"The Scarlet Pimpernel" (1999) TV series

User Rating:

7.2/10   

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)

(more)

Series Directed by
Patrick Lau		(2 episodes, 1999)
Simon Langton		(2 episodes, 2000)

Series Writing credits
Baroness Emmuska Orczy		(6 episodes, 1999-2000)
Richard Carpenter		(3 episodes, 1999)

Series Produced by
Johan Eliasch	....	executive producer / executive producer: London Films (6 episodes, 1999-2000)
Delia Fine	....	executive producer: A&E Network (3 episodes, 1999)
Julian Murphy	....	producer (3 episodes, 1999)
Kevan Van Thompson	....	line producer (3 episodes, 1999)
Tony Virgo	....	executive producer (3 episodes, 1999)
Richard Langridge	....	executive producer: BBC (3 episodes, 2000)
Hannah Rothschild	....	executive producer (2 episodes, 1999)
Di Barton	....	associate producer (2 episodes, 2000)

Series Original Music by
Michal Pavlícek		(4 episodes, 1999-2000)
Mike Moran		(3 episodes, 2000)

Series Cinematography by
Simon Kossoff		(2 episodes, 1999)
Peter Greenhalgh		(2 episodes, 2000)

Series Film Editing by
Jeremy Strachan		(2 episodes, 1999)
Beverley Mills		(2 episodes, 2000)

Series Casting by
Andy Pryor		(6 episodes, 1999-2000)
Kirsty Robertson		(3 episodes, 2000)

Series Production Design by
Tim Hutchinson		(3 episodes, 1999)
Maurice Cain		(3 episodes, 2000)

Series Art Direction by
Olga Rosenfelderova		(3 episodes, 1999)
Hayden Matthews		(2 episodes, 1999)

Series Set Decoration by
Desmond Crowe		(3 episodes, 1999)

Series Costume Design by
Howard Burden		(3 episodes, 1999)
Jeremy Turner		(3 episodes, 2000)

Series Makeup Department
Alison Elliott	....	makeup supervisor (3 episodes, 1999)
Pamela Haddock	....	makeup designer (3 episodes, 1999)
Ales Kocian	....	assistant makeup artist (3 episodes, 1999)
Frantisek Prihoda	....	assistant makeup artist (3 episodes, 1999)

Series Production Management
Pavel Solc	....	production manager (2 episodes, 1999)
Pavel Typolt	....	unit manager (2 episodes, 1999)
Alasdair Whitelaw	....	post-production supervisor (2 episodes, 1999)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
William Hartley	....	first assistant director (3 episodes, 1999-2000)
Sarah Dibsdall	....	second assistant director (3 episodes, 1999)
Richard Gironi	....	third assistant director (3 episodes, 1999)
Alice Ronovska	....	assistant director: Czech Republic (3 episodes, 1999)
Edward Brett	....	first assistant director (2 episodes, 1999)
Andrew McEwan	....	third assistant director (2 episodes, 1999)

Series Art Department
Tomas Hais	....	set dresser (3 episodes, 1999)
Michal Krska	....	assistant art director (3 episodes, 1999)
Jaroslav Cesal	....	property master (2 episodes, 1999)
Jiri Zavadil	....	assistant art director (2 episodes, 1999)
Stefan Mily	....	set dresser (unknown episodes)
Marketa Puzmanova	....	art department coordinator (unknown episodes)
Stanislav Suva	....	scenic artist (unknown episodes)

Series Sound Department
Clive Derbyshire	....	sound recordist (3 episodes, 1999)
Paul McFadden	....	dialogue editor (3 episodes, 2000)
Peter Margrave	....	boom operator (2 episodes, 1999)
Jan Skala	....	cable person (unknown episodes)
Trevor Swanscott	....	foley mixer (unknown episodes)

Series Special Effects by
Casper Lailey	....	special effects technician (3 episodes, 2000)
Ken Lailey	....	special effects supervisor (3 episodes, 2000)

