About Me

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Lover of anything vintage. I spend my free time looking at antiques,watching and collecting classic films,and reading some of the greatest literary classics known to man.This blog is just my way of sharing my interests with other people.

Friday, April 20, 2012

"They seek him here, they seek him there..."

The Scarlet Pimpernel
1905 novel
by Baroness Emmuska Orczy

Although written at the beginning of the 20th century, the story of The Scarlet Pimpernel was inspired by events that took place over 100 years before.  It is set in both France and England during the French Revolution.  An Englishman with a well-concealed identity, who is referred to as the Scarlet Pimpernel, along with his band of 19 followers, goes on daring missions into the heart of France to save French aristocrats from death by the guillotine. They are then brought to England, where they can safely start a new life.
But who is this man? Who is the Scarlet Pimpernel?
Nobody knows--not even the people who are saved with his help.
Yet so many are seeking him--particularly the leaders of the new French republic. In their minds, he is keeping wicked people from dying deaths that they deserve. So an ambassador is sent to England by the name of Chauvelin, for the sole purpose of discovering the identity of the Scarlet Pimpernel so that they can watch his movements and have him arrested and executed the next time he is on French soil. Chauvelin does as much research as he can before heading over to England, concluding that whoever the Scarlet Pimpernel is, he is a part of the highest social circle in England.
Also within that social circle are Sir Percy Blakeney and his wife, Lady Marguerite Blakeney--a newly married young couple. Sir Percy is a fool who can barely bring himself to think of anything besides fashion and money, yet he is known to be clever and witty at times and comes from very good money. Lady Marguerite is actually a Frenchwoman by birth, who somehow managed to get swept off her feet by Sir Percy and now unhappily resides with him in England. To make up for her husbands foolish ways, Lady Blakeney is breathtakingly beautiful, highly intelligent, cunning and witty. She is regarded as one of the most important women in Europe, and together she and her husband easily glide within the social circle with people like the Prince of Wales.
Chauvelin actually knew Lady Blakeney before she was married, while she was still living in France. He knew her family and is also acquainted with her brother, Armand. While trying to discover who the Scarlet Pimpernel is, he discovers that Armand is one of his 19 followers. He has him arrested and decides to blackmail Lady Blakeney into helping him figure out who it is within her social circle that moonlights as The Scarlet Pimpernel. He promises her that if she does this, he will set her brother free.
Lady Blakeney doesn't know what to do or where to begin. Her dearest brother, her only living blood relative is in danger but if she can discover the identity of the Scarlet Pimpernel, he can return safely to England. But even if she did discover who the Scarlet Pimpernel was, could she really condemn a man who is known to be so brave by his adventures and efforts to save innocent lives?

The Scarlet Pimpernel
1934
Starring Merle Oberon, Raymond Massey, and Leslie Howard

Baroness Orczy's novel The Scarlet Pimpernel has been adapted for the stage and the screen many times before. However, I would say that the best version that I know of and have seen myself would be the 1934 film, which stars Merle Oberon as the beautiful, troubled young Lady Blakeney; Leslie Howard as her dumb husband, Sir Percy; and Raymond Massey as the French ambassador, Chauvelin.
This film adaptation captures all of the tiny details found in the original tale of The Scarlet Pimpernel. It is very well done and brings the adventures of the brave Englishman to life.

And, for your enjoyment, I have found the 1934 version of The Scarlet Pimpernel in it's entirety as one whole video, and you can watch it from beginning to end here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6SnYSLFJiY


"They seek him here, they seek him there,
 Those Frenchies seek him everywhere.
 Is he in heaven? Is he in hell?
 That demmed, elusive Pimpernel."
 -Sir Percy Blakeney


"Suzanne: 'The Scarlet Pimpernel. What a droll name. What does it mean?'
 Sir Andrew: 'It is humble, wayside flower, mademoiselle. And it hides the identity of the best and  bravest man in all the world.'"

