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The Scarlet Letter
1995 135 min United States of America R 18+
★5.4
Drama, Romance
Director: Roland Joffé
🎭 Based on
«The Scarlet Letter»
byNathaniel Hawthorne
Trailers
Description
Set in puritanical Boston in the mid 1600s, the story of seamstress Hester Prynne, who is outcast after she becomes pregnant by a respected reverend. She refuses to divulge the name of the father, is "convicted" of adultery and forced to wear a scarlet "A" until an Indian attack unites the Puritans and leads to a reevaluation of their laws and morals.
Budget:
$50M
US Gross:
$10.38M
Worldwide:
$10.38M
Starring
Demi Moore
Actor
Gary Oldman
Actor
Robert Duvall
Actor
Awards
Razzie Awards 1996
— Worst Sequel, Remake or Ripoff
Razzie Awards 1996
— Worst Picture
Razzie Awards 1996
— Worst Actress
Razzie Awards 1996
— Worst Screenplay
Razzie Awards 1996
— Worst Screen Couple
MTV Movie & TV Awards 1996
— Most Desirable Woman
Razzie Awards 1996
— Worst Sequel, Remake or Ripoff
Razzie Awards 1996
— Worst Director
Key opinion
The 1995 adaptation of The Scarlet Letter polarizes audiences by drastically departing from Nathaniel Hawthorne’s source material to emphasize a romantic melodrama over theological struggle. While critics and some viewers lament the loss of the novel’s moral nuance and original ending, many others are captivated by the film’s lush visual aesthetic and powerful lead performances.
| Acting | The film features strong lead performances from Demi Moore and Gary Oldman, with Oldman praised for his ability to bring vulnerability and complexity to the role of Dimmesdale. | |
| Cinematography | The lush, evocative cinematography successfully captures the atmosphere of 17th-century America, creating a visually immersive romantic setting. | |
| Adaptation | The departure from the source material is divisive; fans of the novel criticize the film for simplifying profound themes into generic melodrama, while other viewers enjoy the hopeful, romantic reinterpretation. | |
| Pacing | The pacing is inconsistent, with some viewers finding the film deeply engaging and immersive, while others perceive it as slow, meandering, and lacking emotional urgency. | |
| Ending | The decision to abandon the novel's tragic conclusion in favor of an uplifting, happy ending is polarizing, with some finding it emotionally satisfying and others finding it tone-deaf to the story's themes. |