The Scarlet and the Black

Infobox Film
name = The Scarlet and the Black


imdb_id = 0086251
producer = Bill McCutchen
Howard Alston (executive producer)
Alfio Sugaroni (associate producer)
director = Jerry London
writer = J.P. Gallagher (novel "The Scarlet Pimpernel of the Vatican")
David Butler (screenplay)
starring = Gregory Peck
Christopher Plummer
John Gielgud
Barbara Bouchet
music = Ennio Morricone
cinematography = Giuseppe Rotunno
editing = Benjamin A. Weissman
distributor =
released = February 2, 1983
runtime = 143 min.
language = English
budget =

"The Scarlet and the Black" is a 1983 made for TV movie starring Gregory Peck and Christopher Plummer. This production should not be confused with the 1993 British television mini series "The Scarlet and the Black", which starred Ewan McGregor and Rachel Weisz.

Based on J. P. Gallagher's book The Scarlet Pimpernel of the Vatican (published in 1967), this movie tells the story of Monsignor Hugh O'Flaherty, a real life Catholic priest who saved thousands of Jews and Allied POWs from Nazi occupied Rome.

Plot synopsis

In 1943, German-occupied Rome witnessed many atrocities of the Gestapo under the command of Colonel Herbert Kappler. Monsignor Hugh O'Flaherty, an Irish priest, was assigned to the Vatican under the pontificate of Pope Pius XII. Despite official Vatican neutrality and significant risk to his position within the church and personal safety, O'Flaherty organizes an enormous network of civilians to save Jewish refugees and Allied POWs from the Nazis. Colonel Kappler discovers that O'Flaherty is giving shelter to Allied prisoners and orders a white line be drawn around the Vatican compound, later placing German guards along the perimeter and checking identification of those entering to try and stop the inflow of POW's who O'Flatery has been helping. The film portrays the brutal tactics of the Gestapo who torture and execute a priest found to be actively assisting the resistance fighters. Kappler makes it his aim to not only stop O'Flaherty's efforts, but to have him assassinated.

Trivia

The character of General Max Helm was based entirely on the real life of "SS-Obergruppenführer" Karl Wolff, who served in 1944 as the Supreme SS and Police Leader of Italy. The film was unable to use Wolff's real name, since the SS General was still living in 1981; he died in 1984.

Movie Details

* Also Known As : "The Vatican Pimpernel", "Scarlatto e nero" (Italian)
* Year : 1983
* Country : USA / UK / Italy
* Language : English / German / Italian
* Color : Color
* Runtime : 143 minutes

Awards for the movie

In 1983 The Scarlet and the Black was nominated for an Emmy in the category "Outstanding Film Editing for a Limited Series or a Special".

External links

* [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086251/ Internet Move Database entry for "The Scarlet and The Black"]
* [http://planetreview.blogspot.com/2002/07/scarlet-and-black.html Planet Review Blog for "The Scarlet and the Black"]