The Scarlet Letter 45 years old

The Scarlet Letter is a 1979 miniseries based on the novel of the same name that 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. 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. The result is this epic version of Nathaniel Hawthorne's enduring novel of Puritan America in search of its soul. Hester Prynne overcomes the stigma of adultery to emerge as the first great heroine in American literature. Hawthorne's themes, the nature of sin, social hypocrisy, and community repression, still reverberate through American society. Meg Foster brings a quiet strength to the role of Hester, the adulteress condemned to wear a scarlet "A" for the rest of her life. As her partner in crime, the Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale, John Heard writhes in private torment most convincingly. Kevin Conway completes this grim triangle as the mysterious, maleficent Roger Chillingworth. The costumes and scenery are simple, so as not to detract from the dialogue as each character grapples with the meaning of sin, forgiveness, and redemption.

Credits

Meg Foster
Meg Foster

Hester Prynne

John Heard
John Heard

Arthur Dimmesdale

Josef Sommer
Josef Sommer

Nathaniel Hawthorne

Kevin Conway
Kevin Conway

Roger Chillingworth

Penelope Allen
Penelope Allen

Mistress Hibbins

Cast

Name Character
Meg Foster She was 30 , now 76 years old as Hester Prynne
John Heard He was 32 , 71 years old when he died as Arthur Dimmesdale
Josef Sommer He was 44 , now 90 years old as Nathaniel Hawthorne
Kevin Conway He was 36 , 77 years old when he died as Roger Chillingworth
Penelope Allen She was 29 , now 74 years old as Mistress Hibbins

Crew

Name Job title
Allan Knee Writing Writer
Nathaniel Hawthorne Writing He was 174 , 59 years old when he died Novel
Alvin Sapinsley Writing Writer
The Scarlet Letter poster
The Scarlet Letter (45 years)

Ended

  • First Air Date: 1979-03-03
  • Runtime: [60] minutes
  • Number of Episodes: 4