The Scarlet Letter (1995)
Roland Joffé's bold, controversial reimagining of Hawthorne's classic, starring Demi Moore as Hester Prynne in Puritan Boston.
The Scarlet Letter - Movie Information
- Original Title: The Scarlet Letter
- Release Year: 1995
- Directed by: Roland Joffé
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Drama, Romance
- Age Rating (US): R
- Runtime: 2h 15m
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: English
- Release Date (Theatrical): October 13, 1995 (Brazil), October 13, 1995 (United States - R), April 17, 1996 (Germany - 12), April 24, 1996 (France - U), December 20, 1995 (Italy), December 9, 1995 (South Korea - 18)
- Alternative Titles: La letter écarlate (CA), Les amants du nouveau monde (FR), La letra escarlata (ES), A Letra Escarlate (BR)
- Production Companies: Cinergi Pictures, Lightmotive, Allied Stars, Moving Pictures, Hollywood Pictures
- Production Countries: United States of America
The Scarlet Letter - Plot
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.
The Scarlet Letter - Trailer
Watch the official trailer and see the passion and peril of Puritan Boston unfold:
When intimacy is forbidden and passion is a sin, love is the most defiant crime of all.
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The Scarlet Letter - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Roland Joffé
Main Cast
- Demi Moore
- Gary Oldman
- Robert Duvall
- Lisa Andoh
- Edward Hardwicke
- Robert Prosky
- Roy Dotrice
- Joan Plowright
- Malcolm Storry
- James Bearden
Writers
- Douglas Day Stewart
Producers
- Roland Joffé
- Andrew G. Vajna
The Scarlet Letter - FAQs
What is The Scarlet Letter (1995) about?
The film follows Hester Prynne, a seamstress in 17th-century Puritan Boston who becomes pregnant by a respected reverend. Refusing to name the father, she's branded an adulteress and forced to wear a scarlet "A." The story explores forbidden desire, religious hypocrisy, and the cost of defying a rigid society.
How does the 1995 film differ from Hawthorne's novel?
Roland Joffé's adaptation takes significant liberties with Nathaniel Hawthorne's source material, adding a Native American subplot, an action-driven climax, and a more empowered, sexually assertive Hester Prynne. The film was notably marketed as "freely adapted" from the novel, which drew sharp criticism from literary purists and scholars.
Where can you stream The Scarlet Letter (1995)?
The Scarlet Letter (1995) is available to rent or buy on Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, YouTube, and Fandango At Home. It isn't currently on a major subscription streaming service, so a digital rental is your easiest option.
Why was The Scarlet Letter (1995) so controversial?
The film sparked controversy on multiple fronts: critics lambasted its dramatic departures from Hawthorne's novel, its explicit sexual content, and what many saw as a misguided attempt to turn a literary classic into a mainstream Hollywood thriller. It became one of the most derided big-budget releases of 1995.
Who are the main actors in The Scarlet Letter?
Demi Moore leads the cast as Hester Prynne, with Gary Oldman playing the tormented Reverend Dimmesdale and Robert Duvall as the menacing Roger Chillingworth. Joan Plowright and Robert Prosky round out a strong supporting ensemble in this period drama.
Is The Scarlet Letter (1995) based on a true story?
Not directly. The film adapts Nathaniel Hawthorne's 1850 novel of the same name, which was itself inspired by Puritan New England society and Hawthorne's own complex feelings about his ancestors' roles in the Salem witch trials. The characters are fictional, though the historical setting reflects real social conditions.
How was The Scarlet Letter (1995) received by critics?
Critically, the film was a disaster. Reviewers savaged its rewriting of Hawthorne's story, its tonal inconsistencies, and its overwrought melodrama. It holds a very low score on Rotten Tomatoes and is frequently cited as a cautionary tale about Hollywood's handling of literary classics.
What is the age rating for The Scarlet Letter (1995)?
The Scarlet Letter (1995) is rated R, primarily for sexual content, nudity, and some violence. It's intended for adult audiences, and the mature themes of adultery, religious persecution, and colonial brutality make it unsuitable for younger viewers.
More About The Scarlet Letter
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