The Scarlet Coat 1955
Directed by
John Sturges
Made by
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
The Scarlet Coat Plot Summary
Read the complete plot summary and ending explained for The Scarlet Coat (1955). From turning points to emotional moments, uncover what really happened and why it matters.
In 1780, General Benedict Arnold, Robert Douglas, commands the Continental Army defenses at West Point. Major John Bolton, Cornel Wilde, a dragoon officer assigned to counterintelligence, intercepts and kills a British spy leaving the Storm King Tavern, and captures a letter found on his body. He reports to Gen. Robert Howe, John McIntire, that the coded message was from the British spy calling himself Gustavus to James Osborn, in care of Dr. Jonathan Odell, George Sanders of New York, stating that Arnold has taken command at West Point. The secret knowledge indicates that the spy is a “highly placed person.” Bolton returns to the tavern, where one of his contacts, stable boy Ben Potter, Bobby Driscoll, tells him that the Tory wife of a redcoat, Mrs. Sally Cameron, Anne Francis, is traveling under a flag of truce possibly carrying information to the enemy. She catches them searching her room, where Bolton takes her safe conduct pass after verbally sparring with her. A messenger arrives with a package for “Mr. Moody,” but when no one by that name can be found, another traveler, Col. Winfield, offers to deliver the package. Bolton recognizes that Winfield is an imposter, and in a struggle over the package, kills him. Other American officers arrest Bolton for murder and deliver him to Howe.
A pass through the lines found hidden in Winfield’s boot reveals that the impostor was actually Moody, a spy, who had another coded letter from Gustavus to Osborn in his possession. The package, a ream of blank paper, concealed a message from Osborn written in invisible ink requesting an urgent meeting to finalize an unknown arrangement. Howe proposes that Bolton feign desertion to the British. Bolton agrees, aware that he could be hanged if the British discover his mission. With Moody’s pass, Bolton passes through the British lines, but the British lieutenant on duty recognizes that he is not the same man who previously used the pass and follows him. In New York, Bolton calls upon Dr. Odell, trying to deliver the letter. The lieutenant bursts in to arrest Bolton, but when he addresses him as “Mr. Moody,” Odell takes Bolton and the letter to British Army Major John André, Michael Wilding, for deciphering, using a pair of spectacles to isolate key words. Bolton claims that he was Moody’s source of information. He offers to continue working for the British. Odell bluntly tells Bolton that he thinks his story is too neat and believes him to be a Rebel spy. But André takes an immediate liking to Bolton. He invites him to a dinner party that evening, where Bolton suffers an anxious moment when Sally Cameron is present. Bolton’s explanation corroborates information about the murder that André had checked, and Sally provides the perfect eyewitness.
Bolton is sent with two Tory agents to sabotage the chain barrier across the Hudson River before a British attack on the American position at Verplanck, so that British warships can pass. André gives one a letter to deliver afterwards at the Storm King Tavern. Bolton drowns one agent, but when he tries to arrest the other, is confronted by an armed Ben Potter, who still thinks that Bolton is a murderer and deserter. The agent disarms Ben and nearly kills Bolton. Ben finds his gun and shoots the agent. At a secret meeting with Howe, Bolton uses spectacles to decipher the letter, which points to Gustavus as someone at West Point with authority. Bolton volunteers to return to New York to identify the mysterious “James Osborn.” Odell more than ever believes Bolton is a spy, but Bolton convinces André that the British agents completed their mission. To trap him, Odell writes a false dispatch from “Mr. Osborn” for Bolton to steal. At another dinner, Bolton notices that Sally Cameron only pretends to toast the King. She has also fallen in love with him and warns Bolton about Odell’s trap. The British attack on Verplanck is crushed and results in Bolton’s arrest as a Rebel spy. He is saved from hanging by André, who intervenes for him after Sally confesses her feelings for Bolton and begs him to vouch on Bolton’s behalf. He brokers a last-minute deal to exchange André for Arnold, but André considers the suggestion a taint on his honor and declines.
The Scarlet Coat Timeline
Follow the complete movie timeline of The Scarlet Coat (1955) with every major event in chronological order. Great for understanding complex plots and story progression.
Intercepted spy at Storm King Tavern
In 1780, Major John Bolton intercepts a British spy leaving the Storm King Tavern and kills him, seizing a coded letter. He reports to General Howe that the message from Gustavus to James Osborn mentions Arnold's command at West Point, signaling a highly placed spy. The discovery sets Bolton on a risky counterintelligence path.
Sally Cameron’s safe conduct pass
Bolton returns to the tavern and learns from his contact Ben Potter that Sally Cameron, the Tory wife of a redcoat, is traveling under a flag of truce possibly carrying information. He searches her room and takes her safe conduct pass after a tense exchange. The scene heightens the stakes of who is trustworthy.
