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The Scarlet Letter (1926) Movie vs Book
Film · 1926 · Directed by Victor Sjöström · Starring Lillian Gish, Lars Hanson, Henry B. Walthall
The Scarlet Letter (1926) Movie: Cast and Details
In Puritan Boston, a woman is punished for a hidden love affair and made to wear a mark of shame.
Book vs Movie: How Close Is It?
Close to the bookThis silent film keeps the core story but softens and simplifies the book's moral argument.
Read or watch first?
Read the book for Hawthorne's symbolism. The silent film is mostly of interest for its performances.
What the book gives you
The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
A short but dense classic that rewards slow reading. The language is old-fashioned, but Hester is a strong and memorable character.
Who will like it: Readers who like classic American novels and moral dilemmas.