The Scarlet Letter

This adaptation of Hawthorne's novel is not a masterpiece according to today's cinematographic art. But it is an essential historical document on how the novel was seen in these old years, and how the cinema worked : with no special effects and no computers, not even color. And moreover it is an essential film because the vision of the novel and of the plot is, though short and simple, extremely faithful. We hence have a full drama of impossible repentance imposed onto one sinner by the other.Repentance has to be public or it is not. We also have a drastic vision of the punished woman becoming the glorified person whereas the man who goes unpunished by society is tenfold more punished by his own soul and guilt. Punished to death. This is the very reversal of the puritan vision by life that thus appears as denying any righteousness to puritanism. The point on which this film is rather deficient is the vision of the child. In those days it xas not that easy to get a child to perform this role, the role of Pearl. It is slightly regrettable because the child is the real center of the novel, in spite of what some may think.She is the real heroin and the true winning victim. At this level there is some cynism on the part of the novel and this film renders it very well.Dr Jacques Coulardeau

It is a real “A” picture joked MGM salesmen getting booking for this movie. With intensely dramatic performances by Lillian Gish and Lars Hanson, under Victor Sjöström’s sensitive direction, the movie was a box-office hit! It made a profit of $296,000 in 1926! Nathaniel Hawthorne story’s “A” for adultery could also be “Art” in the film. Lillian Gish began working on this project immediately after she finished her first MGM movie “La Boehme. Having overcome opposition from MGM boss Louis B. Mayer, it was great investment of time and effort. Gish asked Louis B. Mayer to produce the film, but MGM Studios initially feared that it would be banned by the church for its “morally” unacceptable contents. Henry Walthall (Gish’s co-star from D.W. Griffith days), Karl and Marcelle Corday led the support. The script was by Frances Marion.When a young Puritan woman in Boston during colonial days becomes pregnant out of wedlock, she is pressured to reveal the name of her lover who happens to be a pastor at the local church. The trick of the story is that she is already married to a physician who has been missing seven years and presumed dead. She refuses to reveal the name of the father of her child for which the society shuns her and forces her to wear a dress marked “A” for adultery for the rest of her life. Lillian Gish offers a stunning performance in this silent classic which was acclaimed by the film critics.

Poorly made and a waste of money. Don’t watch it.

Followed the book somewhat and was an interesting depiction of the story. I liked it. Viewed this version before I saw the newer film/dvd.

This is an insult! The absolute worst protrayal of a great piece of American Literature that I have ever seen!!! Does not follow the story at all. Characters are horribly portrayed and fake characters are inserted.

I purchased this item and was quite disappointed. It was not the 1926 version starring Lillian Gish (as advertised) but another, later version.

This video is mentioned in "Easy A". If you like Hawthorn you should enjoy this video. An excellent product. Very good service arrived on time during Christmas period and at this end of the earth, well done.

Much easier to watch the movie than to read the book!

old film not what i thought