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
Release
Original release1979 (1979)

Plot

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.[3]

Production and broadcast

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.[4] The production was funded by grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the Arthur Vining Davis Foundation, and Exxon.[5][6] It was made on videotape rather than film, for cost-saving, and many exterior scenes were shot at Sachuest Point, near Newport, Rhode Island.[7] A behind-the-scenes documentary, The Making of the Scarlet Letter, was also made and broadcast in 1979.[8]

Cast

Crew

Reception

Critical response to The Scarlet Letter miniseries was mixed.[3] Marvin Kitman conceded that it might be "heresy" to criticize such ambitious programming, but he faulted the first episode's pacing, saying "it moves like a gastropod" and "there is a lot of sewing going on." He found Foster's performance too repressed.[6] Gannett's Maggie Maurice appreciated Foster's work; "If anyone can smoulder, it's Meg Foster."[9] Because the production was expensive, no similar adaptions of American literary classics followed from WGBH; "It would be great if it was the first of many, but it's not likely," admitted director Rick Hauser.[10]

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. Dunne, Michael. "The Scarlet Letter on Film: Ninety Years of Revisioning" Literature/Film Quarterly 35(1)(1997): 30-39. via Proquest
  4. Rifkin, Glenn (May 20, 1984). "Public TV's WGBH Takes Risks in Pursuit of Provocative Fare". The New York Times. Retrieved May 7, 2017.
  5. Hall, Randy (1979-03-24). "Show and tell: 'The Scarlet Letter' comes to TV". The Anniston Star. p. 42. Retrieved 2023-10-14 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. Kitman, Marvin (1979-04-02). "Repressed up in Boston". Newsday (Suffolk Edition). p. 103. Retrieved 2023-10-14 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. "All Hands Help in Scarlet Letter Remake". Asbury Park Press. 1978-09-17. p. 181. Retrieved 2023-10-14 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. "Making of Scarlet Letter". The Daily Herald. 1979-03-19. p. 43. Retrieved 2023-10-14 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. Maurice, Maggie (1979-04-04). "Meg Foster is perfect in 'Scarlet Letter'". Star-Gazette. p. 13. Retrieved 2023-10-14 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. "'Scarlet Letter' is probably one of a kind". The Pantagraph. 1979-04-02. p. 9. Retrieved 2023-10-14 – via Newspapers.com.
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