adultery,based on novel or book,infidelity,massachusetts,puritan,miniseries,17th century

The Scarlet Letter (1979)

Poster for The Scarlet Letter

Branded for Adultery - with the scarlet letter!

The Scarlet Letter is a 1979 miniseries based on the novel of the same name that aired on WGBH from March 3, 1979 to March 24, 1979. The series is four episodes long, 60 minutes each. Part 2 won the 1979 Emmy Award for Outstanding Video Tape Editing for a Limited Series or Special for film editors Ken Denisoff, Janet McFadden, and Tucker Wiard. In 1979, when most literary programs were being produced in the United Kingdom, Boston public television station WGBH decided to produce a homegrown literary classic of its own. The result is this epic version of Nathaniel Hawthorne's enduring novel of Puritan America in search of its soul. Hester Prynne overcomes the stigma of adultery to emerge as the first great heroine in American literature. Hawthorne's themes, the nature of sin, social hypocrisy, and community repression, still reverberate through American society. Meg Foster brings a quiet strength to the role of Hester, the adulteress condemned to wear a scarlet "A" for the rest of her life. As her partner in crime, the Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale, John Heard writhes in private torment most convincingly. Kevin Conway completes this grim triangle as the mysterious, maleficent Roger Chillingworth. The costumes and scenery are simple, so as not to detract from the dialogue as each character grapples with the meaning of sin, forgiveness, and redemption.

Cast & Crew

Director
Rick Hauser
  • Profile picture of Meg Foster
    Hester Prynne Meg Foster
  • Profile picture of John Heard
    Arthur Dimmesdale John Heard
  • Profile picture of Kevin Conway
    Roger Chillingworth Kevin Conway
  • Profile picture of Josef Sommer
    Nathaniel Hawthorne Josef Sommer
  • Profile picture of George Martin
    Mister Wilson George Martin
  • Profile picture of Clarence Felder
    Town Beadle Clarence Felder
  • Profile picture of Sasha von Scherler
    Goodie Ward Sasha von Scherler
  • Profile picture of Daniel von Bargen
    Sailor Daniel von Bargen
Poster for Miniseries

Miniseries

1979

4 episodes

Season 1 of The Scarlet Letter premiered on March 3, 1979

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Keywords

  • adultery
  • based on novel or book
  • infidelity
  • massachusetts
  • puritan
  • miniseries
  • 17th century