I so love this film, and the wonderful score composed to emphasize plot points at just the right moments. The double bass as Percy rides up to the house and sees Chauvelin's carriage, the fugue that merges the two adversaries in opposed music!
There's the fugue again as Percy examines the empty carrier pouch and Marguerite spies from the stairway. The use of music in this film is nothing short of brilliant. And notice Percy's silent walk to her boudoir, his face set in determination to find out her involvement. But when he sees her and speaks to her, he softens involuntarily. Then she mentions Foullkes as the possible Pimpernel, and suspicion and coldness return. This is all business. And his wife is his adversary, his secret adversary.
This was definitely one of my favorite parts in the book~ Although vastly different from the droll manner in which Baroness portrays him in the book, the movie definitely does add a dimension of color to Percy. ^^;
The first I watched this movie I borrowed it the public library. And I wanted to watch it again but one of the librarians had it for months into their home "VHS " tape at that time.
The formal minuet, whose formal shape and steps are captured by a ceiling camera, is so perfect as a backdrop for the sinister dealings of Chauvelin with Marguerite. The music was not written by Haydn - it was by a modern composer in the style of Haydn. Bravo to the composer!
And to think, this was where I discovered Jane Seymour. Not the "Solitaire" of live and let die and not the medicine woman, but as Marguerite Saint Juste the wife of sir Percy Blakeney
I love the entrance music as the Prince Regent and our odd couple make their entrance to the ball - because the tune is so perfectly suited to its period, 1790's. It might have been written by Joseph Haydn - perhaps it was!
With respect HRH was not the Regent just yet. If we postulate that this scene takes place somewhere in the neighborhood of 1793 to 1794 the Prince of Wales would not become the Regent for at least another 15+ years in 1810. I must say the actor perfectly portrays the man George IV was described to be, and it completely makes sense that he would be friends with Sir Percy or at least the one who was on public display.
huh, it looks so out of place for Chauvelin to be wearing that unrequitted black suit while all the other guys practically have the smae color finery as the ladies
+Adrienne Mann I had wanted to find that song for a long time. I always thought it was an actual classical piece. But it seems to be by Nick Bicat, who wrote the rest of the score for the film. The whole soundtrack is here www.nickbicat.com/music/index/?id=21
Someone would have said "Don't be daft, Percy is no frenchie Pimpernel." "Quite, *Percy snorts snuff* "I am a gentlemen; saving lives is for the riff-raff." The dude is literally cool as a cucumber because his bag is that he's definitely not the action hero type. Very Suppish..
