An 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.

Special video segments that take viewers behind-the-scenes on the filming of The Scarlet Letter

Select cast filmographies

Hawthorne biography

Discussion questions for educators

Producer: WGBH
Production Year: 2003
Copyright Year: 1979
Director: Rick Hauser
Actors: Kevin Conway, John Heard, Meg Foster
Discs: 2
Audio Format: Stereo
Aspect Ratio: 4x3 Full Screen