"The Scarlet and the Black" (1993) (mini)TV mini-series

Director:

Ben Bolt

Writers:

Stephen Lowe (adaptation)
Stendhal (novel)

Release Date:

31 October 1993 (UK)

Plot Keywords:

Male Nudity | Female Nudity | Based On Novel

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

Ewan McGregor	...	Julien Sorel
Alice Krige	...	Madame de Renal
Stratford Johns	...	Abbé Pirard
T.P. McKenna	...	Marquis de la Mole
Rachel Weisz	...	Mathilde de la Mole
Christopher Fulford	...	Napoleon
Martin Jarvis	...	Monsieur de Renal
Georges Corraface	...	Comte Altamira
Jo Ross	...	Marquise de la Mole
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Clive Arrindell	...	Abbé de Frilair
Edward Atterton	...	Comte de Beauvoisis
Michael Attwell	...	Monsieur Valenod
David Belcher	...	Monsieur
Peter Benson	...	Monsieur de Moirod
Sarah Berger	...	Madame Derville
Julia Blalock	...	Madame Valenod
Crispin Bonham-Carter	...	Comte de Croisenois
Christopher Brand	...	Comte Norbert
Richard Bremmer	...	Coachman
Lisa Coleman	...	Elisa
John Dallimore	...	Priest
Max Digby	...	Young Buck at Ball
Ross Dunsmore	...	Chazol
Joe Duttine	...	François
Helen FitzGerald	...	Madame de Fervaques
Carmen Gómez	...	Dark Lady
George Hall	...	Abbé Charles
Crispin Harris	...	Priest
Zoe Hilson	...	Amanda Binet
Gerald Home	...	Priest
Clive Kneller	...	Valet
Robert David MacDonald	...	Academician
Andrew MacLachlan	...	Monsieur Sorel
Kate Maravan	...	Etiennette
Ian McNeice	...	Prosecutor
Iain Mitchell	...	Monsieur Saint-Girard
Joseph O'Conor	...	Chelan
Alistair Petrie	...	Hussar
George Raistrick	...	Jailer
Adrian Ross Magenty	...	Bishop of Agde
Nicholas Selby	...	President of the Assizes
Malcolm Sinclair	...	Abbé Castanede
Mark Southworth	...	Sorel Brother
Giles Taylor	...	Merimée
David Terence	...	Defence Counsel
Toby Whithouse	...	Tanbeau
Matthew Whittle	...	Young Buck at Ball
Arthur Whybrow	...	Lieven
Jeremy Young	...	Duke of Wellington

Directed by
Ben Bolt

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Stephen Lowe		adaptation
Stendhal		novel

Produced by
Rosalind Wolfes	....	producer

Cinematography by
John McGlashan

Makeup Department
Caroline Noble	....	makeup designer

Production Management
Philippe	....	assistant production manager: France

Art Department
Graham Caulfield	....	drapes master

Sound Department
Simon Dart	....	boom operator
Clive Derbyshire	....	sound recordist
Adrian Rhodes	....	sound re-recording mixer
John Taylor	....	sound recordist
Aad Wirtz	....	sound re-recording mixer

Stunts
Marc Cass	....	stunts
Joss Gower	....	stunt performer
Lee Sheward	....	stunt double: Ewan Mcgregor

Camera and Electrical Department
Brian Beaumont	....	gaffer

Production Companies

• British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Also Known As:

Scarlet and Black (Australia)

Runtime:

240 min (3 parts)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Argentina:13

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Movie Connections:

Version of Rouge et le noir, Le (1997) (TV)

Elegant adaptation of `Rouge et Negre'

In the last decade or so I have begun to think that the BBC has lost its finer edge in making its own productions. However in `Scarlet and Black' the BBC has once again shown it can make some of the best TV material to be found anywhere in the world. And much credit, of course, must go to Ben Bolt.

With just about the best cinematography imaginable, this adaptation of Stendhal's wonderful novel `Rouge et Negre' almost beggars belief. The sets, costumes are perfect, sumptuous. Among TV productions, perhaps only `Queen' (qv) comes anywhere near rivalling this magnificent BBC period piece drama – I do not add `romantic' as that is too trite.

Excellent story-line is well backed up by an extraordinary cast which was evidently inspired for this production. Personally I might have chosen another actor instead of Ewan McGregor for the part of Julien Sorel, but perhaps this opinion is merely tainted by other viewings of this young Scotsman, for example in `Trainspotting'. However, having said that, by no means does he upset anything or anybody in the development of a very complicated story.

I thoroughly recommend this TV film, and also suggest you compare with `La Reine Margot' (qv) with Isabelle Adjani, Virna Lisi and Asia Argento (to put the ladies first) and Daniel Auteuil, Jean-Hugues Anglade, Vincent Perez and Claudio Amendola (The Mission, Nostromo).