Search - Moll Flanders on DVD

MPAA Rating: PG-13 Content Advisory: Adult Situations, Questionable for Children Movie Release: 1996 DVD Release: 01/09/2001 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV Audio Tracks: English Subtitles: French, Spanish SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 2 hrs 2 mins Studio: MGM Total Copies: 3 Genres: Drama, Romance, Costume Adventure, Period Film

An orphaned young woman struggles to overcome a difficult childhood and her later experiences as a prostitute in this period drama set in 18th century London. Drawing only loose inspiration from the Daniel Dafoe novel that provided the film's title, writer-director Pen Densham creates a new story surrounding the title character of Moll Flanders (Robin Wright). The daughter of a thief, young Moll is placed in the care of a nunnery after the execution of her mother. However, the actions of an abusive priest lead Moll to rebel as a teenager, escaping to the dangerous streets of London. Further misfortunes drive her to accept a job as a prostitute from the conniving Mrs. Allworthy (Stockard Channing). It is there that Moll first meets Hibble (Morgan Freeman), who is working as Allworthy's servant but takes a special interest in the young woman's well-being. With his help, she retains hope for the future, ultimately falling in love with an unconventional artist (John Lynch) who promises the possibility of romantic happiness. While Densham's script reflects the intricate plots and varied characters of the period's novels, the often deliberate film stresses Moll's self-determination and emotional journey over the narrative's melodrama. ~ Judd Blaise, All Movie Guide

Robin Wright Penn - Moll Flanders
Morgan Freeman - Hibble
Stockard Channing - Mrs. Allworthy
John Lynch - Artist
Aisling Corcoran - Flora
Paul Hickey

Pen Densham's 1995 feature film version of Moll Flanders, starring Robin Wright, Morgan Freeman, and Stockard Channing -- one of two adaptations of the Daniel Defoe story from the mid-'90s -- comes to DVD in a low-priced but very handsome edition. The film-to-video transfer is state-of-the-art, revealing useful and usable picture information even in the most darkly lit scenes. The cinematography, production design, and costumes are presented in glittering clarity that captures the movie's mix of exquisite detail and harsh realism; the filth and grime of the street settings are offered in relief just as sharp as the costuming and sumptuous decor of many of the interiors. The entire disc has a wonderful glow to it, even in the bleakest sequences, that makes it a treat for the eye. The 2.35:1 aspect ratio accurately captures the movie's original Panavision image, and the richness of the transfer is so impressive that even those viewers who retain a prejudice against letterboxing will want to watch this release, just for those images. Issued as part of MGM Home Entertainment's low-priced Contemporary Classics series, the 122-minute movie has been given an adequate 16 chapters and comes with the original trailer. The latter, offered in a 1.85:1 transfer, assembles the most fiercely erotic, dramatic, and animated scenes into a somewhat overheated but entertaining teaser for the movie. The disc opens automatically to a simple two-layer menu and includes options for French and Spanish subtitles. The 5.1 Surround Sound spreads the audio, including Mark Mancina's score -- a mixture of English folk music and modern orchestral styles -- around one's room in exquisite detail, and at a healthy volume. ~ Bruce Eder, All Movie Guide