Swords and the Woman (1923)

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Synopsis by Janiss Garza

I Will Repay, the celebrated novel about the French Revolution by Baroness Orczy, was filmed a number of times. The most famous version was 1934's The Scarlet Pimpernel starring Leslie Howard, but it was also made twice during the silent era; the first time was in 1917 and the second was this version, starring Holmes Herbert as Englishman Sir Percy Blakeney, otherwise known as the Scarlet Pimpernel. With his band of helpers, the notorious Pimpernel smuggles people out of France who have displeased the new regime. In a duel, Paul Deroulede (Pedro de Cordoba) kills the Vicomte DeMarny (Ivan Samson). DeMarny's father, the Duc (Georges Treville), makes his daughter, Juliette (Flora Le Breton), swear to avenge her brother's death. She becomes part of Deroulede's household, but is torn between love and duty when she falls for the man she is supposed to betray. When she hears that Deroulede is plotting the escape of Marie Antoinette, she informs the Citizens' Committee, but before he is arrested, she has a pang of guilt and tries to take the blame instead. Both of them wind up being sentenced to death. But one of the peasants in the crowd is the Scarlet Pimpernel in disguise. He helps the couple escape, and they flee to England where they find happiness together.