Search - The Scarlet and the Black on DVD

Excellent true life World War II suspense story!

KMFL90C@prodigy.com | Lakewood, California, USA | 07/01/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Gregory Peck and Christopher Plummer give outstanding performances as Monsr. Hugh O'Flaherty(Peck) and SS Col. Herbert Kapler(Plummer). The action and suspense of the movie keeps it going at a brisk pace. The story follows Peck as a Vatican official trying to save Italian Jews and Allied escaped POW's from the hands of the German SS. Plummers portrayal as Col. Kapler is both chilling and frightening, especially when he personally executes a Catholic priest who was caught helping the Resistance. Peck's portrayal of Father O'Flaherty is very moving to watch. The intelligence and compassion of this man truly shows through and shows how much Father O'Flaherty deserved the awards and decorations he received from the Allies after the war. And the ending is very surprising as well! It is also a plus having the movie shot in Rome where the actual events took place. A truly classic movie. I highly recommend it."

WWII WWJD

Elderbear | Loma Linda, Aztlan | 06/09/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"What Would Jesus Do (WWJD) in Nazi occupied Rome? Gregory Peck as Fr. O'Flaherty answers this question the best he can, despite tacit opposition from the Pope himself, by helping to spirit escaped allied POWs and Jews out from under the noses of the Gestapo. Christopher Plummer plays the SS colonel who "owns" Rome (an interesting contrast with his role as Baron von Trapp in The Sound of Music). Peck stays on his toes, continuously exploring ways of outwitting the growing Nazi oppression. Although not overtly religious--well, it's hard to set a story in the Vatican without being religious! While the movie doesn't explore spirituality in depth (nor does it seek to proselytize), it does paint several ethical dilemmas. A powerful story, one I'd like to see on DVD, with background material. Worthy of a documentary as well. Almost hard to believe that a movie about a Jesuit member of the Holy Order (ie the Inquisition) could be this riveting. It is. (If you'd like to discuss this movie or review in greater detail, please click on the "about me" link above and drop me an email. Thanks!)"

One of the best!

D. G. Welch | USA | 06/13/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This movie never gets enough credit! This is one of the best war time movies ever and with Mr. Peck's passing this is a must see for Peck fans who have not seen this movie. Gregory Peck and Christopher Plummer in one of his best roles play a cat and mouse game during WW2. The acting is fantastic and there is a lot of suspense! A must see!"

An edge of your seat thriller. . .

David Zampino | Delavan, Wisconsin | 05/11/2001

(3 out of 5 stars)

". . .all the more exciting because it's a (mostly) true story.Let's begin with the cast. Gregory Peck, Christopher Plummer and Sir John Gielgud all together in the same movie? Just this cast alone would be enough to recommend this movie to most people.And the filming? On location in Rome and the Vatican. Doesn't get much better than that!Drama? Yes, it's there. Suspense? In SPADES! Pathos? Yup! Humor? Believe it or not, yes!This movie, based on the true story of an Irish cleric in the Vatican will have you sitting on the edge of your seat. The ending will have you cheering and crying and shocked, etc. You will run the full gamut of emotions when viewing this film.The only major difficulty? The "politically correct" portrayal of Eugenio Pacelli, aka Pope Pius XII. For me, a trained historian, this was a major flaw. The film's presentation of Pius was that of a weak man, unable to do much of anything, while the facts of the matter were quite different.Regardless, though, this movie does rate as a "must see"."