I just saw this wonderful film. The restored version aired on TCM in October of 2009, so I wanted to update the comment made by another user that the film had not been aired. Hopefully they will show it again soon.
The restored version ran about 97 minutes. The image quality was highly variable, with most scenes very clear and sharp, and others blurred, grainy and dark. I suspect that many of the poorer quality scenes were those cut from the US theatrical release, which I understand was only 80 minutes long (source - Blockbuster 1997 Movie and Video Guide).
While I have not read the corresponding novel yet, I am definitely adding it to my reading list. The plot of the novel as summarized on Wikipedia suggests a number of changes in the movie, probably with the aim of making some implied plot elements in the book more explicit for a silent film.
Lillian Gish was wonderful in this film. You can really feel her anguish at being punished for only wanting love, and not being able to openly have it due to circumstances beyond her control.
At the outset the film does an outstanding job of illustrating the extremely repressive culture of 16th century Boston. This is achieved in various ways, such as attire, excerpts from the colonial laws, and the punishments meted out for things we consider basic freedoms today. One interesting example is the outrage and punishment Hester suffers because she enjoyed hearing her bird singing on (gasp!) a Sunday.
The restored version ran about 97 minutes. The image quality was highly variable, with most scenes very clear and sharp, and others blurred, grainy and dark. I suspect that many of the poorer quality scenes were those cut from the US theatrical release, which I understand was only 80 minutes long (source - Blockbuster 1997 Movie and Video Guide).
While I have not read the corresponding novel yet, I am definitely adding it to my reading list. The plot of the novel as summarized on Wikipedia suggests a number of changes in the movie, probably with the aim of making some implied plot elements in the book more explicit for a silent film.
Lillian Gish was wonderful in this film. You can really feel her anguish at being punished for only wanting love, and not being able to openly have it due to circumstances beyond her control.
At the outset the film does an outstanding job of illustrating the extremely repressive culture of 16th century Boston. This is achieved in various ways, such as attire, excerpts from the colonial laws, and the punishments meted out for things we consider basic freedoms today. One interesting example is the outrage and punishment Hester suffers because she enjoyed hearing her bird singing on (gasp!) a Sunday.