RottenTomatoes.com
Log In | Register | What is RT?
Check out the new RT Community
  • Home
  • Movies
  • DVD
  • Celebrities
  • News
  • Critics
  • Trailers & Pictures
  • CommunityBeta
  • Box Office
  • | In Theaters
  • | Opening
  • | Upcoming
  • | Best Of
  • | Certified Fresh
  • | Showtimes
RT Search Powered by Google
help icon Enhanced RT
searches on Google
Click here to turn on enhanced search results from RT on your Google searches.
 
Movies / On DVD / The Scarlet Letter
The Scarlet Letter

Rate this Movie Help Icon

  • Write a Review
  • Read Reviews
  • Add to List
  • Get this Movie
  • Buy Poster External Icon
  • Bookmark and Share

The Scarlet Letter (1995)

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
  • DVD
6 %
Tomatometer

How does the Tomatometer work Help Icon

Reviews Counted: 18

Fresh: 1

Rotten:17

Average Rating: 2.8/10

Runtime: 2 hrs 15 mins

Genre: Dramas

Synopsis: Roland Joffé's adaptation of Nathaniel Hawthorne's seminal novel tells the story of an intolerant Puritan community in the early days of American settlement. In the 1660s, Hester Prynne (Demi... Roland Joffé's adaptation of Nathaniel Hawthorne's seminal novel tells the story of an intolerant Puritan community in the early days of American settlement. In the 1660s, Hester Prynne (Demi Moore) makes the voyage to the New World in order to find religious freedom and a new home for her and her husband, Roger (Robert Duvall). However, Hester proves to be too free-spirited and strong-willed for most of the conservative Massachusetts Bay colony members. She abandons the laws of the colony and sets up a home far from the town square, living by her own rules and setting the townspeople's morals on end. While waiting for her husband's arrival from England, she befriends the town pastor, Arthur Dimmesdale (Gary Oldman), a liberal-minded and passionate man who instantly strikes Hester's fancy. Although the married woman and pious pastor are strongly attracted to one another, the two refuse to give in to temptation--until Roger is reported dead in a violent Indian massacre. When the townfolk hear about the ensuing scandal, they force Hester to wear a shameful scarlet "A" (for adultery) on her clothing at all times--while living as a moral and social outcast. [More]

Starring: Demi Moore, Gary Oldman, Robert Duvall, Lisa Jolliff-Andoh

Starring: Demi Moore, Gary Oldman, Robert Duvall, Lisa Jolliff-Andoh, Edward Hardwicke, Robert Prosky, Roy Dotrice, Joan Plowright

Director: Roland Joffé

Director: Roland Joffé
Composer: John Barry

[See More Credits]

Get This Movie

Rent DVD
 
 

Click on the "ADD" button to put this movie into your Netflix queue.

 
 
Buy DVD
 
 
Release:

Jun 4, 2002

[DVD Details]
 
 
  • The Scarlet Letter
  • Sexy Demi Moore (DISCLOSURE, INDECENT PROPOSAL) heats up this powerfully sensual story of illicit love! In a time when adultery is punishable by death, Hester Prynne (Moore) becomes involved in a risky and scandalous affair with her town's handsome minister (Gary Oldman -- MURDER IN THE FIRST). But when their secret passion results in a child, Hester is confronted with the town's overwhelming scorn ... and is condemned to forever wear the scarlet letter "A" as a public brand of shame! A highly provocative retelling of the classic tale of forbidden love, THE SCARLET LETTER combines a sizzling story with exciting stars and delivers must-see entertainment.
  • Source: Buena Vista Home Entertainment.
  •  
     
     
     

    Reviews for The Scarlet Letter

    • T-Meter Critics
    • Top Critics
    • RT Community
    • My Critics
    • My Friends
    • DVD
     
     
    1 - 20 (sorted by date)
    Text View | 1 2 >> >|
    Arrange By: Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
     
     
    N/R

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: Variety | comment Comment
    03/26/09
    Todd McCarthy
    Variety
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic
    N/R

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
    06/24/06
    Derek Adams
    Time Out

    No review available.

