The Elusive Pimpernel

The Elusive Pimpernel is a 1950 British period adventure film by the Britishbased directorwriter team of Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger, based on the novel The Scarlet Pimpernel 1905 by Baroness Emmuska Orczy. It was released in the United States under the title The Fighting Pimpernel. The film stars David Niven as Sir Percy Blakeney aka The Scarlet Pimpernel, Margaret Leighton as Marguerite Blakeney and features Jack Hawkins, Cyril Cusack and Robert Coote. Originally intended to be a musical, the film was reworked as a lighthearted drama.

Chauvelin, French Ambassador of the Revolution to England Cyril Cusack wants to find out who the Pimpernel is and bring him in to meet his fate under French justice. When evidence points to Sir Percy, Chauvelin blackmails Blakeneys wife, Marguerite Margaret Leighton by threatening to expose her criminal brother Armand Edmond Audran, but Marguerite doesnt believe her husband is capable of being the daring Pimpernel.The Elusive Pimpernel was financed by Samuel Goldwyn and Alexander Korda. Neither director Michael Powell nor star David Niven was very interested in doing the film, but had their minds changed by threats of contract suspension. Rex Harrison had been originally announced as the star. Powell wanted to make the film as a musical, but was not allowed to, and Margaret Leighton was cast despite his objection. Goldwyn forced numerous additions and changes to the film but when Powell delivered the final cut, Goldwyn refused to make the final payment, which caused Korda to sue him. ........

Source: Wikipedia