Hindsight

Day 43:  The Scarlet Pimpernel  (1934)

Based on the classic novel of the same name by Baroness Orczy.  The key character is an eighteenth century English aristocrat who leads a double life so he can secretly help with underground efforts to free other aristocrats in France. It is a love story in the vein of Zorro, but told within the context of the French Revolution and the Reign of Terror.  It starts Leslie Howard,  Merle Oberon with Raymond Massey as a delicious bad guy.  The film fits within the adventure genre and is directed by Harold Young, produced by Alexander Korda for British Films.  For a relatively early talkie, this film is impressive in its use of camera movement and set design, offering a version that to my mind is still the best almost 80 years later, if a tad worn in appearance.  The YouTube version is dark, so hopefully Criterion will remaster this soon:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmsF7DE5KgE



Themes:  French Revolution, Spies, Traitors, Honor, Loyalty
Media literacy Questions to ask:  What historical period does the film convey?  How do the film makers evoke this time period?  What is the key tension within the narrative?  Are there values within the story that suggest this film was made by a British company?