The Scarlet and the Black (1983)

Directed by: Jerry London | 143 minutes | drama, war, history | Actors: Gregory Peck, Christopher Plummer, John Gielgud, Raf Vallone, Kenneth Colley, Walter Gotell, Barbara Bouchet, Julian Holloway, Angelo Infanti, Olga Karlatos, Michael Byrne, TP McKenna, Vernon Dobtcheff, John Terry, Peter Burton, Phillip Hatton, Mark Lewis

‘The Scarlet and the Black’ is set in occupied Rome towards the end of World War II. The film focuses mainly on the Irish priest O’Flaherty, who can no longer bear the crimes of the Nazis and, with the help of a number of church officials and Roman citizens, launches a secret operation aimed at capturing escaped American and British POWs and prisoners of war. to offer shelter to other people in hiding.

‘The Scarlet and the Black’ is primarily a psychological war film. It is mainly about the contrast between the two main characters, the heroic and innovative priest on the one hand and the cool, calculating, dutiful and leading German Colonel Herbert Kappler on the other hand. As the film progresses, a fascinating psychological battle develops between the two strongly matched opponents. Both men now and then win a small victory or have to deal with the necessary setbacks, but the makers manage to keep the tension taut until the end. On the one hand, the danger that O’Flaherty’s organization will be rolled up remains a constant threat, partly because the film regularly shows what the Nazis do to unmasked traitors or people in hiding, but we also experience first-hand how the initially cool and pragmatic Kappler slowly but surely becomes obsessed with his spiritual adversary and his anger vents on some of the inhabitants of Rome. Also in the family atmosphere, Kappler, who is presented in the first part as a real family man, occasionally suffers from tantrums.

In terms of acting, the film is mainly supported by Christopher Plummer, who has often played the role of calculating ‘bad guy’ and is perfect for the role of Kappler, and Gregory Peck (O’Flaherty). Because the story mainly revolves around these two people, the actors get ample opportunity to show their talent. The rest of the cast does a good job as well, but with the exception of John Gielgud as the Pope, they mainly play a supporting role, the real stars are clearly Plummer and Peck. The makers of ‘The Scarlet and the Black’ do a great job of conveying the constant threat and distress of life in an enemy-occupied city.

‘The Scarlet and the Black’ is an exciting film that paints a beautiful picture of life in the German-occupied Rome in 1944. The film is therefore definitely recommended for people with an above-average historical interest and will also please viewers who love psychologically tinged thrillers might appeal to you.