Sally’s seduction attempt
Sally Cameron tries to recover the pass by seducing Bolton, but he rebuffs her advances. She hints at information she might possess, intensifying the cat-and-mouse dynamic between spy networks. Bolton remains wary of her loyalties.
Moody impostor and the blank package
A messenger arrives with a package for Mr. Moody; when no one knows that name, Col. Winfield offers to deliver it. Bolton realizes Winfield is an imposter, and in a struggle over the package, he kills him. The package turns out to be a ream of blank paper concealing another message.
Bolton arrested for murder
American officers arrest Bolton for murder and deliver him to General Howe. The discovery of Moody’s pass on Winfield’s boot confirms the impostor’s role in the spy network. Bolton faces the consequences but remains determined to uncover the full plot.
Hidden pass reveals Gustavus–Osborn letters
A pass through the lines found in Winfield’s boot reveals that the impostor Moody carried a coded letter from Gustavus to Osborn. There is also an invisible ink message calling for an urgent meeting to finalize an unknown arrangement. Bolton begins to piece together the larger conspiracy.
Bolton feigns desertion
Howe proposes that Bolton desert and re-enter British lines to advance the mission. Bolton agrees, fully aware he could be executed if discovered. With Moody’s pass, he crosses back to the British, closely followed by a suspicious lieutenant.
Decoding in New York
In New York, Bolton seeks Dr. Odell to deliver the letter. Odell brings Bolton to Major John André, who uses a pair of spectacles to decipher key words. Although Odell remains skeptical, André takes an immediate liking to Bolton and considers his potential value.
Dinner and shifting loyalties
Bolton attends a dinner where Sally Cameron is present as André’s mistress, and his explanations align with André’s expectations. Sally provides an eyewitness corroborating the murder linked to the earlier case. The dinner deepens Bolton’s precarious position between both sides.
Hudson chain sabotage mission
Bolton is sent with two Tory agents to sabotage the chain barrier across the Hudson at Verplanck, enabling a British river assault. He drowns one agent before a confrontation with Ben Potter, who disarms Bolton and shoots the other agent. The mission tests Bolton’s resolve under fire.
Gustavus pointed at West Point
At a secret meeting with Howe, Bolton uses spectacles to decipher a letter that identifies Gustavus as an authority at West Point. Bolton volunteers to return to New York to identify James Osborn; Odell grows more suspicious while André remains convinced the mission advanced. Tension mounts as the spy game escalates.
Odell’s trap and Sally’s warning
Odell writes a false dispatch from Osborn for Bolton to steal. At another dinner, Sally Cameron pretends to toast the King but warns Bolton about Odell’s trap. She has fallen in love with Bolton and secretly tries to shield him, complicating loyalties.
Verplanck attack, arrest, and rescue
The British attack on Verplanck is crushed and Bolton is arrested as a Rebel spy. He is saved from hanging by André, who vouches for him after Sally confesses her feelings for Bolton and begs him to defend him. The incident marks a crucial turning point in Bolton’s fate.
The Vulture meeting and the escape
Bolton accompanies André to a meeting with Gustavus and Osborn aboard the sloop Vulture, but Gustavus changes the plan and orders André to come alone to a Tory house. Bolton persuades André to go in uniform; Odell detects Bolton, who escapes by swimming to the American garrison.
Arnold–Gustavus revealed; court-martial
Bolton realizes that Benedict Arnold is Gustavus and that Osborn is André in civilian clothes. At André’s court-martial, Bolton testifies that André entered the lines in uniform and changed to civilian dress by Arnold’s orders. The court sentences André to be executed as a spy, and André refuses Bolton’s plea for an exchange, choosing his own honor.
The Scarlet Coat Characters
Explore all characters from The Scarlet Coat (1955). Get detailed profiles with their roles, arcs, and key relationships explained.
Ben Potter (Bobby Driscoll)
A stable boy who becomes a pivotal local contact for Bolton, initially wary of danger but gradually entwined in the spy hunt. His streetwise observations and willingness to help illuminate the human side of wartime treachery. He embodies the everyday courage that sustains revolutionary effort.
Gen. Robert Howe (John McIntire)
A cautious American general overseeing West Point who weighs Bolton's claims and orchestrates strategic moves to protect the fort. He values discipline and prudence, yet understands the necessity of bold deception to secure victory. His leadership anchors the military response to British pressure.
Dr. Jonathan Odell (George Sanders)
A physician who serves as a British insider, suspicious of Bolton and instrumental in trapping him for deciphering the coded messages. His calm, calculating demeanor makes him a formidable intermediary between intelligence and action. He embodies the era's chilling efficiency in espionage operations.
