The Scarlet Letter (miniseries)

The Scarlet Letter is a 1979 miniseries based on the 1850 novel of the same name by Nathaniel Hawthorne: it 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.[2]

The Scarlet Letter
Written byNathaniel Hawthorne
Allan Knee
Alvin Sapinsley
Directed byRick Hauser
StarringJosef Sommer
Meg Foster
Elisa Erali
John Heard
Kevin Conway
Music byJohn Morris
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
ProducersRick Hauser[1]
Herbert Hirschman
CinematographyBob Collins
EditorsKen Denisoff
Janet McFadden
Tucker Wiard
Running time240 minutes
(four 60 minute episodes)
Production companyWGBH Boston
DistributorPBS Home Video
Release
Original release1979 (1979)

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.[3] The result was this version of Hawthorne's enduring novel of Puritan America in search of its soul. Hester Prynne becomes stigmatized after committing adultery, and is doomed to live with the consequences forever. Hawthorne's themes, the nature of sin, social hypocrisy, and community repression, still reverberate through American society.

Hester Prynne (Meg Foster) is a young, Puritan woman who commits adultery while her husband is in Europe, and, upon the birth of her illegitimate child, is subsequently condemned to wear a scarlet "A" for the rest of her life. Her secret partner, the Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale, (John Heard) writhes in private torment as he deals with hiding his sin. The person of Hester's husband, Roger Chillingworth (Kevin Conway) completes this grim triangle as the mysterious situation leads to a shattering climax. The story follows the main characters as they grapple with sin, forgiveness, and redemption.

Principal Cast

Crew

References
  1. Barlowe, Jamie (2000). The Scarlet Mob of Scribblers: Rereading Hester Prynne p. 142. SIU Press. ISBN 978-0-8093-2273-2.
  2. Franks, Don (2004). Entertainment Awards: A Music, Cinema, Theatre and Broadcasting Guide, 1928 through 2003, 3d ed. p.408. McFarland. ISBN 978-0-7864-1798-8.
  3. Rifkin, Glenn (May 20, 1984). "Public TV's WGBH Takes Risks in Pursuit of Provocative Fare". The New York Times. Retrieved May 7, 2017.
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