Paris 1792. Each day scores of the French nobility feed the guillotine. They are trapped in the capital: there is no escape. But rumours whisper of a league of young English gentlemen of unparalleled daring who risk their lives to spirit aristocrats across the Channel. They leave no trace behind them except a note from the ""Scarlett Pimpernel"" (Anthony Andrews). The ruthless spy master Chauvelin (Ian McKellen) is determined to stop the rescuers by fair means or foul - and desperately outnumbered the Scarlet Pimpernel and his men must use all their wits to evade capture and stay alive. With a dazzling all-British cast this glorious production of Baroness Orczy's classic adventure novel is one of the largest single television productions ever made - winning critical acclaim on its release and wowing generations of viewers for over two decades. Nominated for three Academy awards and winner of an Emmy award for Outstanding Costume Design.