The Scarlet Letter (1934)

In the seventeenth century, in Massachusetts, a young woman is forced to wear a scarlet "A" on her dress for bearing a child out of wedlock.

Director:

Robert G. Vignola

Writers:

Nathaniel Hawthorne (novel), Leonard Fields,

Stars:

Colleen Moore, Hardie Albright, Henry B. Walthall

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Colleen Moore	...	Hester Prynne
Hardie Albright	...	Arthur Dimmesdale
Henry B. Walthall	...	Roger Chillingworth
Cora Sue Collins	...	Pearl
Alan Hale	...	Bartholomew Hockings
Virginia Howell	...	Abigail Crakstone
William Kent	...	Sampson Goodfellow (as William T. Kent)
William Farnum	...	Gov. Bellingham
Betty Blythe	...	Innkeeper
Al O. Henderson	...	Master Wilson (as Al C. Henderson)
Jules Cowles	...	Beadle
Mickey Rentschler	...	Digerie Crakstone
Shirley Jean Rickert	...	Humility Crakstone
Flora Finch	...	Faith Bartle, the Gossip

Storyline

At the end of the 17th century a impetuous woman of noble birth but poor arrives in Boston when it was just a village rather than a city. As she is married to an old doctor she tries to change her life.

---

Plot Keywords:

17th century | colonial america | sexuality | pariah | pregnancy | 

---

Taglines:

Nathaniel Hawthorne's classic tale of sin & redemption!

---

Genres:

Drama | History | Romance

---

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 September 1934 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Pioneer Village, Forest River Park - West Avenue, Salem, Massachusetts, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Larry Darmour Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

69 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Henry B. Walthall played Chillingworth in both this and the 1926 silent version.

---

Connections

Version of The Scarlet Letter (1911)

User Reviews

Sad final film for the great Colleen Moore.

Colleen Moore was without doubt one of the best silent actresses, especially in comedy. Her wit, charm and energy were infectious - even in interviews late in life she still shone. How sad it is, therefore, that she retired so young - only 34 - and that she went out on a film such as this one. Not that this is a terrible film - it has some strong moments - and Colleen is actually very good, but it is hardly worthy of her talents and is certainly not a good showcase for them. She plays the tragic single mother in the Puritan community with strength and dignity and is well matched by Hardie Albright who is very strong as her priest-lover. But Colleen is never allowed to be funny - the part is a grim one. How much more suitable she would have been to something like "It Happened One Night". To waste a great talent like hers is appalling.

Ironically the worst thing in this movie is the attempted comic relief with Alan Hale and William Kent playing a couple of buffoons chasing an eligible widow. They really fall flat.