C. Lewiston. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
3Editor Peter Tanner shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
4Anthony Andrews and Jane Seymour and Ian McKellen carry the top of the cast.
5IMDB entry: tt0084637 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
6Only 52 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

The technical file

Cinematography: Dennis C. Lewiston
Editing: Peter Tanner
Runtime: 142 min · 2h 22m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.78:1 (16:9)
Status: Released
Original language: EN
Certification (US): PG
IMDB: The Scarlet Pimpernel (1982)

Also by

Clive Donner

Stills · wallpapers

Selected frames

Full-resolution frames — open one to save it as a wallpaper.

Wallpaper

Trailers & featurettes

Watch the pieces

Community reviews

What people are saying

CinemaSerf2026-04-19
★ 7/10
This is adapted from two of the Baroness Orczy's books as we head to an 18th century Paris where the terror is in full swing and the newly empowered citizenry are beheading aristocrats left, right and centre. Even Louis XVI and his Queen Marie Antoinette have been spliced. There is one hope for those imprisoned, though, and that comes in the form of an enigmatic rescuer. "The Scarlet Pimpernel" is proving the bane of the lives of Robespierre (Richard Morant) and his government, so he details his national security chief Chauvelin (Ian McKellen) to discover his identity and make sure he goes under the blade, too. Chauvelin reckons the best way to do this is to head to London, just as his actress girlfriend "Marguerite" (Jane Seymour) finds herself increasingly disillusioned with the tactics of the revolutionaries and fond of the foppish Englishman "Sir Percy" (Anthony Andrews). Initially resentful of her change of allegiance, he begins to appreciate that her connection with the wealthiest man in the land - who counted the Prince Regent (Julian Fellowes) as a friend - could prove invaluable as he seeks his new nemesis. The situation becomes all the more desperate and dangerous when the safety of the imprisoned eight-year-old Dauphin becomes a cause of concern, and so with both the "Pimpernel" and the remaining French royalists trying to get him out of the dreaded Temple prison, things are almost as perilous for Chauvelin should he fail as for our elusive master of disguise should he get caught. This is a bit on the long side, and some of the make-up effects have struggled to keep up with the times, but Andrews manages the role of "Sir Percy" with some skill opposite a McKellen whose characterisation presented us with a man of ruthlessness, guile and precisely no idea how to tie a cravatte. There is betrayal aplenty on display here; the romantic elements are kept under control and though I think I still preferred Leslie Howard in the title role - though that is as much down to Merle Oberon's superior performance as "Marguerite", this is an enjoyable drama that has seen considerable effort gone into it's production design. It does look like a television movie, but it works well.

Production companies