    comment Comment
    08/31/05
    Jeffrey Westhoff
    Northwest Herald (Crystal Lake, IL)

    No review available.

    comment Comment
    07/07/05
    Emanuel Levy
    EmanuelLevy.Com

    Oh, Roland Joffé, thy free adaptation of the Hawthorne classic didst produce abudant derisive laughter. Didst thou once direct 'The Killing Fields?'

    comment Comment
    05/19/05
    Dan Lybarger
    Nitrate Online

    For anyone who's ever wondered why Hawthorne left out the mute servants, red cockatoos, and rolls in the proverbial hay. As Hawthorne himself would say: "Ignominious!"

    comment Comment
    08/31/04
    Nick Davis
    Nick's Flick Picks
    N/R

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: New York Times | comment Comment
    08/30/04
    Caryn James
    New York Times
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    A hysterically incompetent camp classic, highly recommended for English department faculty parties.

    comment Comment
    05/26/04
    Rob Vaux
    Flipside Movie Emporium

    Love the book or hate it, but no novel deserves the shabby treatment that director Roland Joffé and screenwriter Douglas Day Stewart have given the classic novel.

    Full Review Source: Mr. Brown's Movies | comment Comment
    01/13/04
    Michael Dequina
    Mr. Brown's Movies

    No review available.

    comment Comment
    11/20/03
    Michelle Alexandria
    Eclipse Magazine

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: Palo Alto Weekly | comment Comment
    05/14/03
    Jeanne Aufmuth
    Palo Alto Weekly

    [It's] a mess that serves no one, least of all students hoping to get out of having to read the book for class.

    Full Review Source: ArtVoice | comment Comment
    04/28/03
    M. Faust
    ArtVoice

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: rec.arts.movies.reviews | comment Comment
    04/25/03
    Dragan Antulov
    rec.arts.movies.reviews

    No review available.

    comment Comment
    12/23/02
    Philip Martin
    Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: San Francisco Chronicle | comment Comment
    06/18/02
    Peter Stack
    San Francisco Chronicle
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic
    N/R

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: Boxoffice Magazine | comment Comment
    06/05/02
    Christine James
    Boxoffice Magazine
    N/R

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: Globe and Mail | comment Comment
    04/12/02
    Globe and Mail
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic
    N/R

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: Los Angeles Times | comment Comment
    02/13/01
    Kenneth Turan
    Los Angeles Times
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic
    N/R

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: Deseret News, Salt Lake City | comment Comment
    01/01/00
    Deseret News, Salt Lake City
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic
    N/R

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: Jam! Movies | comment Comment
    01/01/00
    Jam! Movies
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic
     
     
    1 - 20 (sorted by date)
    Text View | 1 2 >> >|
    all

    Latest News for The Scarlet Letter

    March 30, 2009: An Easy A for Emma Stone Opens in new window
    Emma Stone will star in a "modern, high-school retelling" of Nathaniel Hawthorne's "The Scarlet Letter," penned by Bert V. Royal and titled "Easy A." More...

    See More Topics...

    Related Forums for The Scarlet Letter

    Click here to be the first to post a message on this forum.

    See All

    More DVDs

    Close
    Top Rentals
    Tomatometer Percentage Movie
    79%
    79%
    Gran Torino
    30%
    30%
    12 Rounds
    23%
    23%
    Confessions of a Shopa…
    —
    The Code
    39%
    39%
    Inkheart

    More Rentals…

    New On DVD This Week
    Tomatometer Percentage Movie
    22%
    22%
    Push
    12%
    12%
    The Unborn

    More New Releases…

    RT On Current TV

    What’s Hot On RT

    5 Favorite Films

    5 Favorite Films

    Director Kathryn Bigelow on Hurt Locker, more

    Revisiting Hogwarts

    Revisiting Hogwarts

    Day 2: The Chamber of Secrets

    Humpday Clip

    Humpday Clip

    An exclusive peek at the indie comedy!

    RT on Current TV!

    RT on Current TV!

    Check out the RT Show this Thursday!

