"Pimpernel" Smith (1941)
A wartime classic in which a deceptively absent-minded professor outwits the Gestapo to rescue prisoners from Nazi Germany.
"Pimpernel" Smith - Movie Information
- Original Title: "Pimpernel" Smith
- Release Year: 1941
- Directed by: Leslie Howard
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Adventure, Drama, Thriller
- Runtime: 2h 0m
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: English, Italian
- Release Date (Theatrical): July 28, 1941 (United Kingdom - U), December 10, 1947 (France), February 4, 1943 (Mexico)
- Alternative Titles: V字先生 (CN), The Fighting Pimpernel (UK), Mister V (US), Пимпернелл Смит (RU)
- Production Companies: British National Films
- Production Countries: United Kingdom
"Pimpernel" Smith - Plot
Eccentric Cambridge archaeologist Horatio Smith takes a group of British and American archaeology students to pre-war Nazi Germany to help in his excavations. His research is supported by the Nazis, since he professes to be looking for evidence of the Aryan origins of German civilisation. However, he has a secret agenda: to free inmates of the concentration camps.
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"Pimpernel" Smith - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Leslie Howard
Main Cast
- Leslie Howard
- Francis L. Sullivan
- Mary Morris
- Hugh McDermott
- Raymond Huntley
- Manning Whiley
- Peter Gawthorne
- Allan Jeayes
- Dennis Arundell
- Joan Kemp-Welch
Writers
- Anatole de Grunwald
Producers
- Leslie Howard
"Pimpernel" Smith - FAQs
Who are the main actors in Pimpernel Smith?
Pimpernel Smith stars Leslie Howard as the eccentric Professor Horatio Smith, with Francis L. Sullivan as the menacing General von Graum and Mary Morris as Ludmilla Koslowski. Supporting roles are filled by Hugh McDermott, Raymond Huntley, Manning Whiley, Peter Gawthorne, and Allan Jeayes.
Is Pimpernel Smith based on a true story?
Pimpernel Smith is not based on a single true story, but it was directly inspired by Baroness Orczy's fictional hero the Scarlet Pimpernel, transplanted into World War II-era Nazi Germany. The film's premise of a British agent rescuing victims from Nazi persecution reflected real wartime rescue efforts.
What is Pimpernel Smith about?
An absent-minded Cambridge professor leads archaeology students into Nazi Germany, ostensibly searching for Aryan civilisation evidence. In reality, he is a daring undercover agent smuggling concentration camp prisoners to freedom, all while outwitting the relentless Gestapo general determined to expose him.
Did Leslie Howard direct and star in Pimpernel Smith?
Yes, Leslie Howard both directed and starred in Pimpernel Smith, also serving as producer. It was one of his most personal wartime projects, blending his anti-Nazi convictions with his screen persona. Howard tragically died in 1943 when his civilian aircraft was shot down over the Bay of Biscay.
Where can I stream or watch Pimpernel Smith?
Pimpernel Smith is available to buy or rent on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, and Fandango At Home. It can also be watched for free on Darkroom and Fawesome. Availability may vary by region.
What is the significance of the Scarlet Pimpernel connection?
Pimpernel Smith is a deliberate modern retelling of the Scarlet Pimpernel story, replacing Revolutionary France with Nazi Germany. Like his predecessor, Professor Smith adopts a bumbling, distracted persona to conceal his heroism, using wit and disguise to outwit authoritarian villains and rescue the persecuted.
When was Pimpernel Smith released?
Pimpernel Smith was first released on July 28, 1941, in the United Kingdom. It subsequently opened in the United States under the title Mister V on February 12, 1942, and reached France on December 10, 1947, and Mexico on February 4, 1943.
What are some films similar to Pimpernel Smith?
Viewers who enjoy Pimpernel Smith may also appreciate Darkest Hour (2017), Memphis Belle (1990), Good (2008), and Miracle at St. Anna (2008), all of which explore World War II themes with dramatic intensity. Oppenheimer (2023) and Underground (1995) offer further wartime perspectives worth exploring.
More About "Pimpernel" Smith
Explore further details about this classic wartime thriller on these authoritative resources.