The Amorous Adventures of Moll Flanders (1965)

Director:

Terence Young

Writers:

Denis Cannan (writer)
Daniel Defoe (novel)

Release Date:

10 September 1965 (West Germany)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Tagline:

The rollicking story of a ribald century that really should have been ashamed of itself!

Plot:

A bawdy story of how a poor damsel surrenders her virtue again and again to get to the top of society.

Plot Keywords:

Banker | Marriage | Love | Adventuress | Jail

Awards:

Nominated for BAFTA Film Award.

Cast

Kim Novak	...	Moll Flanders
Claire Ufland	...	Young Moll
Richard Johnson	...	Jemmy
Angela Lansbury	...	Lady Blystone
Leo McKern	...	Squint
Vittorio De Sica	...	The Count
George Sanders	...	The Banker
Lilli Palmer	...	Dutchy
Peter Butterworth	...	Grunt
Noel Howlett	...	Bishop
Dandy Nichols	...	Orphanage Superintendant
Cecil Parker	...	The Mayor
Barbara Couper	...	The Mayor's wife
Daniel Massey	...	Elder Brother
Derren Nesbitt	...	Younger Brother

Also Known As:

Moll Flanders

Runtime:

126 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

West Germany:18 (original rating) (nf) | Germany:6 | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

Chilham Square, Chilham, Kent, England, UK

Company:

Winchester Productions

Goofs:

Continuity: When The Banker (George Sanders) and Moll are robbed by the highwayman, the Banker's wig is stolen; however, upon arrival in London he is wearing it again.

Movie Connections:

Version of Moll Flanders (1996)

Soundtrack:

Hallelujah

Tom Jones without the sting

Does the title leave us in any doubt? This is a film in which every man in Georgian England wants to get into bed with Kim Novak. Well - I can understand that.

As a matter of fact very few of the men succeed. Although Novak looks as gorgeous as ever, if you're expecting to see anything, uh, hot, you'll be disappointed. And you'll have every right to be. A film with so little else going for it really ought to make the most of its centrepiece.

All the same she's sufficiently charming to make the film sort of enjoyable to watch most of the time. Moll is not so innocent as she pretends but more innocent than she thinks - she's hard not to like (and, of course, lust after). Some of the other characters are surprisingly well played. Angela Lansbury and Vittorio di Sica are rather touching as the loving but worldly couple with a tenuous toehold on the aristocracy, and Leo McKern does the rogue's sidekick schtick better than anyone else.

The problem is the script. There's not enough wit or spirit to make a comedy, and it's not played seriously enough to make us care about Moll's plight - it doesn't seem important where or with whom she ends up. There's not even, to be honest, enough story to fill two hours.

Still, you may just get some pleasure out of this movie, if you're in a tolerant mood. The question is thus: is Kim Novak enough to put you in a tolerant mood? For me, the answer is yes.