A Television Favourite For Three Decades
Now available on DVD
Based on the classic novels The Scarlet Pimpernel
and
Eldorado by Baroness Orczy, The Scarlet Pimpernel features
the stunning Jane Seymour (East of Eden, Dr. Quinn:
Medicine Woman), Anthony Andrews (Brideshead Revisited, David
Copperfield), and Ian McKellen (Richard III, Gods and
Monsters) in a tale of passion and romance in eighteenth century
France. The scene is set — the French Revolution has entered its
stage of bloody terror. Men, women and children fall under the
merciless blade of the guillotine. But one foppish gentleman, Sir
Percy (Andrews), alias the Scarlet Pimpernel , bravely rescues
aristocrats from the jaws of death. In the midst of his heroic acts,
he falls passionately in love with Marguerite (Seymour), France's
most celebrated actress. Marguerite however, is involved with
Chauvelin (McKellen), a villainous revolutionary, who is determined
to eliminate the aristocratic class from French society. Out of
jealousy and rage, Chauvelin intends to end the romance of Sir Percy
and Marguerite, and destroy the Scarlet Pimpernel. Thus begins a
twisted, suspenseful romance played out in one of the bloodiest
revolutions of all time.
"Not surprisingly perhaps, Mr. McKellen is especially sharp
in the villainous role of Paul Chauvelin, the chief agent for the
Committee of National Security who is determined to eliminate the
aristocratic class from French society. Mr. McKellen, the noted
British Shakespearean actor and winner of a Tony Award for his
performance in "AMADEUS," is marvelously subtle as Chauvelin. This
is an intricately etched portrait of social envy and sexual
jealousy. His commitment to the Revolution is just about equal to
his lust for Marguerite. Even without being dressed in simple black,
Mr. McKellen would have no difficulty standing out among these gaudy
aristocrats." — John J. O'Connor, "The New York Times" 9 Nov 1982.
Notes by Ian McKellen
|