The Scarlet Pimpernel - Leslie Howard - Olivia de Havilland - Lux Radio Theater

In 1792, at the bloody height of the French Revolution's Reign of Terror, vengeful French mobs are outraged when again and again French aristocrats are saved from death by the audacious "Band of the Scarlet Pimpernel", a secret society of 20 English noblemen, "one to command, and nineteen to obey". Among the latest scheduled for execution are the Count de Tournay, former ambassador to Great Britain, and his family. However, one of the Scarlet Pimpernel's men visits them in prison disguised as a priest and gives them a message of hope.

The Scarlet Pimpernel is a 1934 British adventure film directed by Harold Young and starring Leslie Howard, Merle Oberon, and Raymond Massey. Based on the 1905 play by Baroness Orczy and Montagu Barstow and the classic 1905 adventure novel by Orczy, the film is about an eighteenth-century English aristocrat (Howard) who leads a double life, passing himself off as an effete aristocrat while engaged in a secret effort to rescue French nobles from Robespierre's Reign of Terror. The film was produced by Alexander Korda. Howard's portrayal of the title character is often considered the definitive portrayal of the role.

Originally Broadcast 12/12/1938

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[maryalice]

A history lesson and a great play. Thank you.

[anaderol]

Brilliant movie - brilliant play - thank you

[addie_is_me]

They did such a wonderful job condensing the story a bit and you cannot get better actors. I had forgotten Merle Oberon was the Pimpernels wife, she was wonderful as well, but DeHaviland made me forget that. I always found it funny they made the starving, mistreated people the bad guys when they are fighting against their oppressors, but if it Leslie Howard and Olivia De Havilland, or Merle Oberon, to my shame, I'm on their oppressor's side. Lol. It is also cool they let us hear the audience laugh, reminding us these shows are done live. Thank you. B)