Scarlet and Black

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).