For a film about Those Wacky Nazis, The Scarlet and the Black has some pretty funny moments.
- Hugh provides most of the funny lines. Some examples include:One of his friends: The Gestapo are watching you.Hugh: Are they, now? Well, that should keep them out of trouble.English soldier: [when Hugh offers him and another soldier shelter] Why, Father, you're pro-British after all!Hugh: Holy Mother, that's the first time anyone ever accused me of that!Hugh: [after the British ambassador (apparently) doesn't help him] I have my own opinion of the British, and it's just been beautifully confirmed!
- After Kappler orders Hugh not to leave the Vatican, we get this priceless exchange:Hugh: Do I get the feeling that you're trying to put a crimp on my social life?
- The Pope, of all people, gets one when a high-ranking Nazi officer asks him to communicate to the rest of the world that the Nazis haven't caused any trouble.The Pope: I shall be sure to communicate that you've asked me to confirm that.
- "God bless you!" *Punch*
- Some explanation: Hugh takes shelter from the Nazis in a coal cellar and asks the coalman to change clothes with him. The coalman agrees, but says that Hugh should punch him to make it look like it was against his will.
- All of Hugh's disguises. A (very tall) nun, a Nazi officer, a coalman...
- Some of Hugh's friends are arrested, and the only way to rescue them is to get Kappler to sign release papers. Obviously, he'd never do that, so Hugh decides to forge his signature. To do that, he needs to get his signature first... so he asks him for it.
- This is a paraphrase of what happens next.
Nazi: Those prisoners have been released. You signed the release papers yourself, sir.Kappler: I didn't sign anything!Nazi: It looks like your signature, sir. - One of the scenes where Hugh takes in escaped prisoners is pretty funny. They're trying to make a Vatican guard understand them, then they see Hugh, and one of them walks up to him and salutes him. In broad daylight. When Nazis might be around.Hugh: Holy Mother, we're not changing the guard at Buckingham Palace! Now follow me... and try to walk like normal people!
- When everyone gets code names, Mother Superior is amused to be dubbed "Big Mama." O'Flaherty being called "Monsignor Golf" a few times afterward is also amusing.
- One that crosses over into Moment of Awesome territory; Kappler puts guards around the Vatican and forbids Hugh from stepping over the white line. Hugh promptly decides to taunt him by walking right up to the white line. And standing at it. And grinning up at him. All while he's secretly leaving in various disguises under the Nazis' noses. Refuge in Audacity, indeed.
