The Amorous Adventures of Moll Flanders
Kino Lorber
The Stats
Video: 1080p High Definition
Audio: DTS-HD
Subtitles: English SDH
Buy it HERE from Diabolik or HERE from Kino Lorber
by "Doc" Hunter Bush, Staff Writer and Podcast Director
The Movie: Average
Based on the 1722 novel dubiously credited to Daniel Defoe (Robinson Crusoe) after his death, though it is written in the style of an autobiography of the conwoman Moll Flanders. This adaptation sands some of the rough edges off of the character of Moll (played here by Kim Novak), making her earnest but burdened by sex appeal, while in the novel, she's at least a bit more romantically cutthroat. It also streamlines the narrative--the novel hops over to America early to set up the finale, then back to England--and removes some of the more questionable elements like the numerous abandoned children and the accidental incest (look it up).
According to the commentary track--which I loved, but more on that later--The Amorous Adventures of Moll Flanders only truly exists to capitalize on the success of Tom Jones (1963), which depicted similar subject matter with a playful tone but a visually more realistic portrayal of 18th-century England. Moll Flanders scrubs the visuals of their grit, presenting as a more studio-pleasing romcom full of elaborate costumes and locations, trying to give Moll's numerous titular amorous adventures a light touch for general audiences.
I do not think this endeavor is successful. Director Terence Young--known for Bond films like Dr. No (1962) and From Russia with Love (1963)--attempts to make this feel like a "romp", but the script is too unbalanced for him to find much consistent tone. Literally half of the 2 hour, 11 minute film goes by before a hook emerges--Moll is romanced by highwayman Jemmy (Richard Johnson) with both of them pretending to have wealth and land to ensnare the other--which means the first half flounders and feels like aimless scenes only related by their concept: "the almost insufferably beautiful Kim Novak is harassed by men".
However, with Jemmy comes Squint (Leo McKern), the highlight of the film for me. Squint is Jemmy's right-hand man, a bumbling, nearly blind goofball and essentially a cartoon character. He changes personas multiple times to help fool Moll, and others, through the use of such crafty disguises as *checks notes* an eye-patch, or a different hat. He also continually screws up even the simplest tasks in amusing ways, sometimes doing himself some form of bodily harm and almost always acting as an avatar of coitus interruptus for Jemmy and Moll. It's silly, recalling for me some of the physical comedy and broad character performances from something like It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963).
With more focus and the addition of some clear tonal indicators, I enjoyed the back half of The Amorous Adventures of Moll Flanders more than the first, but it takes an hour plus of high-production value Benny Hill sketches to get there, all to drive home the concept "Kim Novak is good looking". Reader, I may not be the sharpest of knives, but it doesn't take me an hour for me to let that concept sink in. All told, while I really wanted to enjoy this, or to find it titillating or risqué, it comes across as too long, formless, and bland.
The Packaging: Average
This Kino release features a reversible cover: one side is an illustration of Moll Flanders front and center, posed semi-heroically (and showing some thigh) with Jemmy in the background and a smaller image of the local constabulary chasing Jemmy and Squint on horseback. The other is a slightly more impressionistic painted collage of images mostly featuring Moll being uninterested in kissing various suitors (and Jemmy with his sword drawn for good measure). Perfectly serviceable.
The Video: Excellent
My issues with the film aside, The Amorous Adventures of Moll Flanders looks incredible! There is no film grain that I saw, whether shooting on set or outside. There is one scene early on--when the Banker (George Sanders) falls ill--where I noticed one very slim, very pale scratch visible for about one minute. But that aside, there is not a mark on this release! Which is good because it allows you to really drink in the costumes, which next to Kim Novak of course, were the most eye-catching part of the film.
I'm being cheeky, but honestly, in almost every scene someone is wearing an amazing frock coat--the Count (Vittorio De Sica)'s pink and black outfit for instance--or gown--any of his wife, Lady Blystone (Angela Lansbury)'s costumes also come to mind--that were absolutely breathtaking. I was genuinely happy to be able to appreciate Ye Olde Drippe and Rizze.
The Audio: Excellent
I had absolutely no issues with The Amorous Adventures of Moll Flanders from a sonic standpoint. The score, by John Addison--who had previously scored the aforementioned Tom Jones--is bouncy and lively and never distracted from the action or the dialogue. Everything sounded clear and fresh throughout.
Addison's score features the whole orchestral kit and caboodle; twinkling chimes, a bravura brass section, booming drums, and playful strings and woodwinds, and all of them sound equally present and real in the mix, generously sharing space with the dialogue and sound effects. The balance really allows the score, with it's simple melodic leitmotif, to become almost a full player in the piece, guiding the tone of scenes as much as the direction or performances at times.
The Special Features: Average
A film's commentary track can make or break a release, especially when it's the only film-specific content included, but The Amorous Adventures of Moll Flanders lucks out: film historians David Del Valle and Daniel Kremer are the perfect trifecta. They're extremely knowledgeable, have an easy, conversational rapport, and they aren't afraid to talk shit. Don't misunderstand me, they're not spilling any top secret tea, but they don't shy away from talking honestly about this film and others that come up in the conversation. I loved it and would have listened to these two talk for several times the length of the film, happily.
One point of warning however: early on, Del Valle and Kremer briefly mention the tragic story of Claire Ufland who plays young Moll, and even in brief, it could be very upsetting.
- Audio commentary by film historians David Del Valle and Daniel Kremer
- Trailers
- The Amorous Adventures of Moll Flanders (Low-res)
- Thoroughly Modern Millie (1967)
- Irma La Douce (1963)
- Man's Favorite Sport? (1964)
- For Love or Money (1963)
- The Mirror Crack'd (1980)
In Summary: Snag a used copy
The Amorous Adventures of Moll Flanders doesn't work for me as a film really, especially at the length it is, but the high quality of the transfer, and the genuinely elucidating and entertaining commentary track might be enough for me to recommend you track down a copy. If you're a looking for a gently bawdy way to kill a few hours, and especially if you're interested in a cheesecake-y performance from Kim Novak, this disc might be just what you're after.
There are highlights here: Novak and Johnson are genuinely charismatic, as is Lansbury. The costumes are magnificent, and once it finds a center--the Moll / Jemmy relationship--things coalesce quite nicely. There are plenty of moments where you get glimpses of what this could have been: sillier, sexier, rowdier, slapstick-ier; but as is, you might want to wait a while before adding this to your shelf.
