lord woodburry The Scarlet and the Black is billed as the real life story of Monsignor Hugh O'Flaherty, an Irish Roman-Catholic priest who rescued Allied POWs from German captors. The year is 1943. Italy has surrendered. The Germans now occupying Rome are resisting an invasion by the US and the UK.Monsignor O'Flaherty (Gregory Peck), an Irish national runs an underground organization to provide safe haven to escaped US and British PoWs and other refugees. Father O'Flaherty is dogged by SS LTC Herbert Kappler (Christopher Plummer) who is in charge of military police operations. Anxious to prevent US and UK escapees from fleeing into the Vatican, theoretically an independent country recognized by The Reich, the Colonel has painted a white line across St. Peter's Square to mark the limits of Vatican sovereignty. It's quite a cat and mouse game with Father O'Flaherty one step ahead of the SS both in the movement of US and UK personnel through Rome and in the war of wits. Audaciously, O'Flaherty recommends democracy to the German SS as an alternative to their brutish ways.The made for TV movie suffers from an important historical lapse. Though Pope Pius as played by Sir John Gielgud is antagonistic to the Germans, real life Pius armed his Swiss Guard and instructed them to deny entry to the Vatican enclave to allied escapees. The role of Pius in World War II will always be a matter of controversy.O'Flaherty and this story are supposedly based on real life events. If so, O'Flaherty was playing cat and mouse not only with the Germans but also with the Pope who at this point was unwilling to get involved. The big question I have is Why would O'Flaherty help Britons who were his country's enemy only recently expelled from his homeland or Americans who were allied with Britain? The film does not answer the question, but proceeds to show O'Flaherty help the wife and children of his nemesis escape retribution from the victors as an humanitarian gesture.It is a good movie nonetheless and highly recommended.

Luc Rolland A impressive cast of characters with excellent acting bring us a powerful historical WW2 movie. One of my favourite movies. A movie based on a true story and very accurately portrayed which shows how difficult it was for genuine Catholics to stand against Nazis. This movie shows the result of fraternity which was fully endorsed by so many to help save so many lives at the risk of their own. This movie shows who the braves are and what true heroism is. A must see and I hope that Jewish families see that movie and then remembers those who saved their elders' life. This true story ends with an impressive optimistic tone since it seems possible to turn any monster into a human again, perhaps a proof that God exists and what it means to be almighty.

maddy-brunt As far as i know it the Germans had German accents. this film proved me wrong, as the consistency made me question whether the owner of Rome was English. none of the actors have any signs of talent, apart from Gregory peck, with the only accent that fits in with his past. i know the public is meant to suspend your disbelief when you watch films, but this is the extent. i also learnt that if you are shot then there are no bullet holes and no blood. so educational. if you want to watch an idiotic attempt at an interesting second world war story, with no thought at all towards realism then this is the film for you. i think harry potter is more realistic.

ozthegreatat42330 Based on a true story set during World War II in Rome, this made for television movie stars Gregory Peck in yet another fine role,(as if he could ever do a bad one.)The supporting cast is also amazing with fine performances from Christopher Plummer and Sir John Gielgud, with Raf Valone, Vernon Dobchef and Walter Gotell among others. It is a fast paced history/war/drama/thriller in the mold of such films as "The Third Man," and "The Thirty Nine Steps." The frenetic musical score of Ennio Morricone (The Good, The Bad and The Ugly) helps to keep the pace on the edge of you seat. This is simply some fine film making at its very best, and I highly recommend it, if you have not already had a chance to see it. Just a beautiful film.