'Pimpernel' Smith (1941)

Cast

Leslie Howard
as Professor Horatio Smith
David Tomlinson
as Steve
Sebastian Cabot
as Bit Role
Valerie Hobson
as Shop Girl

Get more information about 'Pimpernel' Smith (1941) on IMDb

Genres & Description

Action Adventure Comedy Drama Thriller War

7.3 / 10

It is mid-1939 and both Germany and England are preparing for an inevitable conflict. Professor Horatio Smith, an effete academic, asks his students to come with him to the continent to engage in an archaeological dig. When his students discover that the professor is the man responsible for smuggling a number of enemies of the Nazi state out of Germany, they enthusiastically join him in his fight. But things are complicated when one of his students brings a mysterious woman into their circle, a woman who is secretly working for the Gestapo.

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Comments on this trailer
Comments may include spoiler!

Old Skool Fool

It's a strange thing, I love this movie, I put it on to fall asleep to most nights, its soothing familiar tones settle me instantly, funny thing is I enjoy the protagonist Smith, probably from a greater love of Leslie Howard and whilst watching I buy into the escapism and side with his motive but I also recognise the propaganda of it and think it important we all do, everything from this era was drummed up to boost morale, these were tough times and a great deal of delusion/blissful ignorance and orchestrated fortitude was employed to see those around then through, but we're in danger of believing what was said then was all truth when it fact it was merely the necessary 'truth' of the time, the problem is that as the reality of wartime fades away all that's left is that propaganda and as that is the only real tangible remnants of the era for us to see we're inclined to go with that depiction So what IS propaganda? Well it's the idea that your opponent is far worse than let's say 'he' actually is, that he stoops lower than you can imagine, that he is more animal than human, to de-humanise to the point where the idea of extermination is easier to digest, we all recognise the gun-weilding depiction of 'the hun' as shown in the scene where the trigger-happy guard shoots the scarecrow but was it really like this? Could officers really be this callous? The Geneva convention would say otherwise, even in wartime there was at least a certain degree of protection afforded and ANY shooting would have to be answered for (or even approved) regardless which side it was so this idea that guards could go around levelling rifles willy-nilly certainly bears resemblance to that sense of propaganda, much has been said of the banter going on, the ribbing and mockery British officers gave out to their German captors in the prison camps, it certainly goes against the idea that they at any given time might be struck down in a hail of bullets for a stray comment So we must think logically with regards to these 'accounts' we hear, especially by those with a vested interest in propogating certain myths, those who benefit financially from it especially, those whose livelyhoods/position/status depend on keeping certain areas of propaganda alive for their own benefit/group interests, wartime is awful and awful things occur, people are driven to excess, to do the unthinkable in the pursuit of survival but the same goes for both sides, we're all human, both sides have their sense of decorum, fair play, decency, Germans aside from the difference of Language or social quirks would've been not so different from us, they would be being fed nonsense about us too, that we were animals, they too would be worried about their boys and girls coming home safe, Hitler went too far as did Churchill, both commited great wrongs, let's just remember things aren't as simple as these movies make out - @Thursday, November 22, 2018 11:47 AM

Keith Archibald

That's how you talk to tirunie, hate even in this day & age we living we the hope fully always will win - @Friday, November 16, 2018 7:30 PM

johnnynoirman

Leslie Howard would have been a fantastic Dr. Baron Von Frankenstein. He died as heroically as he was in this film. . RIP...Mr. Howard. - @Friday, November 9, 2018 10:11 PM

Larry Ballenger

Damn shame the luftwaffe shot him down... Close to the scarlet pimpernel... - @Tuesday, November 6, 2018 2:51 AM

EllieMacVenue23

Love this film! Love Leslie Howard! Love YOU <3 - @Saturday, November 3, 2018 11:15 PM

Mamma Kaye Lee

"You will never rule the world. Because you are doomed. All of you who have demoralized and corrupted a nation are doomed. ... " Prophetic words. - @Friday, November 2, 2018 7:19 PM

