How true is this movie to the novel? - The Scarlet Letter (1995) Discussion

[–] chicgeek7 17 years ago

The movie is, to be blunt, absolutely nothing like the book except for the character's names. If you want some help though, feel free to email me at [email protected]. I'd be happy to help. :)

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[–] scarlettsdad 11 years ago

Okay I have a question. I've finally watched this movie and am 52 and managed to make it through school without having to read the novel. It sounds like you're well learned on it, so here's what's bugging me: When Hester is on the block and the minister is asked to convince her to give the father's name, why does he try to convince her to do it, but won't admit to it himself? This may not even be a scene in the book, but maybe you can give me some input. Thanks!

Signatures annoy me.

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[–] HaroldCarter 17 years ago

Just get the Cliffs Notes.

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[–] xoxoiluvjeterxoxo 17 years ago

it really is nothing like the book...

i read it for school and as a frechman in highschool, i would rather read the book than watch the movie...

and just to list a few differences:
-chillingworth doesnt die in the book
-dimmesdale dies in the book
-there are no native americans mentioned in the book
- hester doesnt take her letter off at the end of the book
-there was no attempted rape in the book
- the captain of the ship was not murdered
-chillingworth didnt kill anyone in the book

and these things are just in the last 20 minutes of the movie

yeah...
so there is your answer

Jason Dolley+ Corbin Bleu+ Dougie Poynter= VERY HAPPY ME!!!!!!

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[–] katalius123-2 17 years ago

actually, you're wrong about the native americans. They were mentioned twice, Chillingworth lived with them for a year studying alchemy, and they appeared at the end during the procession.

"She's well acquainted with the touch of a velvet hand like lizard on a windowpane."

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[–] HyperActiveSpaceMonkey 16 years ago

Chillingworth dies a year after the end of the story, in the last chapter, and leaves all his money to Hester and Pearl. Native Americans were mentioned several times. I haven't seen the movie, so I don't know if Hester taking the letter off means she takes it off for good, but she does take it off in the book, when she meets with Dimmesdale in the forest. Pearl makes her put it back on though,
But the movie sound worse and worse every time I hear of it.

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[–] Brendan3 17 years ago

It is absolutely nothing like the book.
There are no witch trials.
There is no indian attack.
There is no escape.
The elders are not killed.
No one tries to rape Hester Prynne.

In the book she wears her letter as her punishment and lives with it and Dimsdale, her lover, dies.

In the movie she tears off her letter in a feminist move, she has revenge as those that punished her are killed, and she and Dimsdale escape the town, as it burns behind them, and start a happy life somewhere else.

It has nothing to do with the book.

In the Schwarzenegger movie "LAST ACTION HERO" the boy in the film daydreams about what a film version of Shakespeare's "HAMLET" would be like with Schwarzenegger in the lead. In the Schwarzenegger "HAMLET" parody Hamlet lives, machine-guns his enemies, and blows up the castle on his way out. That "HAMLET" parody in that film is more faithful to the source material than this piece of crap film is to the book.

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[–] girl_in_the_sublunary 16 years ago

Both were pretty bad. And that's as true as the movie gets to the book.

If I was a Disney Kid, I'd want to be known as the Disney Kid that said NO to singing.

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[–] kara92167 17 years ago

It's really, really, REALLY faithful.

In other news, Demi is now remaking The Titanic. In the final scene, the ship docks in New York.

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[–] mrsamb 17 years ago

That's just funny

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[–] indie0385 17 years ago

kara92167 you crack me up! I gave this one star, only because Gary Oldman is a great actor, even when the script is complete s**t

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[–] MacEachan 17 years ago

Kara, I nearly peed my pants when I read that! The only thing that made watching this movie worthwhile was the incredily sexy Gary Oldman. I could watch that man in a clown suit reciting the phone book and think he was sexy. WHEW!

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[–] 17 years ago

[deleted]

[–] sevenof9fl 16 years ago

ROFL, "I could watch that man in a clown suit reciting the phone book and think he was sexy. WHEW!"

OMG I nearly PIMP when I read that but I feel the same way!!!

I don't know why he's so sexy but he oozes sex appeal. I'll watch any movie he's in for five seconds just to look at him!

