During the Terror of the French Revolution Madame le Guillotine is giving the fast dwindling French aristocracy the closest of shaves. But an elusive hero, the Scarlet Pimpernel, is snatching them from Robespierre's (Ernest Milton) clutches...
Meanwhile in London Lady Blakeney (Merle Oberon), a Frenchwoman, despairs of her foppish husband Sir Percy (Leslie Howard). Unbeknown to her though Sir Percy is the Scarlet Pimpernel. After her brother is arrested in France she is put under pressure by the brutal Chavelin (Raymond Massey) to find out who the Pimpernel is...
An excellent film, from the horrors of the Revolution to the grandeur of the English Court the film keeps you transfixed. All the principals play good roles but Leslie Howard steals the show, how he switches from seemingly useless dandy to daring hero in an instant is fabulous.
