Lillian Gish had always wanted to film Nathaniel Hawthorne's book but she had a lot of opposition. Louis B. Mayer told her that it was on the black list as church and women's groups had banned it. However, when she wrote to the groups, they all agreed to lift the ban if she would personally be responsible for the film - Lillian Gish was a powerful symbol for purity in the twenties. The bleak theme and landscape of the story were second nature to Scandanavian film makers and Lillian was quick to hire Victor Seastrom to direct and a new Swedish actor, Lars Hanson, to star as the kindly minister. Even Henrik Sartov's camera-work had a magnificent but cold beauty, totally in keeping with the harsh New England scenery.
"Puritan Boston on a Sabbath day in June" - Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale (Lars Hanson) is beloved throughout the county for his kindness and humility. Hester Prynne (Lillian Gish) is frowned upon - church goers see her running and skipping (she is trying to catch her canary) and that is forbidden on the Sabbath!!! For that she is put in the stocks but is rescued by the smitten minister who never realised that the committee would meter out such harsh punishment.
It seems they are the only passionate couple in the county as they conduct their affair in secret, amid such rules as "engaged couples' lips must only meet after marriage" and "women's under- garments must be washed and dryed in secret". Dimmesdale wants to marry Hester - but she is already married, forced by her father to marry a wealthy surgeon (Henry B. Walthall) who she hasn't seen for years. When Dimmesdale returns (he had taken a petition to England) it is to find that Hester is to be punished again - she has had a child out of wedlock. Once again Arthur wants to share her punishment but she is firm that she will not let him sacrifice the good opinion of his parishioners. She is forced to wear an embroidered A on her gown for her whole life - A for Adultress!!!
Years pass and even though Hester and Pearl are shunned outcasts, Arthur is never far away. When Pearl is ill Hester rushes to the meeting hall to find a doctor. Hester's husband is there but although he recognises her, he is greatly changed and now goes by the name Dr. Chillingworth. He goes to her cottage and even though he says "such a child should die" cures Pearl. He is a vengeful man and wants to make Hester pay for her sins. He also finds out that Dimmesdale is Pearl's father but wishes to wait - "my vengeance will be infinite"!!! Hester and Arthur decide to go away - Arthur is losing his strength, but before they go he exposes himself as Pearl's father, before the town. He has branded an A onto his chest. The film ends with his death as Hester hopes for the beginning of kindness and understanding for her and Pearl.
Lillian Gish's performance is so pure and true - there is no doubt, for people viewing this movie, that she could be the greatest actress of all time. In her early thirties at the time, she has a childlike happiness at the beginning of the film, which changes to bleakness in the harrowing scene when townsfolk are trying to take her baby. Lillian Gish had "discovered" Henrik Sartov when she was making "The Greatest Thing in Life". He used a gauze over the lens, so I have read, to make her look even more youthful. Henry B. Walthall was unrecognisable in the small but telling role of Dr. Chillingworth. Karl Dane had a nice part as Master Giles, an observer throughout the film, who cannot abide the town's cant and hypocrisy.
Highly, Highly Recommended.
"Puritan Boston on a Sabbath day in June" - Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale (Lars Hanson) is beloved throughout the county for his kindness and humility. Hester Prynne (Lillian Gish) is frowned upon - church goers see her running and skipping (she is trying to catch her canary) and that is forbidden on the Sabbath!!! For that she is put in the stocks but is rescued by the smitten minister who never realised that the committee would meter out such harsh punishment.
It seems they are the only passionate couple in the county as they conduct their affair in secret, amid such rules as "engaged couples' lips must only meet after marriage" and "women's under- garments must be washed and dryed in secret". Dimmesdale wants to marry Hester - but she is already married, forced by her father to marry a wealthy surgeon (Henry B. Walthall) who she hasn't seen for years. When Dimmesdale returns (he had taken a petition to England) it is to find that Hester is to be punished again - she has had a child out of wedlock. Once again Arthur wants to share her punishment but she is firm that she will not let him sacrifice the good opinion of his parishioners. She is forced to wear an embroidered A on her gown for her whole life - A for Adultress!!!
Years pass and even though Hester and Pearl are shunned outcasts, Arthur is never far away. When Pearl is ill Hester rushes to the meeting hall to find a doctor. Hester's husband is there but although he recognises her, he is greatly changed and now goes by the name Dr. Chillingworth. He goes to her cottage and even though he says "such a child should die" cures Pearl. He is a vengeful man and wants to make Hester pay for her sins. He also finds out that Dimmesdale is Pearl's father but wishes to wait - "my vengeance will be infinite"!!! Hester and Arthur decide to go away - Arthur is losing his strength, but before they go he exposes himself as Pearl's father, before the town. He has branded an A onto his chest. The film ends with his death as Hester hopes for the beginning of kindness and understanding for her and Pearl.
Lillian Gish's performance is so pure and true - there is no doubt, for people viewing this movie, that she could be the greatest actress of all time. In her early thirties at the time, she has a childlike happiness at the beginning of the film, which changes to bleakness in the harrowing scene when townsfolk are trying to take her baby. Lillian Gish had "discovered" Henrik Sartov when she was making "The Greatest Thing in Life". He used a gauze over the lens, so I have read, to make her look even more youthful. Henry B. Walthall was unrecognisable in the small but telling role of Dr. Chillingworth. Karl Dane had a nice part as Master Giles, an observer throughout the film, who cannot abide the town's cant and hypocrisy.
Highly, Highly Recommended.