Paying For Our History Lesson --- The Scarlet Coat (1955)

Patriot Cornel Wilde seeks to unmask Benedict Arnold in Cinemascopic dress-up done best by a declining Metro, costumes and furnishing in abundance from silent and better-days usage. History lessons were easier taught in a 50's era of public schools still attaching import to US fight for independence, so facts are less spoon-fed for being presumed known to all. Action being keynote puts Wilde to sword and fist fighting his way through enemy lines, spy v. spying in powdered wigs and knee breeches. Michael Wilding is a sympathetic redcoat, forging friendship with opposite number Wilde and coming to an unexpectedly blunt finish. Directing John Sturges, just off success of Bad Day At Black Rock, puts flair toward enriching us, The Scarlet Coat being no dry recitation of names and events. Reflected here is ongoing effort by Metro to breathe life into remote happenings and get back an audience gone over to the rebel force that was television. A resulting million dollar loss ($1.5 million in negative cost yielding a dire $467K in domestic rentals) might have been anticipated by marketing more reality-based than Metro's. Had East Coast sell staff warned Dore Schary against going forward with The Scarlet Coat? Seeing this show finally on wide canvas, thanks to Warner Archive, is major rehab for a costumer underestimated too long for simple reason it couldn't be decently seen.