The 1982 movie version of The Scarlet Pimpernel has been my favorite movie since I first saw it in 1993. Amazingly, no other movie had rivaled it untiThe 1982 movie version of The Scarlet Pimpernel has been my favorite movie since I first saw it in 1993. Amazingly, no other movie had rivaled it until The Phantom of the Opera came out. (Now they tie for first place as my favorite movie.) With that as precedence, it shouldn't surprise anyone that I had high expectations for the book. I was bitterly disappointed.
Perhaps if I hadn't seen the movie first, I could have enjoyed the book. As is was, I waited for the storyline to follow that of the movie and was frustrated when the plot deviated, which was often.
Most of the book is dedicated to Lady Blakeney's thoughts! What asinine thoughts they are! She wonders and wonders how to get out of the predicament she is in. "Come on, Baroness!" I kept thinking, "you've declared that she is the most brilliant female mind in Europe, have your dang character do something brilliant!"
Fine! I understand that this takes places in the 18th century, she's a demure woman, she doesn't know what to do; I could accept that, but then stop praising her intelligence!!! Here again, it might not have been the bane of the book if I hadn't already seen a version of a clever Marguerite in the movie. Even if I hadn't seen the movie, the contradiction between Baroness Orczy's description of Marguerite's sharp mind and of her inept behavior would STILL have driven me crazy!!!
Also ruining the book was the lack of gallantry from Sir Percy. The book version of Percy was aloof and hardly spoke to his wife. In the movie, despite his heartache, he acts chivalrously and secretly adores her. I also missed the romance. In the book, both Percy and Marguerite are too prideful to show affection until the very, very end.
I found the movie subplot of Paul Chauvelin being Marguerite's former love interest more pertinent to his blackmail of her in discovering the identity of the Scarlet Pimpernel. In the book, he chooses her merely because she is a French woman living in England.
In the book, the Scarlet Pimpernel helps a handful of French Aristos sneak out of the country. In contrast, the movie portrays him assisting many escape, principle among them is the Dauphin. This enriched the story significantly! The monumental impact of saving the Dauphin would have far-reaching historical implications!
The library scene, the crown jewel of the movie, doesn't even happen in the book! For me, that's practically sacrilege!
This is one case in which the movie far and away out-shines the book!
I gave this book two stars instead of one because I recognize that in judging it I was heavily influenced by a source outside the book itself. ...more
I think their was a lot to learn about husband/wife relationships, despite the fact that this relationship was nothing like contemporary American marrI think their was a lot to learn about husband/wife relationships, despite the fact that this relationship was nothing like contemporary American marriages....more
What is there to say? Everyone loves this book! Why do we love it when characters hate every other and then fall in love?
I had been a dedicated fan ofWhat is there to say? Everyone loves this book! Why do we love it when characters hate every other and then fall in love?
I had been a dedicated fan of the BBC film version for years; it was time to read the book! (Besides that, my husband had been pestering me to read from the Complete Works of Jane Austen volume he bought for me years ago, saying that he didn't know why he'd bothered to buy me the complete works when I never read them. I quickly read three books from the volume to silence him!)
I was surprised! In the book Miss. Austen occasionally gives us Mr. Darcy's thoughts! This stunned me because part of the thrill in the MOVIE is his mysterious nature! We don't really know what he's thinking of Elizabeth, we just have his enigmatic comments and his gaze. Although I was surprised that we get to hear his thoughts in the book, I didn't think it ruined his mysteriousness at all! It just changed my perception of the relationship a bit. I learned that he ruminated over his love for her much longer than it appeared to be in the movie.
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