Novel to Movie???

There is rarely a movie which is completely true to the book, as it can't really be done - and the Scarlet Pimpernel is a prime example of this. The 1934 film, with Leslie Howard and Merle Oberon, is closest, I suppose - the ending is different, and they change Marguerite's reason for denouncing the St Cyr family, but otherwise, it tries to get most of the details in (to the detriment of the film, in some cases). The 1983 film is based on two Baroness Orczy books, and is well-acted and lovely to watch, but again, details are changed (mainly the suggestion that Marguerite and Chauvelin were lovers, which Orczy doesn't even hint at). The 1999 series seemingly only has the character names and title in common with the books! Don't use this to 'understand' the book! The main novel, 'The Scarlet Pimpernel', is completely lost in the first episode of the Richard E. Grant series. And 'Valentin Gaultier', or 'Madame Guillotine', is distantly based on two main Scarlet Pimpernel stories: 'Mam'zelle Guillotine' and 'Sir Percy Hits Back' (with a soupcon of 'Child of the Revolution'/'Sir Percy Leads the Band', in the relationship between the Marquis' daughter and the revolutionary), but it doesn't directly translate any of the books onto the screen. Either watch the films - I recommend watching the 1999 versions *before* you read the book, so as not to be heartily disappointed by the treatment of Orczy's characters - or read the novels. Don't confuse the two.

"Tony, if you talk that rubbish, I shall be forced to punch your head" - Lord Tony's Wife, Orczy