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The Elusive Pimpernel (1950)

Director: Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger

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From Time Out Film Guide

A reasonably faithful adaptation of Baroness Orczy's tale of the French Revolution and the debonair Englishman who spirited aristos out of reach of the Terror. Somewhat over-elaborated, especially in the lavish court sequences, it contrives to get bogged down in a marshy area somewhere between straightforward boy's adventure and classic P & P territory. Powell's original intention was to make it a musical, but Korda and Goldwyn objected; with relics of this conception surviving in the return to Orczy's adventure yarn, the result was that, as Powell commented, 'it really was a terrible mess'. Not terrible, since it is characteristically vivid and colourful, and sparked by bright flashes of sardonic humour.

Author: TM 0000-00-00 00:00:00

Time Out Film Guide

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Cast & crew

Director: Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger

Producer: Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger

Cast: David Niven, Margaret Leighton, Jack Hawkins, Cyril Cusack, Robert Coote, Edmond Audran, Charles Victor, Danielle Godet full cast

Genre(s): Period/Swashbucklers

Duration: 109 mins


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