Customer Reviews

The Scarlet and the Black [VHS]

5 star:		(71)
4 star:		(19)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Gregory Peck and Christopher Plummer give outstanding performances as Monsr. Hugh O'Flaherty(Peck) and SS Col. Herbert Kapler(Plummer). The action and suspense of the movie keeps it going at a brisk pace. The story follows Peck as a Vatican official trying to save Italian Jews and Allied escaped POW's from the hands of the German SS. Plummers portrayal as Col. Kapler is both chilling and frightening, especially when he personally executes a Catholic priest who was caught helping the Resistance. Peck's portrayal of Father O'Flaherty is very moving to watch. The intelligence and compassion of this man truly shows through and shows how much Father O'Flaherty deserved the awards and decorations he received from the Allies after the war. And the ending is very surprising as well! It is also a plus having the movie shot in Rome where the actual events took place. A truly classic movie. I highly recommend it.

This movie never gets enough credit! This is one of the best war time movies ever and with Mr. Peck's passing this is a must see for Peck fans who have not seen this movie. Gregory Peck and Christopher Plummer in one of his best roles play a cat and mouse game during WW2. The acting is fantastic and there is a lot of suspense! A must see!

. . .all the more exciting because it's a (mostly) true story.

Let's begin with the cast. Gregory Peck, Christopher Plummer and Sir John Gielgud all together in the same movie? Just this cast alone would be enough to recommend this movie to most people.

And the filming? On location in Rome and the Vatican. Doesn't get much better than that!

Drama? Yes, it's there. Suspense? In SPADES! Pathos? Yup! Humor? Believe it or not, yes!

This movie, based on the true story of an Irish cleric in the Vatican will have you sitting on the edge of your seat. The ending will have you cheering and crying and shocked, etc. You will run the full gamut of emotions when viewing this film.

The only major difficulty? The "politically correct" portrayal of Eugenio Pacelli, aka Pope Pius XII. For me, a trained historian, this was a major flaw. The film's presentation of Pius was that of a weak man, unable to do much of anything, while the facts of the matter were quite different.

Regardless, though, this movie does rate as a "must see".

What Would Jesus Do (WWJD) in Nazi occupied Rome? Gregory Peck as Fr. O'Flaherty answers this question the best he can, despite tacit opposition from the Pope himself, by helping to spirit escaped allied POWs and Jews out from under the noses of the Gestapo. Christopher Plummer plays the SS colonel who "owns" Rome (an interesting contrast with his role as Baron von Trapp in The Sound of Music). Peck stays on his toes, continuously exploring ways of outwitting the growing Nazi oppression.

Although not overtly religious--well, it's hard to set a story in the Vatican without being religious! While the movie doesn't explore spirituality in depth (nor does it seek to proselytize), it does paint several ethical dilemmas.

A powerful story, one I'd like to see on DVD, with background material. Worthy of a documentary as well. Almost hard to believe that a movie about a Jesuit member of the Holy Order (ie the Inquisition) could be this riveting. It is.

(If you'd like to discuss this movie or review in greater detail, please click on the "about me" link above and drop me an email. Thanks!)

Exact historical account or not aside, this movie has greatness above any of the criticisms that I have read here on Amazon.com. What makes this movie great is that from beginning to end it is a marvelous Catholic friendly movie, so unlike Hollywood to make. The ending scene and epilog tells it all very powerfully. What a tribute to the Church! The pro-Catholic view of the movie is not at the expense of Protestantism, so I don't think Protestants would be offended in any way. I think that all Christians can love this movie for what it is a movie of a historical event that is uplifting as can be. Another triumph of love and goodness. Our parish priest a number of years ago, thought so highly of this movie that he bought it for everyone in the parish. Do your family a favor and buy this tape or DVD. I run the Wayside Shrine Catholic retreat house. Everyone of our guests has thought very highly of this film.

