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5.4 / 10(26 votes)IMDb19731h 30mGermany, Spain

The Scarlet Letter

Der scharlachrote Buchstabe

Synopsis

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?

Key Information & Fast Facts

Director
Wim Wenders
Screenplay & Story
Wim Wenders, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Bernardo Fernández, Tankred Dorst, Ursula Ehler
Original Score
Jürgen Knieper
Original Title
Der scharlachrote Buchstabe
Country of Origin
Germany, Spain
Spoken Languages
German
Runtime
1h 30m
Production Studios
Filmverlag der Autoren, WDR

Creative Leadership & Key Crew

Director

Wim Wenders

Screenplay & Story

Wim Wenders, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Bernardo Fernández, Tankred Dorst, Ursula Ehler

Original Score & Music

Jürgen Knieper

Director of Photography

Robby Müller

Film Editing

Peter Przygodda

Producers

Thomas Schamoni, Wim Wenders

Literary Origin & Source Material
Novel:Nathaniel Hawthorne

Department Leadership Roster

Wim Wenders

Wim Wenders

Director

Wim Wenders

Wim Wenders

Writer

Bernardo Fernández

Writer

Jürgen Knieper

Original Music Composer

Robby Müller

Robby Müller

Director of Photography

Peter Przygodda

Editor

Carmen Marín

Costume Design

Adolfo Cofiño

Production Design

Thomas Schamoni

Producer

Wim Wenders

Wim Wenders

Producer

Manfred Lütz

Production Design

Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Scarlet Letter.

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Scarlet Letter

Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.

What is The Scarlet Letter 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 directed The Scarlet Letter?

The Scarlet Letter was directed by Wim Wenders.

Who stars in The Scarlet Letter?

The principal cast of The Scarlet Letter includes Senta Berger, Hans Christian Blech, Lou Castel, Rüdiger Vogler, Yelena Samarina.

When was The Scarlet Letter released and how long is it?

The Scarlet Letter was released in 1973 with a total runtime of 1h 30m.

Who composed the musical score for The Scarlet Letter?

The original motion picture soundtrack for The Scarlet Letter was composed by Jürgen Knieper.

Is The Scarlet Letter based on a book or true story?

The Scarlet Letter is adapted from the following source material: Novel: "Nathaniel Hawthorne".