The Scarlet Coat (1955)

Directed by

John Sturges

Genre

drama film, action film, adventure film, war film

Country

United States

Runtime

1h 41m

Rated

NR

Rating

6.6 of 10 from 10 voters

Elsewhere

IMDb

How it feels

An American spy and a British officer match wits during the American Revolution, each trying to outsmart the other. Their personal loyalties and friendship are tested as they also compete for the same woman. The story centers on the plot to surrender West Point for money.

swashbucklingsuspensefulpatrioticromanticdramaticfast-pacedtenseold-fashioned

What happens

The Scarlet Coat is a 1955 American historical drama and swashbuckler in Eastmancolor and CinemaScope released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, produced by Nicholas Nayfack, directed by John Sturges. It stars Cornel Wilde, Michael Wilding, George Sanders, and Anne Francis. The film is based upon the events in the American Revolution in which Benedict Arnold offered to surrender the fort at West Point to the British in exchange for money. The film purports to tell the story of the creation of the "American Secret Service". It weaves a spy/counterspy tale in which British and American counterparts, played by Michael Wilding as the historical personage Major John André and Cornel Wilde as the fictional Major John Bolton (Bolton being the "code name" used real life Continental Army Intelligence officer Benjamin Tallmadge; for this film it is simply treated as the character's actual name), each unaware that the other is attempting to outsmart him for the sake of their countries, deal with issues of honor, loyalty, and friendship. There is also some rivalry between the men for the love of a beautiful woman, the fictional Sally Cameron (Anne Francis). While historically André and Major Benjamin Tallmadge, Bolton's historical counterpart, did meet shortly before André was to be hanged as a spy (Talmadge's regiment of light dragoons was charged with guarding André), their acquaintance was not the longer-term and deeper friendship suggested in the film. Bolton betrays this friendship out of duty in the film, but Karl Tunberg's script ameliorates that difficulty by having Bolton make attempts to save Andre's life. Another important departure from history is that during the course of events André saves Bolton when the latter is arrested for being a spy, something that never occurred. André is treated sympathetically in the film while Wilde's fictional Major Bolton is portrayed as more ruthless, particularly in the brutality he employs to accomplish his objectives. The script is noted for its even-handedness in depicting both sides of the conflict. It was Olaf Hytten's last film appearance. (from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA)

Trailer

More like this

• Kiss of Fire (1955)
• Storm Over the Nile (1955)
• Captain Lightfoot (1955)
• They Can't Hang Me (1955)
• Night Train to Munich (1940)
• Bengal Brigade (1954)
• The King's Thief (1955)
• Pirates of Tripoli (1955)