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

"Good books,like friends,are few and chosen; the more select,the more enjoyable."-Louisa May Alcott


Little Women
1868-69 novel
by Louisa May Alcott

Little Women is essentially a story about family.  The story follows the lives of the March sisters--Margaret "Meg," Josephine "Jo," Elizabeth "Beth," and Amy.  Each of them have their own distinct personalities, and occasionally those personalities clash, but time and again, with the help of their loving Father and Marmee, they learn important life lessons: the importance of love and family, forgiveness, having faith in their creator, accepting loss, etc. The story begins when Meg, the oldest of the sisters, is only sixteen, and it follows them, their adventures and life lessons over several years time. It doesn't just look at hard, trying or profound times, either. There are passages that make the reader laugh, and smile.
Louisa May Alcott
The story is written by Louisa May Alcott, and it has strong ties to her real life. The characters of the March family are all based on her real parents, her sisters and herself (as portrayed by Jo), and although the names were changed for most of them, nothing was changed about the character of her beloved sister, Beth--not even her name.  Many of the scenarios that are presented to the reader are actual memories belonging to Alcott of her family.  The story is even set in and around Alcott's childhood home, which is also where she wrote it.  Perhaps because of the deeply personal ties to the story, it is written in a way that makes the reader feel like they know the characters, and take a personal interest in what happens to them as the story goes on.
Alcott originally only wrote the first half of the novel (which is split into two parts) and had it published in 1868. She did not believe that it would be well received, or that people would be interested in it. Therefore, she only published to first part to begin with. To test the waters, if you will.  She was surprised at the warm reception, and agreed to finish the story, with the second half being published in 1869.

I honestly cannot even begin to express how much I love this story. The plot sounds so simple, almost like there is nothing to it, and maybe that's true, but it is so fascinating and fun. It's merely a coming of age story--a story about a family that will make you laugh, smile, cry, and keep turning the pages to figure out what happens to the girls and their loved ones.  I know so many people who have read this story, and I've found that even though the reader always loves the entire March family, they always have that one March sister which is their favorite. I know people whose favorite is Amy, or maybe Meg, or of course, free-spirited Jo. My own personal favorite is Beth. But no matter which sister wins your heart, everybody I know who has read the book loves it, and learns and grows along with the March family as they read.

Beth March
Of course, when there is a book beloved by so many, film adaptations are bound to follow.
There are several classic versions that have been brought to the public over the years:
A 1933 version starring Katharine Hepburn as Jo, Frances Dee as Meg, Jean Parker as Beth, and Joan Bennett as Amy.
A 1949 version starring June Allyson as Jo, Janet Leigh as Meg, Margaret O'Brien as Beth, and Elizabeth Taylor as Amy.
A 1978 version starring Susan Dey as Jo, Meredith Baxter Birney as Meg, Eve Plumb as Beth, and Ann Dusenberry as Amy.

If I were to choose which of the above mentioned classic versions of the movie as my favorite, I would have to say, after seeing all of them, the 1949 version, which I was raised on. We had it as a VHS tape when I was a kid and I watched it so many times I'm surprised it still works.
However, if I had to choose my absolute favorite version of the movie from all time, even though it might not qualify as a classic, it would have to be....

Little Women
1994
Starring Winona Ryder, Trini Alvarado, Claire Danes, Kirsten Dunst, Samantha Mathis, Christian Bale, and Susan Sarandon

This version is by far the best I have ever seen. There is just something about it that really encompasses the true feeling of family and love that you get when you read the book.
It's phenomenal, with Winona Ryder as spirited Jo, Trini Alvarado as pretty Meg, Claire Danes in her first film role as timid Beth, and artistic Amy portrayed both by Kirsten Dunst and Samantha Mathis as she ages.
Susan Sarandon really steps into the role of Marmee, in all her wisdom, and Christian Bale is Theodore "Teddy"/"Laurie" Laurence, the boy from next door.
The book presents such a beautiful story, written from the heart of Louisa May Alcott, and this movie is the only one that truly captures that on the screen, in my opinion.

Here is the trailer for the movie:

"There are many Beths in the world, shy and quiet, sitting in corners till needed, and living for others so cheerfully that no one sees the sacrifices till the little cricket on the hearth stops chirping, and the sweet, sunshiny presence vanishes, leaving silence and shadow behind."

"I may be strong-minded, but no one can say I'm out of my sphere now, for woman's special mission is supposed to be drying tears and bearing burdens."
-Jo March


"Give them all my dear love and a kiss.  Tell them I think of them by day, pray for them by night, and find my best comfort in their affection at all times.  A year seems very long to wait before I see them, but remind them that while we wait we may all work, so that these hard days need not be wasted.  I know they will remember all I said to them, that they will be loving children to you, will do their duty faithfully, fight their bosom enemies bravely, and conquer themselves so beautifully that when I come back to them I may be fonder and prouder than ever of my little women."
-A letter from Mr. March to Marmee