The Scarlet and the Black

You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery;' but I tell you that everyone who gazes at a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart. If your right eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and throw it away from you. For it is more profitable for you that one of your members should perish, than for your whole body to be cast into Gehenna. If your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off, and throw it away from you. For it is more profitable for you that one of your members should perish, than for your whole body to be cast into Gehenna. 'It was also said, 'Whoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorce,' but I tell you that whoever puts away his wife, except for the cause of sexual immorality, makes her an adulteress; and whoever marries her when she is put away commits adultery. 'Again you have heard that it was said to them of old time, 'You shall not make false vows, but shall perform to the Lord your vows,' but I tell you, don't swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is the throne of God; nor by the earth, for it is the footstool of his feet; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Neither shall you swear by your head, for you can't make one hair white or black. But let your 'Yes' be 'Yes' and your 'No' be 'No.' Whatever is more than these is of the evil one. 'You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.'* But I tell you, don't resist him who is evil; but whoever strikes you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also. If anyone sues you to take away your coat, let him have your cloak also. Whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks you, and don't turn away him who desires to borrow from you. 'You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor,* and hate your enemy.*' But I tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you, that you may be children of your Father who is in heaven.

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	The Scarlet and the Black

The Scarlet and the Black

Photo - http://rutracker.org/

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

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 in Nazi-occupied Rome.

Plot

In 1943, Nazi Germany completely occupies Rome. The Pope (John Gielgud) is approached by the SS Commandant for Rome – Colonel Herbert Kappler (Christopher Plummer) who paints a white line around the Vatican confirming the jurisdictional area of the Vatican beyond which SS soldiers cannot enter.

Kappler's main rival is Monsignor O'Flaherty (Gregory Peck) an Irishman who arranges safe haven for escaped prisoners of war in Rome including safehouses. He is assisted in this enterprise by several other patriots such as Miss Francesca Lombardo, and a number of others. Kappler initially wants to bust the group, however angered by O'Flaherty's repeated successes in thwarting and outsmarting him, he adopts a vendetta against O'Flaherty. During this period Kappler continues to deport Jews to labor camps, and extort large sums of money and gold from them as well as persecuting the general public.

After the Allies succeed in landing in Italy and eventually overcoming German resistance – and begin heading towards Rome to free it, Kappler worries for his family's safety and requests Monsignor O'Flaherty to save his family as well – however the Monsignor refuses to do so – telling Kappler that he would rather go to hell.

Kappler is arrested eventually and questioned by the Allies – and it is at that moment that he is informed that his wife and children were evacuated to Switzerland and he realizes that despite, all the enmity, O'Flaherty saved his family.

It is told at the end of the film that Kappler eventually becomes a Catholic and baptized by O'Flaherty (in 1959). He is also visited every month by O'Flaherty and becomes very close to him.

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; he died in 1984.

The references to the colours 'Scarlet' and 'Black' have several symbolic references. The most obvious perhaps being the black cassock worn with a scarlet sash by Monsignors and Bishops in the Catholic church. 'Scarlet' may also refer to the good, and the 'Black' refers to the bad. Also they are the colors found on the Nazi's emblem.

Movie Details

* Also Known As : The Vatican Pimpernel, Scarlatto e nero (Italian)
* Country : USA / UK / Italy
* Language : English / German / Italian

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/

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