Rotten
"Freely adapted from the novel by Nathaniel Hawthorne," the credits say cautiously. I'll say.
Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader
The Scarlet Letter
When intimacy is forbidden and passion is a sin, love is the most defiant crime of all.
1995 · 2h 15m · R
Drama, Romance
Directed by
Roland Joffé
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The Scarlet Letter
Overview
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.
Director and cast
- Roland Joffé Director
- Demi Moore as Hester Prynne
- Gary Oldman as Rev. Arthur Dimmesdale
- Robert Duvall as Roger Chillingworth
- Lisa Andoh as Mituba
- Edward Hardwicke as Gov. John Bellingham
- Robert Prosky as Horace Stonehall
- Roy Dotrice as Rev. Thomas Cheever
- Joan Plowright as Harriet Hibbons
- Malcolm Storry as Maj. Dunsmuir
- James Bearden as Goodman Mortimer
Critics on Rotten Tomatoes
Top critics, in their words
13%
Tomatometer
Rotten
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.
Todd McCarthy, Variety
Rotten
Not only does the film bear little resemblance to the source novel, but it's cluttered with ridiculous symbolism.
Derek Adams, Time Out
Rotten
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.
Caryn James, New York Times
Fresh
This is a well-acted, beautiful movie.
Peter Stack, San Francisco Chronicle
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