AllMovie

Baroness Orczy's The Scarlet Pimpernel was the source for this economical period melodrama. Matheson Lang stars as Sir Percy Blakeney, who adopts the guise of an insufferable fop to cover his nocturnal activities as the Scarlet Pimpernel, fearless rescuer of the aristocratic victims of the French Revolution. The scriptwriters have bypassed the Pimpernel's traditional opponent, fiery revolutionary leader Chauvelin, in favor of real-life revolutionist Robespierre, here played with relish (and not a little mustard) by Nelson Keyes. Further departing from the Orczy original, Robespierre contrives to kidnap Sir Percy's beautiful wife (Marjorie Hume), forcing the Pimpernel out in the open. Triumph of the Scarlet Pimpernel boasted an expensive veneer which effectively obscured its tiny budget.