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:

Darmour Studio - 5821-5823 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, 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 (1917)

User Reviews

For Laughing on ye Sabbath

This film is probably most notable, in hindsight, as containing the last cinematic performance from Colleen Moore, one of the great "silent" stars of the 1920s. Ms. Moore's portrayal of Hester Prynne is neither great nor representative, but it does reveal the actress had the ability to carry on making pictures with sound. Sadly, the available material proved unworthy of Moore.

This is an uninspired, and unnecessary, attempt at a more comic version of Nathaniel Hawthorne's "The Scarlet Letter"; it is more listless than lighthearted. The drama is provided by the classic literary trio of characters: Moore as Hester Prynne, Hardie Albright as Arthur Dimmesdale, and Henry B. Walthall as Roger Chillingworth. The comedy is provided by Alan Hale as Bartholomew Hockings, William Kent as Sampson Goodfellow, Virginia Howell as Abigail Crakstone, and others. In a close call, but the comedy side of the story is slightly more entertaining.

Mr. Hale's performance is the most enjoyable of the comic players; significantly, he is able take all the attention off Mr. Albright, during one of the latter's dramatic sermons, as Reverend Dimmesdale. Mr. Walthall, who performed the same character in the far superior 1926 version, with Lillian Gish, is interesting to watch; but, his attempt at a faithful portrayal of Chillingworth does not match the surrounding production.

Adorable Cora Sue Collins plays "Pearl" Shirley Temple-like -- this is understandable, given the time of release -- consider, especially, the scene when Ms. Moore and her little girl take swords, begin a dancing march, and chant, "Boom! Boom! Boom!" Cora, take a bow!