The Scarlet Letter (1973)
"Der scharlachrote Buchstabe" (original title)

In 17th-century Salem, Hester Prynne must wear a scarlet A because she is an adulteress, with a child out of wedlock. For seven years, she has refused to name the father. A vigorous older ... See full summary »

Director:

Wim Wenders

Writers:

Tankred Dorst (scenario Der Herr klagt über sein Volk in der Wildnis Amerika), Ursula Ehler (scenario Der Herr klagt über sein Volk in der Wildnis Amerika),

Stars:

Senta Berger, Hans Christian Blech, Lou Castel

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Senta Berger	...	Hester Prynne
Hans Christian Blech	...	Roger Chillingworth
Lou Castel	...	Rev. Dimmesdale
Yelena Samarina	...	Mistress Hibbins, the daughter of Gov. Bellingham
Yella Rottländer	...	Pearl
William Layton	...	Gov. Bellingham
Alfredo Mayo	...	Gov. Fuller
Ángel Álvarez	...	Rev. Wilson
Laura Currie	...	Sarah
Tito García	...	Church Attendant
Lorenzo Robledo	...	Captain
Rafael Albaicín	...	Indian
José Villasante	...	Shop Owner
Rüdiger Vogler	...	The Sailor
José Vivó

Storyline

In 17th-century Salem, Hester Prynne must wear a scarlet A because she is an adulteress, with a child out of wedlock. For seven years, she has refused to name the father. A vigorous older stranger arrives, recognized by Hester but unknown to others as her missing husband. He poses as Chillingworth, a doctor, watching Hester and searching out the identity of her lover. His eye soon rests on Dimmesdale, a young overwrought pastor. Enmity grows between the two men; Chillingworth applies psychological pressure, and the pastor begins to crack. A ship stops in Salem, and Hester sees it as a providential refuge for her daughter, herself, and her lover. But will Dimmesdale flee with her?

---

Plot Keywords:

17th century | adulteress | sexuality | infidelity | pregnancy | 

---

Genres:

Drama | History

---

Details

Country:

West Germany Spain

Language:

German

Release Date:

January 1977 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Scarlet Letter

Filming Locations:

Cologne, North Rhine - Westphalia, Germany

Box Office

Budget:

DEM 850,000 (estimated)

Gross:

ESP 3,258,945 (Spain)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Elías Querejeta Producciones Cinematográficas S.L., Filmverlag der Autoren, Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Version of La lettre écarlate (1977)

User Reviews

Disappointing meeting of two great artists

Wenders has made some extraordinary films, but this is not one of them. Low budget, poor acting, and a terrible score render this film a total failure; the subtle intermixture of fantasy and reality that is so characteristic a trait of Hawthorne's novel is wholly lacking in Wenders' adaptation which comes dangerously close to unintended parody at times.