This 1926 version of The Scarlet Letter is actually the sixth film adaptation of the story and the last one of the silent era. It was directed by Victor Sjöström.
This film has the examples of:
- Adaptational Heroism: The film works to make Hester and Dimmesdale's actions as excusable as possible. In this version, Dimmesdale didn't even know that Hester was married until he proposed to her. And while she obviously knew, said marriage is portrayed as having been little more than a technicality. Also, Dimmesdale is immediately ready to share Hester's punishment with her and only keeps quiet because she insists that it would hurt her more if both of them were punished.
- Adaptation Expansion: The film recounts Hester and Dimmesdale's adulterous affair, which is Backstory in the original novel. Consequently, it takes the film about a third of its running time to reach the novel's first scene.
- Arranged Marriage: Hester's marriage is stated to have been one.
- Compressed Hair: Turns out Hester's bonnet hides some really long hair.
- Ear Trumpet: A throwaway gag has three men in a row in church using these to listen to gossip about Hester Prynne.
- Establishing Character Moment: Hester is established in her first scene as a very un-Puritan free spirit, wearing a white dress as opposed to the black Puritan garb, chasing a bird around.
- Instant Illness: Pearl becomes deathly ill within the span of a single afternoon.
- Mark of Shame: In addition to the scarlet letter itself, there's also a man who has to wear a sign that reads, "a wanton gospeller." In case you don't speak Puritan, that means he disrespected a preacher during a church service.
- New England Puritan: Obviously. They're described by the opening intertitle as, "a stern, unforgiving people," and the rest of the film backs that up.
- Stock Punishment: At the start of the film, Hester is sent to the pillory "for running and playing on ye Sabbeth." Dimmesdale takes pity on her, and that's how their relationship begins.
