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The Scarlet And The Black [1983]


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Spellbound Witness to History (a true story)
Review date: 2008-07-25 Rating: 10 out of 10

This spellbinding made for TV film (starring Gregory Peck and Christopher Plummer) is based on J. P. Gallagher's book "The Scarlet Pimpernel of the Vatican", the true life story of Monsignor Hugh O'Flaherty, who saved roughly 4000 Jews and Allied POWs from Nazi occupied Rome.

In 1943 O'Flaherty organises an enormous network of civilians, priests and nuns to save Jewish refugees and Allied POWs from the Nazis, hiding them in flats convents and churches in Rome to save them from the GeStaPo and Colonel Kappler. Kappler decides to have a white line drawn around the Vatican and check those entering and leaving but with many disguises O'Flaherty manages to slip the net and escape assassination attempts on his life.

Of 9,700 Jews in Rome, 1,007 were shipped to Auschwitz. The rest were hidden, 5,000 of them by the Vatican --3,000 in Castel Gandolfo, 200 or 400 (estimates vary) as "members" of the Palatine Guard and some 1,500 in monasteries, convents and colleges. The remaining 3,700 were hidden in private homes.

Despite the Vatican's official neutrality O'Flaherty seems to have enjoyed the tacit approval of Pope Pius XII (splendidly played by John Gielgud).

Hugh O'Flaherty was born in Ireland, studied theology at the Killarney seminary and was posted to Rome in 1922 to finish his studies. He was ordained on December 20, 1925 and stayed to work for the Holy See. He then served as a Vatican diplomat in Egypt, Haiti, Santo Domingo and Czechoslovakia and in 1934 received the title of Monsignor (hence the scarlet cincture).

Father O'Flaherty died October 30, 1963. He was buried in Cahirciveen. O'Flaherty was termed one of the "Righteous Among the Nations", with a tree planted in his honour in Yad Vashem, Jerusalem.

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Reviews


Monsignor Flat-Out
Review date: 2008-05-29 Rating: 8 out of 10

Gregory Peck gives a good performance as the Irish cleric in WW2 Rome, where he is a neutral (as a citizen of the Irish Free State) in a neutral location (Vatican City), surrounded, after Italy turned coat in 1943, by the forces of the German Reich. He becomes a fleet-footed Scarlet Pimpernel indeed, in and out of the Vatican's neutral precincts, hunted by SS commander Kappler.

When Italy gave up the Axis alliance (Mussolini being deposed by Marshal Badoglio, head of the Fascist Grand Council, on behalf of the Italian King, none of which is explained properly in the film, though), many thousands of Allied POW's escaped or were simply released by the Italian guards. Many found themselves in occupied Rome and were desperate not to be recaptured and sent to Germany. O'Flaherty (Peck) tries to help them.

This film is called a true story and probably is, in basis, though one must always be careful in believing every detail even in stories mainly or basically "true". For example, many people believe Schindler's List to be a true story, even though in fact it is fiction (albeit that there seems to have been a small businessman called Scindler, who did employ Jewis who otherwise would have been much worse off in labour camps like Auschwitz); that film is based loosely on a novel by an Australian writer, which was written long after WW2. In this film, many priests helped servicemen to escape capture, including, after 1943, German Wehrmacht and SS officers and men. Christian duty or compassion, not one-sided...

The Scarlet and the Black, which I looked at, before I bought a copy, because I thought it would be an adaptation of Stendhal's novel, is well worth watching, well-filmed and with mostly decent characterization. As in Monsignor Renard, it seems that, slowly, the black and white view of those years is merging into grey here and there.

Finally, the postscript says that Kappler was sentenced to life imprisonment in Italy after WW2, was visited by O'Flaherty once a month thereafter and was eventually admitted into the Roman Catholic Church in 1959. On the face of it, an arguably fitting ending, but one might skeptically wonder whether, after 14-15 years of harsh and squalid Italian captivity, anyone might join anything under gradual persuasion.

