"The Scarlet Tunic" is based on a story from "Wessex Tales," by Thomas Hardy - "The Melancholy Hussar of the German Legion," a 20-page tale of thwarted love, structured as a recollection by Phyllis as told to Hardy shortly before she died. For this $800,000-budgeted British period film, set in the early 19th century, the name Phyllis was changed to Frances (Emma Fielding), daughter of retired doctor Edward Groves (Jack Shepherd). Frances is engaged to her father's friend, dull Humphrey Gould (John Sessions), away on business. A German cavalry regiment is encamped on Groves' land, and one day, Frances meets handsome hussar Matthaus (Jean-Marc Barr), who's ready for action. He would like to either fight the French or return to Germany. The two have an immediate attraction. When the bored soldiers, including Matthaus, make plans to desert, Frances decides to leave with Matthaus. Unfortunately, Gould visits the Groves home on that very night, with resulting confrontations and conflicts. Former second-unit director and stunt coordinator Stuart St. Paul makes his feature directorial debut, with the screenplay (St. Paul, Mark Jenkins, Colin Clements) expanding on both the events and characters as penned by Hardy. 1998

1. Prologue
2. Main Titles - The arrival of the King's Hussars
3. Mr. Gould proposes to Frances
4. Captain Fairfax
5. Frances meets Sergeant Matthaus Singer
6. Frances and Sergeant Singer
7. A message for Captain Fairfax
8. Fairfax discipline
9. The red shawl
10. At the tavern
11. Francis and Matthaus discuss poetry
12. Francis and Matthaus continue their walk
13. Threat of execution
14. New expectations
15. Talk of desertion
16. The first execution
17. Meeting in the stable
18. Trumpets and drums of the Kings Hussars
19. Sergeant Singer and Captain Fairfax play chess
20. Mr. Gould's letter
21. Matthaus and Frances declare their love
22. The day at the coast
23. A flogging
24. Driven to desertion
25. Frances and Matthaus seal their fate
26. Bidding goodbye
27. Departure from home
28. Trying to reach the rendezvous
29. Mr. Gould's secret marriage
30. Frances takes flight
31. Capture of Matthaus
32. Frances find the scarlet tunic
33. Execution of Matthaus
34. Christoff returns
35. Scarlet tunic - End Credits