Mike Crawshaw

This is one of my favourite films, I have loved it for many years and finding it here on You Tube was such a delight. The film has lost none of its charm nor sense of humour and I applauded at the ending as I did years ago. Thank you so much for posting it. - @Friday, October 26, 2018 8:53 PM

Andrew Sclama

good movie. - @Friday, October 26, 2018 3:28 AM

Adam Welton

I wonder if some Nazi sat awaiting judgement in 1945 thinking "Leslie Howard was absolutely right. What were we thinking?". I am not passing any sort of personal comment on Howard's script or acting, I merely hope that one of those swine took a long look at themselves and realised that an actor speaking written lines in a film was absolutely right in the end. - @Monday, October 15, 2018 7:33 PM

Adam Welton

I must speak of two wonderful personal observations regarding this film-it's Leslie Howard at the same best he put into "The Scarlet Pimpernel" in 1938, and his university professor persona is strangely reminiscent of what I know of JRR Tolkien at that time. I wonder if they met and Howard took certain characteristics away afterward. What a real delight. Well done and thank you to our host for such magic. - @Monday, October 15, 2018 7:15 PM

windstorm1000

Howard's voice seems unnaturally high during film. Is he playing character pimpernel? - @Friday, October 12, 2018 3:28 AM

Ant m

Make that muslims ... - @Tuesday, October 9, 2018 8:42 AM

Ant m

How would he feel today seeing Arab "CAPTAINS of MURDER" over running & ruining his beloved England? - @Tuesday, October 9, 2018 8:41 AM

Ant m

Can you imagine any of today's feckless 'stars' giving a performance of this quality? They wouldn't even understand it. - @Tuesday, October 9, 2018 8:27 AM

Ant m

Outstanding with shadows of the scarlet pimpernel. And you see Howard's passionate fight against nazism throughout the movie. - @Tuesday, October 9, 2018 8:25 AM

Tim Moriarty

"Give my love to Father and keep some for yourself"(@ 1:43:40); what a wonderful line... . - @Monday, October 8, 2018 5:55 PM

Scott Freeman

A new world order! -over and over again-the ignorants need to see what the facist truly are-that men of valor stand against the darkness! Jesus is the Light that men crave- - @Monday, October 8, 2018 3:07 AM

Robert Sass

Actually Leslie Howard was murdered more because of the fact that he was an agent of BSI , British Secret Intelligence, or as Intrepid called them the Baker Street Irregulars, - @Sunday, September 30, 2018 1:36 PM

Chris

thanks for this gem from 1941 - @Monday, September 17, 2018 5:06 PM

Igor Mishap

Love this movie!!! Leslie Howard was so gifted, - @Monday, September 10, 2018 6:52 AM

JohnDrakeMI6

Classic Pimpernel !! - @Wednesday, August 29, 2018 6:34 AM

Billy Duncan

I love this film, a real classic.....great British stuff. - @Monday, August 27, 2018 4:48 AM

Leo

True and Real to the Liberty of Justice~! Good over Evil! Marvelously and Ingeniously produced for all times! Wish these type of movies were portrayed in this New ERA of fake News, Corruption and Lies by the MEDIA in America! USN RET Patriot! - @Sunday, August 26, 2018 8:41 PM

Ho Chi Minh was a mass-murderer

Gotta admit it. Leslie Howard was one of a kind! - @Saturday, August 18, 2018 10:00 AM

rose mary Perez

Simply unforgettable. Lovely, lovable Lesliie - @Wednesday, August 8, 2018 10:44 AM

joe 90

Great.movie - @Monday, July 23, 2018 1:02 AM

certaintngs2000

How could anyone dislike this movie? These dislikes must be from those Politician, Antifa's, SJW and their like, who... hate.. honour and the moral codes which Britain stood for, before Globalism, the EU and the men and women like, Soros, May and the Clintons. Who's goals seem to divide us and destroy and then rebuild in their own view of the perfect society. Goals of the dictator, fanatic, religious zealot and megalomaniac. - @Friday, July 13, 2018 11:29 PM

