Leslie Howard is convincing both as a professor of archaeology and as a British spy in this film which positions British wit against compulsive Nazi blundering. The movie time begins before World War Two and ends on the eve of the invasion of Poland by German forces on September 1, 1939. Howard's function in this film (as Professor Horatio Smith) is to liberate as many scientists, intellectuals, writers and other opponents of the Third Reich. The portrayals of national characters do seem somewhat extreme, the British were not that brilliant nor were the Germans that blundering, yet the images projected are within a range of how many citizens of Allied nations perceived the menace of World War Two. Indeed, many writers and intellectuals did escape from from Nazism, as did many artists, before the war began. As in so many other films of this period, the mention of slave labor camps and of concentration camps only make post-war denial all the more nonsensical, both by the Axis and by the Allies. Of course, in a British film of conflict between the Brits and the Huns, the British triumph--a fair conclusion for American audiences. How good a film is this? As a spy movie it is very good; however, at times the action dwindles in the midst of British propaganda about German propaganda. Somewhat curious is that fact that Howard is not listed in the writing credits, especially since the dialogue seems to have his style attached to it. Propaganda aside, this is an entertaining film, full of wit if lacking in wisdom.
Review of 'Pimpernel' Smith
