"The Scarlet Pimpernel" (1999) TV series

Seasons:

1 | 2

Release Date:

24 January 1999 (UK)

Genre:

Adventure | Drama

Plot Keywords:

Swashbuckler | Betrayal | Mask | Revolution | Hero

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Richard E. Grant	...	Sir Percy Blakeney / ... (6 episodes, 1999-2000)
Ronan Vibert	...	Robespierre (6 episodes, 1999-2000)
Gerard Murphy	...	Planchet (5 episodes, 1999-2000)
Jonathan Coy	...	Prince of Wales / ... (4 episodes, 1999-2000)
Ron Donachie	...	Arturo Mazarini / ... (4 episodes, 1999-2000)
Milton Johns	...	Fisher (4 episodes, 1999-2000)
John McEnery	...	Sir William Wetherby (3 episodes, 2000)
Elizabeth McGovern	...	Marguerite Blakeney / ... (3 episodes, 1999)
Anthony Green	...	Sir Andrew Ffoulkes (3 episodes, 1999)
Martin Shaw	...	Chauvelin (3 episodes, 1999)
Beth Goddard	...	Lady Suzanne Ffoulkes / ... (3 episodes, 1999)
Christopher Fairbank	...	Fumier (3 episodes, 1999)

Runtime:

90 min (6 episodes)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo | Stereo

Certification:

Australia:M | Argentina:16

Filming Locations:

Czech Republic

Company:

A&E Television Networks

Trivia:

The Scarlet Pimpernel was filmed in Prague, Czech Republic, for its resemblance to 18th century Paris (and absence of satellite dishes).

Quotes:

Chauvelin: I want his name.
Danby: The Scarlet...Pimpernel.
Chauvelin: I was beginning to think you'd lost your tongue along with your toenails.

Movie Connections:

Version of "The Scarlet Pimpernel" (1955)

Not very faithful

I am not quite sure I agree with the director of this version of The Scarlet Pimpernel. I imagined Sir Percy Blakeney a very calm, seemingly lazy aristocrat. This particular Sir Percy Blakeney appears to be teeming with overwhelming energy and volatility. I did not appreciate the Houdini, James Bond, Mission Impossible style escapes that Sir Percy engineered either. In the previous versions, wit was the tool for escape, not technology. Neither were the characters of Marguerite and Chauvelin adequately portrayed. There seemed to be little energy or chemistry in the interaction between the characters.

I do not wish to assign any blame, for perhaps the reason for my dislike of this movie might simply be a matter of difference in interpretation. Had the director's interpretation coincided with mine, perhaps I might not have been irritated by what seemed to me bad character portrayals.

I much preferred the version from 1982. Anthony Andrews was quite efficient as the imperturbable, calm fop. So were Jane Seymour and Ian McKellen. In my opinion, the style of this period piece seems to have been lost with this latest adaption. I recommend sticking with the previous versions, either the one from 1934 or the one from 1982.