Boo Man

To think how strong men of Germany once was ,now its men are a bunch of wussies hiding under skirts. And sitting on the toilet while they go pea. Sad. - @Monday, July 2, 2018 9:23 AM

Boo Man

Spot on English movie! Well done!!! - @Monday, July 2, 2018 9:21 AM

Daniel Day

Leslie Howard was man of great talent and courage. - @Saturday, June 16, 2018 11:08 AM

HQCOMMS65

its a shame he was killed by the nazis in 1944 - @Friday, June 15, 2018 5:19 PM

Alan Graves

A bit like the E U 2018 - @Sunday, June 3, 2018 7:57 PM

C J

Not always a fan of wwii movies, yet this is certainly far and and above any, very wonderful movie. Thank you. - @Saturday, April 28, 2018 5:27 PM

Paul Briody

A really unexpected treat, well worth watching. - @Monday, April 23, 2018 12:13 AM

Gary Heaton

A very different England is wonderfully portrayed in this film. If you like this you'll love "Goodbye Mr Chips" With Robert Donat in the starring role. - @Saturday, April 14, 2018 2:18 PM

Brian Morgan

BRAVO BRAVO. - @Monday, April 9, 2018 1:23 PM

InTheNameOfJustice

Excellent - @Tuesday, April 3, 2018 7:10 PM

tony mullins

Howard was superb in the title role "The Scarlet Pimpernel" with Merle Oberon (1934.) He portrayed Sir Percy Blakeney, a British aristocrat who saved French aristocrats and other condemned from the guillotine during the French Revolution. "They seek him here, they seek him there. Those Frenchies seek him everywhere. Is he in heaven, or is he in hell? That damned, elusive Pimpernel." A great movie. - @Saturday, March 24, 2018 9:51 PM

Marlene Allen

I’m - @Thursday, March 15, 2018 1:58 AM

live in ms

Howard was a truly good man - @Thursday, March 8, 2018 8:50 PM

Ted thesailor

Splendid wartime tubthumper starring the excellent Leslie Howard with a very strong supporting cast. Many thanks for sharing. Thankfully, his character's shameful attitude to female students has been consigned to history. - @Thursday, March 1, 2018 11:47 PM

William Butler

so , Leslie Howard was the Pimpernel after all ! - @Thursday, March 1, 2018 10:20 PM

judy valencia

Anglo American. WOW! - @Thursday, February 22, 2018 2:31 AM

Emmette Craft

At the very least, Leslie Howard is one of the greatest actors ever. - @Saturday, February 10, 2018 10:34 PM

Joella Z

Leslie Howard is so handsome and charming. No wonder he was recruited by the British to convince American women to enter the war. Leslie was partially Jewish and I hate to think he could have been tortured in a concentration camp if the Nazis won. Although the Nazis managed to kill him, it was much better death than that would have awaited him if filthy Nazis won. - @Thursday, February 1, 2018 10:02 AM

Katherine Byron

How prophetic was the Professor's last speech..... - @Thursday, January 18, 2018 5:10 PM

PAUL ELKINGTON

YOU WILL NEVER RULE THE WORLD YOU ARE DOOMED . STILL TRUE TODAY - @Monday, December 18, 2017 11:20 PM

Cheryl hutchinson

Amazing. I wasn't expecting this because I thought Leslie Howard was really overdoing it with the whole Scarlet Pimpernel thing. But this was really wonderful. Howard was truly one of the more distinguished members of the greatest generation. - @Tuesday, November 28, 2017 4:54 AM

peter wallis

Great film... cheekily enhancing the characteristics of the intelligent stiff upper lip English man & pitting him against the educated yet dumb ass brutal Nazis. I'm sure many a Nazi ( including Hitler) was fuming at this portrayal of '' The good' v 'The doomed'! - @Friday, November 24, 2017 7:45 PM

Bart Alder

Ye olde movies are so much fun. Thank you uploader. - @Monday, November 13, 2017 2:57 AM