The Scarlet Letter (1995)
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14% of critics liked it
(35 reviews) -
47% of users liked it
(20,136 ratings)
Nathaniel Hawthorne's classic novel of hypocrisy among America's pilgrims was brought to the screen by director Roland Joffe in this 1995 feature. Demi Moore stars as Hester Prynne, a new arrival to the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1666. Prynne, who interacts freely with slaves and Quakers… More Nathaniel Hawthorne's classic novel of hypocrisy among America's pilgrims was brought to the screen by director Roland Joffe in this 1995 feature. Demi Moore stars as Hester Prynne, a new arrival to the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1666. Prynne, who interacts freely with slaves and Quakers and wears revealing garb, is something of a free thinker and off-putting to the uptight locals. She awaits the arrival of her husband, Roger (Robert Duvall), but he is reported killed. One person who does not find Prynne unsettling is the new preacher, Arthur Dimmesdale (Gary Oldman). A torrid encounter between them produces a child, Pearl, and Hester is condemned by the colony, forced to wear a scarlet letter "A" (for "adultery"). Roger reappears; he had been living with a native tribe -- an experience that has driven him mad. He masquerades as "Roger Chillingsworth," trying to discover the identity of Pearl's father. When Hester is about to be executed, Dimmesdale confesses, but a timely Indian raid intervenes, saving him and Hester. The Scarlet Letter was widely derided by critics for sexualizing and changing Hawthorne's novel to an absurd degree. ~ Karl Williams, Rovi
- Directed By
- Roland Joffé
- Genres
- Drama, Romance
R,
- In Theaters
- Oct 13, 1995 Wide
- On DVD
- Jun 4, 2002
Critic Reviews
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Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader
"Freely adapted from the novel by Nathaniel Hawthorne," the credits say cautiously. I'll say.
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Todd McCarthy, Variety
A very '90s take on a 1660s tale written in 1850, as a picture of early colonial life it's about as convincing as Pocahontas.
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Derek Adams, Time Out
Not only does the film bear little resemblance to the source novel, but it's cluttered with ridiculous symbolism.
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Caryn James, New York Times
If you've read the book you won't know the ending. Let's just say that Indians with flaming arrows come to the rescue. They manage to keep a straight face, which is more than anyone in the audience will be able to do.
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Peter Stack, San Francisco Chronicle
This is a well-acted, beautiful movie.
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Cast
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Demi Moore
as Hester Prynne
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Gary Oldman
as Arthur Dimmesdale
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Robert Duvall
as Roger Chillingworth
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Robert Prosky
as Horace Stonehall
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Edward Hardwicke
as John Bellingham
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Joan Plowright
as Harriet Hibbons
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George Aguilar
as Johnny Sassamon
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Sarah Campbell
as Prudence Stonehall
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Roy Dotrice
as Thomas Cheever
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Dana Ivey
as Meredith Stonehall
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Judd Jones
as Mr. Bobbin
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Jodhi May
as Pearl
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Diane Salinger
as Margaret Bellingham
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Eric Schweig
as Metacomet
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Malcolm Storry
as Major Dunsmuir
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Francie Swift
as Sally Short
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Sheldon Peters Wolfchild
as Moskeegee
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Tim Woodward
as Brewster Stonehall
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Amy Wright
as Goody Gotwick
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Jim Bearden
as Goodman Mortimer
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Nicholas Rice
as The Clerk
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Lisa Jolliff-Andoh
as Mituba
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Len Doncheff
as Trader
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Marguerite McNeil
as Widow Wormser