    Other News

    Close
    • Top Stories
    • Popular
    • Interviews
     
     

    Comments

     
     
    Top Stories
    Headlines Comments
      
    • Warners Shortens Green Lantern Wishlist Source: Hollywood Reporter
    0
    • Harold Ramis Talks Ghostbusters 3 Source: MakingOf.com
    0
    • Spider-Man 4 Gets Its Third Writer Source: Latino Review
    52
    • Warners Wins Favorable Ruling in Superman Case Source: Variety
    16
    • Remo Williams Rides Again Source: Risky Biz
    10
    • Mortal Kombat 3 Filming in September? Source: Slashfilm
    82
    • MacGruber Gets a Director Source: Variety
    39
    • PG-13 Turns 25 Source: VideoETA
    8
    • Weekly Ketchup: Universal Takes on Asteroids
    92
    • Brandon Routh Talks Superman's Future Source: Moviehole
    98
    Popular
    Headlines Comments
      
    • Deconstructing Harry, Day 1: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
    66
    • Box Office Guru Wrapup: Transformers and Ice Age Tie for Top Spot
    59
    • Weekly Ketchup: Universal Takes on Asteroids
    46
    • Five Favorite Films with Kathryn Bigelow
    39
    • Critics Consensus: Bruno is Certified Fresh
    29
    • Total Recall: Mock Docs That Rock
    27
    • RT on DVD: Knowing, Push, The Unborn Unleashed
    26
    • Deconstructing Harry, Day 2: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
    24
    • Five Favourite Films with Jaime Winstone
    18
    • Watch RT on Current TV
    6
    Interviews
    Headlines Comments
      
    • RT Interview: Director Carlos Cuaron on Rudo and Cursi
    0
    • RT Interview: Tony Scott on The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3
    10
    • Cannes 2009: RT Interview - Sally Hawkins on We Want Sex
    2
    • RT Interview: Tilda Swinton on Julia
    5
    • Hollywood Legend Debbie Reynolds Reflects On her Life in Showbiz
    10
    • Exclusive: McG Talks Terminator Salvation
    24
    • Georgia Groome - Fresh Talent on RT
    5
    • RT Interview: Reading The Reader with Stephen Daldry
    11
    • RT Interview: Oscar Nominee Melissa Leo
    7
    • Carey Mulligan - Fresh Talent on RT
    7
     
     

    Sponsored Links

    Around The Network

    • The Scarlet Letter at Rotten Tomatoes

    Fresh Links

    Featured
    Point-Counterpoint: Bruno
    Point-Counterpoint: Bruno External Link

    MSN's David Fear and Frank Paiva go head to head discussing the pros and cons of Bruno star Sacha Baron Cohen.

    The New Cult Canon
    The New Cult Canon External Link

    The AV Club's Scott Tobias takes a second look at David Lynch's cult classic, Lost Highway.

    Tom Cruise's 10 Best Roles
    Tom Cruise's 10 Best Roles External Link

    TIME takes us on a 25-year long journey into the superstar's career, giving us a look at his 10 best roles.

    A Baywatch Comedy?
    A Baywatch Comedy? External Link

    BuzzSugar reports on Paramount's plans to rebirth the iconic TV show as a comedy film.

     
     
    About| Site Map| Help| RT To Go| Contact Us| Critics Submission| Linking to RT| Licensing| Movie List| Games| Celebs List| Newsletter
    IGN Logo

    IGN.com | GameSpy | Comrade | Arena | FilePlanet | GameSpy Technology
    TeamXbox | Planets | Vaults | VE3D | CheatsCodesGuides | GameStats | GamerMetrics
    AskMen.com | Rotten Tomatoes | Direct2Drive | Green Pixels


    By continuing past this page, and by the continued use of this site, you agree to be bound by and abide by the User Agreement.
    Copyright 1998-2009, IGN Entertainment, Inc. About IGN | Support | Advertise | Privacy Policy | User Agreement | Subscribe to RT's XML feed! IGN RSS Feeds
    IGN's enterprise databases running Oracle, SQL and MySQL are professionally monitored and managed by Pythian Remote DBA
    Certain product data ©1995-present Muze, Inc. For personal use only. All rights reserved.