Series Stunts
Steve Dent	....	stunt coordinator (3 episodes, 1999)
Dusan Hyska	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Dimo Liptkovsky	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Jiri Stanek	....	utility stunts (unknown episodes)
Patrik Stanek	....	utility stunts (unknown episodes)
Martin Zalud	....	utility stunts (unknown episodes)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Lukas Jaromersky	....	electrician (3 episodes, 1999)
Petr Svoboda	....	electrician (3 episodes, 2000)
Julian Barber	....	camera operator (2 episodes, 1999)
Petr Bautz	....	grip (2 episodes, 1999)
Shaun Cobley	....	clapper loader (2 episodes, 1999)
Steve Evans	....	key grip (2 episodes, 1999)
Adam Gillham	....	focus puller (2 episodes, 1999)
Milan Jirsa	....	gaffer (2 episodes, 1999)
Martin Rain	....	best boy (2 episodes, 1999)
John J. Moers	....	camera operator: "b" camera (unknown episodes)
Zac Nicholson	....	focus puller (unknown episodes)

Series Casting Department
Kirsty Robertson	....	casting assistant (1 episode, 1999)
Nancy Bishop	....	casting: Prague (unknown episodes)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Gill Shaw	....	assistant costume designer (3 episodes, 1999)
Inka Braiková	....	costume assistant (2 episodes, 1999)
Bela Friedlová	....	wardrobe (unknown episodes)
Richard Sale	....	costume assistant (unknown episodes)

Series Editorial Department
Dave Mason	....	telecine operator (1 episode, 1999)
Terry Barker	....	post-production coordinator (1 episode, 2000)
Vincent Narduzzo	....	telecine operator (1 episode, 2000)
Josef d'Bache-Kane	....	assistant on-line editor (unknown episodes)
Siobhan Quin	....	assistant on-line editor (unknown episodes)

Series Music Department
Adam Klemens	....	conductor (2 episodes, 1999-2000)

Series Other crew
Gabriela Dolenska	....	production assistant (3 episodes, 1999)
Vera Thompson	....	script translator (3 episodes, 1999)
Aneta Valaskova	....	location manager (3 episodes, 1999)
John Greening	....	production executive (2 episodes, 1999)
Sara Hamill	....	production coordinator (2 episodes, 1999)
Mike Hobson	....	location manager (2 episodes, 1999)
Caroline Holder	....	production secretary (2 episodes, 1999)
Daniela Humlova	....	production assistant (2 episodes, 1999)
Maggie Lewty	....	script supervisor (2 episodes, 1999)
Terry Walsh	....	sword master (2 episodes, 1999)
Marcela Jahodova	....	first assistant accountant (unknown episodes)
Veronika Skarlandtova	....	cashier (unknown episodes)
Jaroslav Vaculik	....	location manager (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

• A&E Television Networks
• BBC Birmingham
• London Film Productions
• Space Films

Distributors

• A&E Home Video (2000) (USA) (DVD)
• A&E Television Networks (1999) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• America Video Film (2008) (Argentina) (all media)
• America Video (2008) (Argentina) (all media)
• Argentina Video Home (2008) (Argentina) (DVD)
• British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) (1999) (UK) (TV) (original airing)

Special Effects

• Ken Lailey Effects

Other Companies

• Allyoucanstunt  stunts
• Allyoucanstunt  stunts

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 Elusive Pimpernel (1950)

Severely lacking in the necessary dash and wit, but will do if you've never seen the other versions or read the book...

Having read the books and seen the 1982 Anthony Andrews/Jane

Seymour version, I have to say that this is not good at all.

According to the books, Percy is supposed to be a seemingly

foppish aristocrat when he's being Percy, and witty and clever

when he's being the Pimpernel, but here he just looks bored as

Percy and mean as the Pimpernel. Marguerite is supposed to be

the most beautiful woman in Europe, not a tired and frumpy-looking matron (she looks middle-aged, probably due to

bad make-up). Richard E. Grant has done much better things, and

Elizabeth McGovern's acting is uninspired and flat. The wit and

dash of the books and the Andrews/Seymour film is here replaced

by brawn and flashy editing that just don't make the cut.

I might add that to a person who hasn't seen any previous version

or read the book, it would probably look ok.