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The Scarlet and the Black

The Scarlet and the Black

Drama · History · TV Movie · 1983

Fr. Hugh O'Flaherty is a Vatican official in 1943-45 who has been hiding downed pilots, escaped prisoners of war, and Italian resistance families. His activities become so large that the Nazis decide to assassinate him the next time he leaves the Vatican.

Movie details

The Scarlet and the Black

“Gregory Peck stars as the man who led thousands in a daring escape to freedom - right under the nose of the Gestapo.”

1983 Drama · History · TV Movie 2h 23m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

7.0 / 10

Community rating

Fr. Hugh O'Flaherty is a Vatican official in 1943-45 who has been hiding downed pilots, escaped prisoners of war, and Italian resistance families. His activities become so large that the Nazis decide to assassinate him the next time he leaves the Vatican.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over The Scarlet and the Black?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Jerry London

Written by

David Butler

Gregory Peck

Gregory Peck

Monsignor Hugh O'Flaherty

Christopher Plummer

Christopher Plummer

Col. Herbert Kappler

John Gielgud

John Gielgud

Pope Pius XII

Raf Vallone

Raf Vallone

Father Vittorio

Kenneth Colley

Kenneth Colley

Capt. Hirsch

Walter Gotell

Walter Gotell

Gen. Max Helm

Barbara Bouchet

Barbara Bouchet

Minna Kappler

Court is in session

Put The Scarlet and the Black on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Prestige Tourist

“Ambition earns the room.”

The film reaches for consequence and scale, accepting the risk of seriousness instead of shrinking from it.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Importance has entered the chat.”

The production keeps announcing its significance, as though awards-season posture were proof of insight.