The Scarlet and the Black

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The Scarlet and the Black

Directed by	Jerry London
Produced by	Bill McCutchen Howard Alston (executive producer) Alfio Sugaroni (associate producer)
Written by	J.P. Gallagher (novel "The Scarlet Pimpernel of the Vatican") David Butler (screenplay)
Starring	Gregory Peck Christopher Plummer John Gielgud Barbara Bouchet
Music by	Ennio Morricone
Cinematography	Giuseppe Rotunno
Editing by	Benjamin A. Weissman
Release date(s)	February 2, 1983
Running time	143 min.
Language	English
IMDb profile

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, 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.

1 Plot synopsis
2 Trivia
3 Movie Details
4 Awards for the movie
5 External links

[edit] Plot synopsis

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

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, and he organizes an enormous network of civilians to save Jewish refugees and Allied POWs from the Nazis.

When Colonel Kappler, the Gestapo Chief, learns of this, he is determined to capture the Monsignor. However, the Monsignor has diplomatic immunity with his Vatican position, and although he is safe there, he needs to use disguises to get out of the walls and help the refugees.

The Colonel's keen pursuit on capturing the priest red handed soon becomes an obsession. Later as the Allies are about to enter Rome, the tables are turned. Now the ruthless Nazi commander wants to save his wife, played by Barbara Bouchet, and children and the only hope he can think of is none other than Monsignor Hugh O'Flaherty.

"The Scarlet and The Black" is an inspirational tale of moral courage, human spirit, sacrifice, compassion, forgiveness and altruism. Although the movie is a made-for-TV movie, it is often considered to be a great film none the less, due in large part to the overall ability of legendary actor Gregory Peck.

[edit] 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 (Karl Wolff would later die in 1984).