Independent Films, Film Profiles

The Scarlet and the Black

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 Irish Catholic priest who saved thousands of Jews and Allied POWs from Nazi occupied Rome.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 to stop the inflow of POW's who O'Flaherty 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 not only to stop O'Flaherty's efforts, but also to have him assassinated.