The Scarlet and the Black

TV Movie
1983
Not Rated
2h 23m

IMDb RATING

YOUR RATING

Vatican efforts, led by Monsignor Hugh O'Flaherty, to save Allied P.O.W.s and downed Allied airmen as the Nazis invade Rome.Vatican efforts, led by Monsignor Hugh O'Flaherty, to save Allied P.O.W.s and downed Allied airmen as the Nazis invade Rome.Vatican efforts, led by Monsignor Hugh O'Flaherty, to save Allied P.O.W.s and downed Allied airmen as the Nazis invade Rome.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.5/10

3.9K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Won 1 Primetime Emmy
- 1 win & 2 nominations total

Photos33

More like this

7.8

Padre Pio

6.8

Sant'Agostino

6.5

MacArthur

6.5

For Greater Glory: The True Story of Cristiada

7.2

The Keys of the Kingdom

5.6

The Thousand Plane Raid

6.7

The Cardinal

6.9

The Desert Fox: The Story of Rommel

7.0

6.9

6.4

6.3

Storyline

Edit

Did you know

Edit

Trivia
While serving his sentence in prison, Herbert Kappler divorced his first wife and married his nurse, Anneliese, in 1972. In 1975, he was diagnosed with cancer. As the authorities refused to release him, in 1977, Anneliese carried Kappler out of prison in a large suitcase (he weighed less than one hundred five pounds at the time). They escaped to West Germany, where Kappler died six months later.

Goofs
In at least four scenes, Herbert Kappler wears a black SS parade tunic instead of his usual office gray uniform. By 1943, when the film is set, the SS had completely phased the black SS tunic out of service and this uniform would not have been worn at even the most formal of functions.

Quotes
Col. Herbert Kappler: You're alone?
Monsignor Hugh O'Flaherty: I am.
Col. Herbert Kappler: Not afraid I'll shoot you?
Monsignor Hugh O'Flaherty: No. If you were going to kill me, your man would have already done it in my room.
Col. Herbert Kappler: That is so.
[pause]
Col. Herbert Kappler: But believe me, at this moment, nothing would give me greater pleasure.
Monsignor Hugh O'Flaherty: Well, when it comes down to it, a bullet's your answer to just about everything, isn't it? The only argument you've got.

Alternate versions
An edited version of approximately 110 minutes (120 minutes when broadcast with adverts) is sometimes shown on TV in the UK.

Connections
References Massacre in Rome (1973)

Soundtracks
La Boheme
Composed by Giacomo Puccini

User reviews53

Review

Featured review

8/10

Intriguing true story; inspirational and well acted.

This is a pretty good movie. Gregory Peck and Christopher Plummer are strong in the leading roles, but the edge goes to Plummer. Peck's on-again-off-again Irish brogue is distracting, but he makes an acceptable hero. Plummer, on the other hand, is deliciously wicked--charming on the outside, ruthless underneath. Even so, there are occasional glimpses of a less-brutish man; a man who loves his family and wants them to be safe; a man not entirely content with the horrors he has helped to create. So, when Plummer is forced to ask his archenemy for help, we can feel a bit sorry for his shattered pride and can share some of his resulting disillusionment and despair. One of the really wonderful moments in the movie comes at the end. Kappler is asked a question and the camera moves in for a close-up of his face. He doesn't have to say a word--the answer is in his eyes. Fantastic! This inspiring story of heroism and courage is also, ultimately, about forgiveness and about asking ourselves what we would have done. It's an excellent reminder that one should never under-estimate oneself--one good person can do a heck of a lot!