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Title: The Scarlet Pimpernel, it's not
Review: A & E has a well deserved reputation for bringing classics to the screen. How utterly disappointing. The filmmakers obviously paid little attention to the characters' personalities, and tried to squeeze too many of the numerous Pimpernel stories into one film. There is no comparison to the 1935 version with Leslie Howard or to the more recent one with Anthony Andrews. Neither Grant nor McGovern match the physical descriptions of the characters. Grant was not foppish enough nor heroic enough in the dual role. McGovern, though attractive, could hardly be called "the most beautiful woman in Europe." There was no chemistry or sexual tension between them. Change the title, divest the lackluster love relationship of the main characters from the passion of Percy Blakeney and Marguerite St. Just, and you have an entertaining set of movies. But don't call it "The Scarlet Pimpernel."
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