Major John Andre (Michael Wilding)
A suave British officer who earns Bolton's trust and becomes a central figure in the spy trade. He demonstrates charm coupled with pragmatism, and ultimately faces a moral test as the truth about the Gustavus/Osborn scheme unfolds. His fate underscores the high cost of espionage.
Gen. Benedict Arnold (Robert Douglas)
The notorious traitor behind the Gustavus ploy, Arnold manipulates intelligence and alliances to advance his own aims. He embodies the complexity of loyalty and deceit during wartime, orchestrating key moves that threaten American defenses. His reveal as Gustavus redefines the war's internal landscape.
Sally Cameron (Anne Francis)
A Tory wife who uses personal influence to navigate the spy world, attempting to sway Bolton with a safe-conduct pass and later confessing her feelings. Her presence illustrates how civilians can complicate intelligence work and blur the lines between ally and guest. Her choices impact the reliability of information.
Col. Jameson (James Westerfield)
An American commander who remains skeptical of Bolton's loyalties, insisting on rigorous verification before confidence is granted. He represents the cautious guardrails of the American command structure and the pressure to avoid missteps during a fragile moment in the war. His restraint influences the fate of the mission.
The Scarlet Coat Settings
Learn where and when The Scarlet Coat (1955) takes place. Explore the film’s settings, era, and how they shape the narrative.
Time period
1780
Set during the American Revolutionary War in 1780, the film portrays a tense period of espionage, deception, and shifting allegiances. Military operations, spycraft, and political intrigue shape the course of the conflict. The year situates the drama amid the high-stakes struggle for control of key locations and information.
Location
West Point, Storm King Tavern, New York, Verplanck
The story is anchored at the West Point fortifications along the Hudson River, a key strategic site during the American Revolution. It moves through the Storm King Tavern and the streets of New York, where secret messages and undercover meetings drive the plot. Verplanck becomes a stage for a failed assault and a pivotal trap that tests loyalties on both sides.
The Scarlet Coat Themes
Discover the main themes in The Scarlet Coat (1955). Analyze the deeper meanings, emotional layers, and social commentary behind the film.
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Espionage
Espionage drives the narrative, with coded letters, disguises, and double identities compromising trust on both sides. Characters navigate a web of informants, impostors, and secret contacts to outmaneuver the enemy. The tension rests on whether truth or deception will prevail in critical moments.
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Loyalty
Loyalty is tested between duty to the nation and personal bonds, especially as allies on opposing sides collaborate or betray. Bolton's commitment to the American cause contrasts with treacherous acts by others, while André's honor blurs under pressure. The story examines who remains steadfast under fire and whose aims shift with circumstance.
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Betrayal
Benedict Arnold's history as a traitor looms large, highlighting the personal and political costs of betrayal. The discovery of Gustavus and Osborn exposes how treachery can masquerade as loyalty. The climactic revelations force characters to confront the consequences of their choices.
The Scarlet Coat Spoiler-Free Summary
Discover the spoiler-free summary of The Scarlet Coat (1955). Get a concise overview without any spoilers.
In the waning days of the Revolutionary War, a fragile peace hangs over the Hudson Valley as armies clash and loyalties blur. The film immerses the viewer in a world of smoky taverns, moonlit river crossings, and cramped military headquarters, where the thunder of cannon fire is matched only by the whisper of secret messages. The mood is taut and atmospheric, blending the grit of battlefield strategy with the uneasy suspense of covert operations, all underscored by the looming shadow of betrayal that could alter the course of a nation.
At the heart of this tension is Major John Bolton, a disciplined counter‑intelligence officer whose quiet determination sets him apart in a sea of restless soldiers. Charged with protecting the fledgling Republic, he finds himself drawn into a labyrinth of intrigue that forces him to walk the thin line between patriot and spy. His resolve is tested by the enigmatic presence of General Benedict Arnold, whose reputation as a commander masks deeper, hidden currents that the audience is invited to question.
Supporting figures add layers of complexity to Bolton’s mission. Gen. Robert Howe serves as the pragmatic overseer of the Continental forces, offering counsel that balances duty with the harsh realities of war. The scholarly yet enigmatic Dr. Jonathan Odell provides a glimpse into the intellectual underpinnings of the conflict, while Major John André embodies the sophisticated, aristocratic side of the British intelligence network, hinting at a world where honor and deception intersect. Amidst the espionage, the spirited Sally Cameron navigates her own precarious position, and the earnest young stablehand Ben Potter represents the innocence caught in the crossfire of larger schemes.
Together, these characters animate a narrative that is as much about personal conviction as it is about national destiny. The film invites the audience to linger over the uneasy alliances, the whispered codes, and the quiet moments of doubt that define an officer’s perilous journey to uncover a traitor hidden within the very ranks meant to defend liberty.
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