The Amorous Adventures of Moll Flanders (1965)

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

Director:

Terence Young

Writers:

Denis Cannan, Daniel Defoe (novel)

Stars:

Kim Novak, Richard Johnson, Claire Ufland

Nominated for 1 BAFTA Film Award.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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

Storyline

Based on Daniel Defoe's 1722 novel of the famed English adventuress Moll Flanders (Kim Novak). Moll is first engaged as a maid by an eighteenth-century English family chiefly composed of sex-starved males. She marries the imbecilic second son, who prefers booze to copulation. Too embarrassed to speak the truth of him, she demurely tells friends, "Modesty forbids me to reveal the secrets of the marriage bed." She then meets a rich banker (George Sanders), becomes maid-companion to a Count (Vittorio De Sica) and his Lady, and finally weds the banker, but leaves him on their first night together. She then joins a group of thieves, falls in love with James "Jemmy" Seagrave (Richard Johnson), and becomes their number one asset before she is sent to prison. After she is released, she finds Jemmy, and, in the end, everyone is on an America-bound boat except the banker, who fortuitously dies of a heart attack before he has had an opportunity to alter his will.

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Plot Keywords:

widow | servant | rags to riches | 18th century | banker | 

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Taglines:

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

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Genres:

Comedy | Romance

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Did You Know?

Trivia

In 1985, model Janice Martin was announced as the title heroine in an updated version by Ken Russell and Penthouse's Bob Guccione. After several false starts, including a last minute cancellation in Rome, the project, which would have included Glenda Jackson, Oliver Reed, Rod Steiger, and Trevor Howard, all ended up very acrimoniously in court. Russell won.

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Goofs

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.

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Connections

Version of Moll Flanders (1975)

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Soundtracks

Theme from the Amorous Adventures of Moll Flanders
Written by John Addison, lyrics by Norman Newell
Italian lyrics by Mogol
Performed by Don Powell

User Reviews

Carry on style comedy

It can be interesting to look at films from years ago and see how one's views have changed. I saw this when it came out in 1965, and again when it was revived a few years later. I quite enjoyed it then, although the critics were not impressed, however it must be fifty years since I last saw it, so when I saw that Talking Pictures TV were showing it, I set my TV to record it so that I could watch it at my leisure. Looked at today, my impression is that it has not aged at all well. There seems to be a lot of energy expended to little effect. At times, it resembles a Carry-on movie, and it hardly helps that Kim Novak seems to be miscast. However credit is due to Leo McKern playing Richard Johnson's sidekick, who adds some much needed fun to the proceedings. It has a good supporting cast, but I can't help but feel that with this cast, it really should have been a lot better.

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 September 1965 (West Germany)

Also Known As:

The Amorous Adventures of Moll Flanders

Filming Locations:

Chilham Castle, Chilham, Kent, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Winchester Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

126 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1