This movie, based on the book by J. Gallagher entitled "Scarlet Pimpernel of the Vatican" describes in somewhat romantic detail the true story of Monsignor Hugh O'Flaherty, represented in this wonderful film by Gregory Peck. This is a World War II era based film, well written, concerning the Priest who is in reality a close associate of Pope Pius XII and the Holy Office of the Inquisition. The Monsignor and his Italian associates hide escaping POW's who sought sanctuary at the Vatican once they had escaped unguarded Italian POW camps at the time of the Italian surrender and German occupation of Rome. O'Flaherty took considerable personal risk and became the object of Gestapo hunts and demands for arrest. He is shown going in and out of the Vatican in disguises as a postman, a trinket salesman, a nun, a street sweeper and even a Nazi Officer! Christopher Plummer plays a Nazi Colonel who becomes obsessed with capturing the Priest, his ring and the secret havens for hiding POWS that O'Flaherty has in motion. In this role he does very well, although his hair seems a bit long for Nazi military men of that era. The screenplay is gripping, tense, exciting, and above all entertaining because it is true. Honestly, I can't understand how this was ignored or perhaps it is indicative of bias on behalf of film award councils because it concerns a true righteous gentile who aided Jews in WW 2 and was responsible for the lives of perhaps 7,000 allied and Italian people wanted by the Nazi regime. The film is a bit long but is worth every minute. An excellent drama!

Great Job ... Acting, Location & Story. Its nice to see one more positive telling of the Church during the war. Not too many people know that the Chief Rabi of Rome during and immediately after the war, Israel Zolii, was so impressed by the Christians in Rome who tried to protect Jews from nazi persecution, that he was baptised as Catholic shortly after the end of the war. He took for his Christian name Eugene ... the same first name as Pope Pius XII, whom he especially admired as a friend and protector of Jews. He died as a devout Catholic.

Gregory Peck stars as Monsignor Hugh O'Flaherty, a brave Irish priest who works in the Vatican during the German occupation in World War Two. Over time O'Flaherty builds a network of hundreds of equally brave civilians to help him hide refugees and escaped Allied POWs from the Gestapo, under the command of the brutal Colonel Kappler (played by Christopher Plummer, in an unforgettable performance). Pope Pius XII (played by John Gielgud) soon knows of O'Flaherty's activities, but does nothing to help him, insisting on the church's neutrality and the dangers of working against the German occupation.

Kappler learns of O'Flaherty's involvement in helping these "fugitives" and he instantly begins an undeclared "war" on the priest, who is supposed to have diplomatic immunity because of his Vatican post. Working around this barrier, Kappler eventually orders his men to either capture or kill O'Flaherty if he's seen outside the Vatican walls. This makes O'Flaherty's missions of mercy all the more dangerous, and men and women in his network are tortured and even killed. Yet he continues to save others right up to the liberation of Rome, when it is Kappler's time to run for his life! Kappler's fate (and his family's fate) will surprise you, but not when you think of the strong character which Hugh O'Flaherty possessed.

This incredibly suspenseful and inspiring classic has one of Gregory Peck's best performances. I love everything about this film: the based-on-fact story, the outstanding cast, and the music by Ennio Morricone. Even if you don't enjoy war movies, I still think you'd enjoy this great film!

To be honest, I, a serious convert to the Catholic faith, knew nothing about "The Scarlet and the Black" or the man which Gregory Peck portrays until yesterday, when I watched it on the History Channel (followed by a piece on Pope Pius XII and the Holocaust). This is truly a great film! The acting is top notch, and I cannot express my surprise at seeing "The Sound of Music's" leading man playing a commanding Nazi! Obviously filmed on and around it's beautiful location, this a film with a story that will inspire people of all faiths and backgrounds to stand up for what they believe and do what is right. My only complaint is that this film, in concurrence with present ideas, does not give the deserved credit to the Venerable Pope Pius XII (they are books available about him on amazon.com ... "Hitler's Pope" by Cornwall IS NOT ONE OF THEM!!!). Despite this rather annoying flaw, "The Scarlet and the Black" is a piece of cinema history, forgotten in a day when the Church is portrayed as a dark deluded organization ("End of Days") or money hungry hypocrites ("The Godfather III"). Watch! Enjoy!

Peck shines as an Irish priest in the Vatican during the second world war. As a neutral, he's free to come and go throughout Rome. What the Nazis don't know, but are beginning to suspect, is that this courageous servant of God is also shielding downed Allied pilots and Jews. Based on a true story. Christopher Plummer is simply diabolical as the Nazi officer persecuting Peck. And Sir John Gielgud makes a convincing appearance as His Holiness. The ending is especially moving. Okay for all ages. This is one of the very few movies made for Television that I feel safe calling "excellent".