The Scarlet Letter (1973): cast, story & where to watch
1973 · Film · ★ 5.5
Released in 1973, The Scarlet Letter is a drama and history film directed by Wim Wenders, running about 90 minutes.
What it’s about. In 17th-century Salem, Hester Prynne must wear a scarlet A because she is an adulteress, with a child out of wedlock. For seven years, she has refused to name the father. A vigorous older stranger arrives, recognized by Hester but unknown to others as her missing husband. He poses as Chillingworth, a doctor, watching Hester and searching out the identity of her lover. His eye soon rests on Dimmesdale, a young overwrought pastor. Enmity grows between the two men; Chillingworth applies psychological pressure, and the pastor begins to crack. A ship stops in Salem, and Hester sees it as a providential refuge for her daughter, herself, and her lover. But will Dimmesdale flee with her?
Who’s in it. The Scarlet Letter stars Senta Berger as Hester Prynne, Hans Christian Blech as Roger Chillingworth, Lou Castel as Rev. Dimmesdale and Rüdiger Vogler as The Sailor, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 5.5/10, The Scarlet Letter has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
Where to watch. In GB you can rent or buy it from Apple TV Store, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies and Curzon Home Cinema. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Scarlet Letter page.
If you liked it. Fans of The Scarlet Letter tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Scarlet Letter (1973)?
- In GB, The Scarlet Letter is available to rent or buy from Apple TV Store, Amazon Video and Google Play Movies. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is The Scarlet Letter worth watching?
- The Scarlet Letter holds an audience score of 5.5 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama and history. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in The Scarlet Letter?
- The Scarlet Letter stars Senta Berger, Hans Christian Blech, Lou Castel, Rüdiger Vogler and Yelena Samarina.
- When was The Scarlet Letter released?
- The Scarlet Letter was released in 1973, with a runtime of about 90 minutes.