A Film of Inspiring Humanity and Humility
Review date: 2008-01-13 Rating: 10 out of 10

Whatever your religion, or even if you do not have a religion, you should watch this film and learn from it. It portrays the dedication of one man Mon. Hugh O'Flahrety, a Vatican priest, during the occupation of Rome in the second World War by the Nazi regime.His compassion to those terrified by the German army, inspires him to organise escape routes to the free world, not only of allied personnel, but ordinary Italians persecuted by the Nazi authorities. With the help of many loyal compatriots opposed to the raviges of war, he successfully outwits the German Authorities time and time again, despite frightening threats to his own life and the neutrality of the Vatican itself.
Made in 1983, take no notice of that- the film is timeless. In these troubled times one should take heart and find real inspiration in one mans love of Justice, Humanity, and his own Humility in the site of God.
Based upon a true story, it is one film that should be watched by the whole family.

An awe-inspiring timeless classic
Review date: 2007-05-25 Rating: 10 out of 10

This is an awe-inspiring timeless classic. I love this movie in more ways than one. It is not only based on a true story, it is one that fills you with courage, hope and a sense of triumph. Set in Rome in 1943, during the German occupation , it tells the story of the courageous Irish priest - Monsignor Hugh O' Flaherty (played by Gregory Peck), who defied all threats (death, capture, imprisonment) by the Nazis especially the Chief Gestapo officer Col Herbert Kappler(played by Christopher Plummer) to save many allied POWs. He put in every resource at his disposal in hiding these escapees. The Vatican was diplomatically immune form the German occupation, because of this, Kappler and his men could not touch the monsignor, but when Kappler uncovers proof of O'Flaherty's involvement he orders that he be killed or arrested if seen outside the Vatican walls. O'Flaherty became more ingenious in devising ways to carry out his task - he wore many disguises, - a true reflection of the title - `The Scarlet pimpernel of the Vatican' (the book on which the movie is based). What I like best about this movie is that the good guys were always wining and outsmarting the bad guys and not just the triumph of good over evil in the end. The priest gave the Nazis a run for their money. Gregory Peck and Christopher Plummer are both screen legends and they gave life to these characters in a way that only such icons could. John Gielgud also stares as the Pope. Reflecting on the overall suffering and horror of the 2nd world war, this movie goes a long way in restoring hope and confidence in the power of goodness, courage and forgiveness. The Monsignor had all of this and more. His goodness knew no bounds, neither did he judge others. In the end even Kappler approached him for help and he gave it unreservedly. This movie is very inspiring and is one that you will watch over and over again. I am just glad that it is on DVD for all time.

Do what is right and God will give you the upper hand
Review date: 2003-11-05 Rating: 10 out of 10

This is a wonderful film full of hope and encouragement that fills your heart with frequent moments of joy. Gregory Peck gives a superb acting as an Irish Mons. Hugh O'Flahrety trying in a most diplomatic manner to tackle the German Col. Kappler. I wholeheartedly promote this film, I saw this film more then fifty times and the more I see it the more I find myself learning something new. I ordered my DVD copy so to treasure it forever, I hope the transfer to DVD was done in a professional way, for such fascinating acting a professional DVD is an asset. When we watch this great movie let us keep in mind Greogory whom we lost as a great actor but for surely his films will remain with us forever.

Product Details/Specifications


Actor(s):
John Gielgud
Raf Vallone
Kenneth Colley
Christopher Plummer
Gregory Peck

Creators:
Gregory Peck (Primary Contributor)
Christopher Plummer (Primary Contributor)

Director(s):

Recording label: ITV DVD
Manufacturer: ITV DVD
EAN: 5037115050632
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: PAL,
Release date: 2003-08-11
Number of discs: 1
Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
Audience rating: Parental Guidance
Region code: 2
Running time: 137 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1983-02-02
Language: English (Original Language)
Language: German (Original Language)
Language: Italian (Original Language)

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