The Scarlet Letter (1908 film)

The Scarlet Letter
Directed by	Sidney Olcott
Based on	The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
Produced by	Sidney Olcott
Starring	Gene Gauntier
Production company	Kalem Company
Distributed by	General Film Company
Release date	March 23, 1908 (1908-03-23)
Running time	900 ft
Country	United States
Languages	Silent film (English intertitles)

The Scarlet Letter is a lost 1908 silent American short film, directed by Sidney Olcott. It was based on the 1850 novel of the same name by Nathaniel Hawthorne. The screenplay was written by Gene Gauntier, who also played the character Hester Prynne. The film was produced by Kalem Company.

It was Jack Conway's first film as an actor. He later went on to direct films such as While the City Sleeps and Libeled Lady. Ruth Roland was also in the cast.

Plot

Hester Prynne becomes pregnant while her husband is absent. In June 1642, in the Puritan town of Boston, a crowd gathers to witness the punishment of Prynne, who is found guilty of adultery. She is required to wear a scarlet "A" ("A" is the symbol of adultery ) on her dress to shame her. Pastor Dimmesdale, who seduced the woman, hypocritically becomes one of her accusers.

References

• The New York Dramatic Mirror, March 21, 1908; March 28, 1908
• Views & Films Index, March 21, 1908, p 10

Sources

• The Scarlet Letter (1908) on Internet Movie Database
• Jack Conway on Internet Movie Database

External links

• AFI Catalog
• The Scarlet Letter at IMDb
• (in French) The Scarlet Letter website dedicated to Sidney Olcott