Movie Monday: The Scarlet and the Black (1983)

The Scarlet and the Black (1983):★★★★★

This true story about Monsignor Hugh O'Flaherty is a well-written, brilliantly acted masterpiece from director Jerry London. Gregory Peck stars in his role as Monsignor O'Flaherty, an Irish priest living in the Vatican amidst the second World War. O'Flaherty thinks it his natural duty as a priest to save as many lives (and souls) as he can. The way he goes about this is by waiting outside the Vatican walls for poor refugees to come seeking shelter, then directing them to one of his many connections to stay safe. Monsignor O'Flaherty devotes all of his time and energy to this cause, until he is forced to use some of that energy to avoid the Gestapo. Colonel Herbert Kappler (Christopher Plummer) finds out about O'Flaherty's secret activities and obsesses over catching the priest off-guard to kill him. 

Things don't get too serious until Hitler himself finds that Rome is not completely controlled by Kappler and the Germans. The Reichsführer, Heinrich Himmler, pays a visit to Kappler, saying to do whatever it takes to get rid of O'Flaherty. Kappler soon releases snipers to shoot O'Flaherty if he steps past Vatican ground, marked by a white line. He sends out assassins, to kill the priest inside the vatican. He finds the monsignor's friends and tortures them, sending them to concentration camps when he's done. None of this sways Monsignor O'Flaherty's courage or faith. In fact, he almost seems to be strengthened in his desire to save souls.

I enjoyed this movie heartily. It really is inspiring to see what some people are willing to sacrifice for the good of others. Monsignor is a great role model with witty humor and brilliant ideas. My favorite part of the film had to have been when the priest starts wearing disguises to avoid the Gestapo. The only problem I had was the score, which was a little dull and out of place sometimes. 

Objectionable content

Violence

Colonel Kappler has no respect for human life. In one sequence, he shoots a priest in cold blood because the firing squad refused to. Other times, he is at the helm giving orders for others to be killed or rounded up for labor camps. Elsewhere, a man escaping a train is shot dead in his tracks. Snipers are placed on vantage points to shoot Monsignor O'Flaherty if he crosses the white line. Another priest is tortured (implied, not shown) and is sent to a concentration camp. German soldiers shove women. A woman squeezes a hat that was being sown, and later reveals a needle in her hand with some blood. Two men with knives attempt to assassinate O'Flaherty, and in another situation, a man puts a gun up to the monsignor's head while he's sleeping. 

Sexual content

Two men walk into a house just as a young woman leaves the bathroom, wrapped in only a towel. A couple that eventually gets married share a chaste kiss. 

Language

4 mild profanities, two uses of h---, two uses of d--n.

Conclusion

Overall, I recommend The Scarlet and the Black for ages twelve and older, depending on the kid, because the violence can be scary and it's a bit of a hard movie to follow. Definitely watch it, leave a comment on the blog with your opinion and we'll see you next Movie Monday.