"As the Philosopher Jagger said, you can't always get what you want."

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[–] annlevtex 11 years ago

I like the costumes and the little girl is really cute.

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[–] 11 years ago

[deleted]

[–] flyingtree-184-598230 11 years ago

You are being silly. In the Demi Moore version of Titanic the boat would suddenly be seen in a dramatic backing of the camera to be only a TOY boat, floating between her thighs as she takes --- as she does in EVERY REAL Demi Movie -- a BATH. Yes, there is NO real Demi Movie where she does NOT bathe. Then, the trial and travails of the rich upon their tiny boat are seen to be what they are as Demi DROWNS the Titanic in a swirling mass of foam and seminal crème rinse. Now, tell your English teacher that, dear student.

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[–] shenandoahpride 17 years ago

The book isn't that long. If you have time to browse on the Net, you have time to read the book.

Give me love , give me love , give me peace on earth.

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[–] Sittingdowninpoppies 16 years ago

Chillingsworth does die in the book. It is mentioned in the Conclusion, within a year of Dimmesdale's death, Chillingsworth dies and leaves a majority of his will to Pearl suprisingly. --- Yes, the movie must be adapted from some other book... with characters with the same names...

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[–] i_love_love8313 15 years ago

YOU DIDNT MAKE TIME TO READ THE NOVEL BEFORE THE TEST lol....SLACKER! ;-)

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[–] flyingtree-184-598230 11 years ago

I suspect that only I among these posters actually taught in a big city ISD. That's Independent School District here in Texas, BTW. RELAX.. there is a very good chance that your teacher only saw the movie. Sex is love and God is Love so... you know. And religious people are bad because they are hypocrites and don't like sex. That is why the GOOD Indians tear down the cross and save Hester. They have not been corrupted by Christianity like the "praying Indians" in the movie. Thank the Great Spirit. Now, sleep like the forest after a rain, little one and take the test. The church people are BAD, like Republicans. Sex is GOOOOOD, except if your are married. Then, it is legal rape enforced on women by an evil Patriachy ( possibly misspelled, but in English class that is alright. your CREATIVITY counts. as long as it is like everybody else. Sleep little one. Sleep. Vote for the Donkey Party. Sleep.

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[–] flyingtree-184-598230 11 years ago

I suspect that only I among these posters actually taught in a big city ISD. That's Independent School District here in Texas, BTW. RELAX.. there is a very good chance that your teacher only saw the movie. Sex is love and God is Love so... you know. And religious people are bad because they are hypocrites and don't like sex. That is why the GOOD Indians tear down the cross and save Hester. They have not been corrupted by Christianity like the "praying Indians" in the movie. Thank the Great Spirit. Now, sleep like the forest after a rain, little one and take the test. The church people are BAD, like Republicans. Sex is GOOOOOD, except if your are married. Then, it is legal rape enforced on women by an evil Patriachy ( possibly misspelled, but in English class that is alright. your CREATIVITY counts. as long as it is like everybody else. Sleep little one. Sleep. Vote for the Donkey Party. Sleep.

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[–] eadon 15 years ago

I love how nobody even mentions the fact that there's a whole hour and fifteen minutes of movie /before/ the book even starts! In the opening credits when it says 'Freely adapted from...' they weren't kidding.

I prefered the movie to the book, I guess it's cause I'm yet another sucker for sexy Gary Oldman - especially with the scottish accent he's got going on *thrills*

So we shall flow a river forth unto Thee,
And teeming with souls shall it ever be.

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[–] lavignebiz1 8 years ago

The Scarlet Letter is one of the great novels of American Literature. When I was in High School and had to read it, I devoured it. I couldn't put it down. I reread it in 1982 and again a few years ago when I was tutoring a high school student. It's an outstanding book, well worth reading. The Demi Moore movie has nothing to do with the novel, and her statement that "not many people have read the book" is wrong, because it was required reading in Junior English. Demi is a high school dropout, so naturally, she never read the book.

There are two very good productions of the book: the 1926 version starring Lillian Gish and the 1970s PBS production starring Meg Foster, which is a miniseries, so it includes many of the aspects of the book.

Read it, trust me, it's a masterpiece!

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