The Scarlet Letter Movie: A Timeless Tale of Sin, Consequence, and Truth

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The purpose of the story really is that sins can be forgiven and those who commit even the gravest sins can go on to live lives filled with purpose. The lesson taught by the unhappy father, who does end up exposing himself, is that the sacrament of Penance is very important.

John Risner and Molly Wilson in The Scarlet Letter (2015)
Risen Light Films

Alongside Harper Lee's novel To Kill a Mockingbird stands another gem in American literature: Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter. It is little wonder that the story has been told time and again in various film adaptations throughout the years, in and outside of Hollywood.

Risen Light Film's The Scarlet Letter Movie Delivers a Faithful and Powerful Adaptation

It was a pleasure as independent filmmakers ourselves to watch the 2015 The Scarlet Letter movie. We felt like the style was reminiscent of The War of the Vendee, which is the film that inspired us to make films.

This adaptation takes the viewers to a little before when the novel begins on the scaffold, offering a little bit more context. Hester Prynne has indulged in an adulterous relationship with a man from her colony while her husband has seemed to have disappeared. He had sent her on ahead from England and Hester, glad to be free from his overbearing personality, is hoping that he is dead.

This allows the film to take on a more pro-life tone as the unhappy lovers decide what to do now that their sin is unable to be hidden any more since Hester is expecting.

"A curse", Hester's partner in sin calls the child. He adds that it would be best if the child never saw the light of day. But Hester is steadfast in her resolve to face up to the consequences of her sin. She promises to protect the unhappy father as he has a position in the colony and it would be a scandal if their neighbors knew of his sin. 

The child is born and Hester is forced to stand with her child and shame to be made a spectacle for the rest of the colony. Another part of her punishment is to wear the red letter "A" forever on her garments: the scarlet letter meaning "adulteress".

Her thought-to-be-dead husband arrives at that moment and vows within himself that he will find the father of the child despite Hester's silence.

Hester's punishment softens as the time wears on while the life of the child's father becomes a living hell as he suffers his shame without the witness of those around him. To all outward appearances, he is a man of God making the torture within himself all the more burning. In the end, the choice is left to him to make the right choice on what he is to do with his shame.

Molly Wilson and Olivia Jammer in The Scarlet Letter (2015)
Risen Light Films

Just a quick note for family audiences: This is a mature story, so it is reasonable that the movie is also for mature audiences. There are many references to the sin in the film, though the offenders are always treated as having done wrong.

There is a non-graphic birth scene in the film as well as a time when Hester imagines herself after having murdered her child.

The ending had a scene that was slightly confusing with another young woman wearing the scarlet letter who Hester comforts. It was confusing whether this was Hester's child, Pearl, or if this was an unrelated woman who came to Hester knowing that she had been through it all before.

As far as casting went, this film was done very well. Hester was casted well and Molly Wilson did a great job being that torn but strong character. John Risner, who played the role of Hester's husband, was evil as can be, but also captured the true anger and sadness that this character needed as well as the more bizarre desire to secretly torture his enemy. Kevin Wegner was the tortured father and did a great job in that as well. 

I was a little disappointed when watching the 1934 version that there was no reference to the fact that Pearl, the child, was not "the scarlet letter" herself as she was in the book. This character seems to delight in tormenting her mother by bringing up the inconsistencies of her life and is always dressed in red. Her little girl figure gives her the appearance of being a letter "A". This was definitely referenced in this film.

That being said, it appeared that the filmmakers were very attached to the language of the original novel. The actors did a good job carrying and vocally interpreting these lofty lines. Each actor appeared to really believe in his character and this The Scarlet Letter movie was a joy to watch.

The Scarlet Letter Movie Surprises with Classic Charm

Hardie Albright and Cora Sue Collins in The Scarlet Letter (1934)
Majestic Pictures

I was surprisingly delighted with the 1934 film adaptation of Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter. I usually am not in the mood for black and white films but this one pulled me in right away and kept me waiting for more. 

When a young widow suddenly has a child she is publicly shamed by her Puritanical village and forced to wear a red letter "A" for "adulterer" on her dress for the rest of her life. When asked about her partner in crime, she refuses to reveal his name.

Things get worse for Hester Prynne when her thought-to-be-dead husband arrives in the colony.

Disappointed with his young wife, he disowns her and sets out to find and avenge himself on the mysterious man who destroyed their marriage. His search brings him to the colony's minister who, although infallible to everyone else, is fading away under his shame and guilt. 

Featuring oldie starts like Colleen Moore and Hardie Albright, this classical style film may be showing a hint of its age with limited volume and coloring but is a five star for its intrigue as well as wholesomeness. The subject matter is something that could easily be twisted into Hollywood junk, as is true of the 1995 version, but this film stays true to the classic novel.

The Scarlet Letter Book Explores Sin, Shame, and Forgiveness in a Powerful Tale of Puritan America

The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne

Set against the backdrop of Puritan Massachusetts in 1642, Nathaniel Hawthorne's novel The Scarlet Letter takes readers into the very heart of colonial America.

The story opens with the tragedy that befalls when a certain young woman by the name of Hester Prynne brings forth a child even though her husband has not yet arrived at the colony and they have been separated for over two years. 

The Puritans react immediately and with the rigor that they are rightly accused of. Hester is made to stand with her child to be scorned for a day before being forced to sew the scarlet letter "A" to her clothes to be worn "for the rest of her natural life".

Meanwhile the partner in her sin goes without accusation as Hester refuses to betray him. So Hester begins a lonely life of being shunned by her colony without a friend in the world and only her child for company.

It isn't long before her husband arrives in the colony looking for his wife. He is enraged to discover what has happened and swears that he will find the father of the child and exact revenge. 

Through it all Hester learns to cope with her punishment while the child's father is left to a silent torture of being deemed a holy man although he knows the truth about himself. What is worse, Hester's husband discovers him quickly and immediately goes about ensuring that the poor father will never know a moment's peace.

The purpose of the story really is that people can commit sins of which they later repent. They are forgiven and can live lives that find purpose. Hester applies herself to caring for the sick and poor. This gains for her a new life in which she is able to support herself and her young child. 

The lesson taught by the unhappy father, who does end up exposing himself, is that the sacrament of Penance is very important. The father repents and truly does blame himself for the sin he has committed, but is never able to forgive himself. This is partly because he is not able to confess it to anyone. Holy Mother Church is ever wise in giving her children a way to never be eaten by past sins the way this poor man is.

Share Your Thoughts on The Scarlet Letter: Book Insights, Hawthorne Trivia, and Your Favorite The Scarlet Letter Movie

We’d love to hear from you! Whether you have thoughts on the deeper purpose behind The Scarlet Letter, interesting insights into Nathaniel Hawthorne’s life and influences, or a favorite film adaptation that stood out to you—join the conversation.

Have you been intrigued by the symbolism, or discovered a version of The Scarlet Letter movie that really captured the novel’s spirit? Share your reflections, favorite moments, or any little-known facts (an update on Nathaniel Hawthorne's daughter's canonization, anyone?)—we're always excited to hear how this story has impacted readers and audiences like you.