Review of The Scarlet and the Black

Gregory Peck gives one of his last hurrah roles as a fighting Irish priest in the Vatican during the German occupation of Rome. He does alright, despite falling in and out of an obviously mediocre imitation of an Irish brogue. His costar, Christopher Plummer, does an admirable job as a despicable Nazi SS officer. The Seven Hills of Rome are alive with the sound of Gunfire. Too bad Julie Andrews didn't play his wife in this film. John Gielgud makes a great Pope; I believe he would have done a better job that Pius in that position. The film ambles on a bit too long with a few too many subplots, and would have been better with a tighter script. However, even though we find the complete sugar-coating of the Vatican during the war to be a bit unbelievable, it does show the Vatican and the Catholic Church in a favorable light. Peck fighting off two Nazi spies at his age is a bit much to take, but if we suspend disbelief (not only in this scene, but several others) then the film is entertaining. Better than average TV movie.