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Summary: The Rome Escape Line
Review: This movie was especially interesting to me because I was already acquainted with Monsignor Hugh O'Flaherty through 'The Rome Escape Line' a book written by one of his associates describing their joint activities in hiding Jews, escaped POWs etc. It must be said however that the real Monsignor O'Flaherty, though undoubtedly brave and ingenious, looked more like Karl Malden than Gregory Peck. Towards the end of the movie the Monsignor disguises himself as a Nazi officer. I was wondering why the sight of Gregory Peck in a Nazi uniform seemed so familiar then I remembered, of course, 'The Guns of Navaronne'!
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Summary: The only video I have ever purchased
Review: This true-life drama is an emotional thriller. Peck and Plummer are at their best. I showed this movie to a group of teens, who sat at rapt attention throughout and came away with a clear understanding of how WWII affected the Jews, the Catholic Church and Italy. Superb!
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Summary: A Forgotten Piece of Excellency
Review: To be honest, I, a serious convert to the Catholic faith, knew nothing about "The Scarlet and the Black" or the man which Gregory Peck portrays until yesterday, when I watched it on the History Channel (followed by a piece on Pope Pius XII and the Holocaust). This is truly a great film! The acting is top notch, and I cannot express my surprise at seeing "The Sound of Music's" leading man playing a commanding Nazi! Obviously filmed on and around it's beautiful location, this a film with a story that will inspire people of all faiths and backgrounds to stand up for what they believe and do what is right. My only complaint is that this film, in concurrence with present ideas, does not give the deserved credit to the Venerable Pope Pius XII (they are books available about him on amazon.com ... "Hitler's Pope" by Cornwall IS NOT ONE OF THEM!!!). Despite this rather annoying flaw, "The Scarlet and the Black" is a piece of cinema history, forgotten in a day when the Church is portrayed as a dark deluded organization ("End of Days") or money hungry hypocrites ("The Godfather III"). Watch! Enjoy!
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Summary: The Scarlet Pimpernel of the Vatican - A REAL hero!
Review: Tonight, we'll be picking up our tenth copy of this show. Makes one of the best bang-for-your-buck gift out there. Somehow, it's managed to beat out Bevis, Austin & Pokeymon on our family's list of role models with depth. Tremendous, well woven tale of courage and forgiveness.
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Summary: Excellent true life World War II suspense story!
Review: What can I say that has not been said by others about this film. Even in the darkest places courage and right shine out like a beacon. Super film!!!!!
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Summary: WWII WWJD
Review: 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!)
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Summary: Amazing WW2 drama/action
Review: You'd never think an action movie could star a priest, but Gregory Peck pulls it off in rare style. He plays Father O'Flaherty, a boxing, snipping Irish priest living in Rome at the height of the Nazi occupation. Father O'Flaherty's job? Aside from usual priestly duties, he hides Jews in the households of his friends and allies. But clearly the Nazis aren't going to stand still while O'Flaherty does this. And so the Nazi commandant, Christopher Plummer's Herbert Kapplar, a cold and ruthless man whose reputation is rapidly going down the drain from his exalted position as he tries to capture O'Flaherty. But don't think this is a bloodless drama movie: There are comic moments as O'Flaherty sneaks out of the Vatican in various disguises; a tense scene where guns fire at him as he hurdles back into the Vatican disguised as a Nazi officer; and at the end there's a beautiful scene for those of you who like love-filled, happy endings. Even though there is a number of mentions of Catholiscism and God, I believe this is a drama/war movie at its core, not a religious one. This is a moving story about oppression and redemption. Even though you'll hate Kapplar for his Nazi position, he's not a cookie-cutter villain: We can see how he loves his wife and children. And O'Flaherty is no goody-goody priest: we see him lose his temper, as well as refuse a plea for help (although he later does it anyway). The characters are solidly human. Olga Karlatos is excellent as a widow from Malta who is sort of O'Flaherty's sidekick. And Sir John Gielgud has a relatively brief but very important role as Pius XII, a man who has to walk a hideous tightrope--giving O'Flaherty leave to hide as many Jews as possible, while concealing this from the Nazis, who would overrun the Vatican if they found out. (Bravo, Pius XII) A warning: Though this film is "Not Rated" it's not a kiddie flick. People are shot violently, Nazis attempt to stab O'Flaherty at one point, Nazis overrun people's homes and hunt Jews down, a priest is beaten to death and eventually dies, and there are some disturbing close-ups of bruised faces and a darning needle stuck into a person's hand. Only show this to small children if you're certain they can handle the tense situations.
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