Moll Flanders Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A woman escapes a creepy nunnery, becomes a very sensitive and surprisingly lucky working girl, finds love with a starving artist who is actually rich, and then basically fakes her death to get rich herself and reunite with her abandoned kid, all narrated via diary to a child by Morgan Freeman because… reasons?

🍿 Moll Flanders: Detailed Plot Synopsis

A Difficult Beginning

Born in Newgate Prison, Moll Flanders is the daughter of a condemned thief. After her mother is executed, young Moll is placed in the care of nuns. While raised in a convent, she yearns for a life beyond its walls, dreaming of wealth and freedom from her circumstances.

Venturing into the World

Leaving the convent, Moll is thrust into the harsh realities of 18th-century London. She faces poverty and exploitation, quickly learning that survival often requires wit and adaptability. Her journey involves navigating various relationships and challenging situations.

Trials and Transformations

Moll experiences several marriages and affairs, each bringing new lessons about love, betrayal, and societal constraints. As her life unfolds, she finds herself in increasingly precarious positions. Facing desperation, she eventually turns to a life of crime.

A Life of Crime

Guided by a cunning thief, Moll develops skills as a pickpocket and con artist. She becomes adept at navigating the criminal underworld to survive and thrive. Her new life is fraught with danger but also offers a strange sense of independence.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Moll Flanders (Robin Wright): The resilient daughter of a thief who navigates hardship, including prostitution, to find her own path.
• Hibble (Morgan Freeman): The loyal manservant and confidant who serves as the narrator by reading Moll’s life story to her daughter.
• Mrs. Allworthy (Stockard Channing): A conniving madam who provides Moll a job but also manipulates her circumstances.
• Artist (John Lynch): An impoverished painter who becomes Moll’s loving husband, offering a brief period of happiness.
• Flora (Aisling Corcoran): Moll’s daughter, whose journey with Hibble frames the telling of Moll’s life story.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Moll Flanders: “They hung her mother! Feel that!” – Shouted emotionally at the Artist, demonstrating the depth of the pain and stigma she carries due to her origins.
• Moll Flanders: “Nothing any more.” – Her seemingly resigned response when the Artist asks her what she expects from life, reflecting her hardships.
• Moll Flanders: “All my life I dreamed about this moment… But you can’t buy me.” – Said with dignity to the Artist’s wealthy family as she refuses their offer of payment to leave him.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $13,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $3,486,957
• Worldwide Gross: $3,486,957

💥 Moll Flanders Reviews

Personal Review

Okay, so I went into Moll Flanders knowing it wasn’t exactly like the book, but wow, they really went their own way! Despite that, I found myself surprisingly drawn in. Robin Wright is just incredible; she makes Moll’s struggles feel so real and heartbreaking. There’s a scene with the artist (John Lynch) where she confronts him about his privilege and her pain, and it hit me hard. Morgan Freeman’s presence adds such gravitas to the narration, even if the framing device is a bit odd. Yeah, it’s slow in parts, and definitely more sentimental than Defoe’s sharp wit, but I was captivated by the visuals and the central performance. It’s a visually appealing, emotionally charged drama, even if it’s not the Moll Flanders I expected.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of historical period dramas”
  • “Viewers interested in stories of female resilience and survival”
  • “Those who enjoy literary adaptations (with awareness of creative liberties)”
  • “People interested in 18th-century settings”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Mature themes (including sexuality and prostitution)”
  • “Crime and theft”
  • “Some violence”
  • “Hardship and poverty”

Professional Reviews

• Invented: “Pen Densham’s Moll Flanders offers a visually rich journey through 18th-century England, even if it strays significantly from Defoe’s novel. Robin Wright delivers a compelling, emotionally resonant performance that anchors the film. Supported by strong turns from Morgan Freeman and a deliciously wicked Stockard Channing, the movie overcomes its narrative liberties with sheer atmospheric charm and powerful acting.
• Invented: “While beautifully shot and featuring stellar performances, particularly by Stockard Channing, this adaptation of Moll Flanders is a puzzling departure from Daniel Defoe’s energetic novel. It replaces the book’s shrewd, resilient heroine with a passive, victimized figure. The pacing can be sluggish, and the story, though sentimental, lacks the bite and complexity of the source material, leaving fans of the book disappointed.

Audience Reactions

Many viewers praised Robin Wright’s captivating and emotional performance.: The acting, especially by Robin Wright, Morgan Freeman, and Stockard Channing, is frequently cited as a strong point.

The film is visually stunning and captures the atmosphere of the period.: The cinematography, costumes, and production design create a rich, immersive historical setting.

Opinion is sharply divided on its faithfulness to the original Daniel Defoe novel.: Fans of the book often feel betrayed by the plot changes, while others appreciate it as a separate, albeit different, story.

Overall Consensus: A visually appealing period drama with strong lead performances, often praised for its emotional impact and atmosphere, but widely criticized for bearing little resemblance to the Daniel Defoe novel it is supposedly based on. Viewers’ enjoyment often depends on whether they view it as an adaptation or a standalone film.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “This film was the final theatrical movie appearance for acclaimed British actor Jeremy Brett, known for his portrayal of Sherlock Holmes in the Granada Television series.”
• “The movie is a very loose adaptation of Daniel Defoe’s novel; many reviews note that the plot and characterization significantly deviate from the source material, focusing on a more romanticized and sympathetic portrayal of Moll.”
• “The film was primarily shot on location in Ireland, including scenes filmed at Glendalough in County Wicklow.”
• “A separate, much more faithful British television adaptation of Daniel Defoe’s novel, starring Alex Kingston, was also released in 1996, leading to frequent comparisons between the two productions.”

🖥️ How to Watch Moll Flanders?

To watch “Moll Flanders” (1996), you can typically find it available for rent or purchase on major digital platforms. Check services like Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Vudu, and Google Play Movies & TV for standard definition or high definition options. Availability on subscription streaming services may vary by region and time, so it’s always best to check current listings on your preferred platform.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Moll Flanders, you might like these similar films:

• The Fortunes and Misfortunes of Moll Flanders (1996 TV Miniseries): A highly-regarded British television adaptation released the same year, often considered much more faithful to Daniel Defoe’s original novel, offering a stark comparison to the film’s interpretation.
• Tom Jones (1963): A classic film adaptation of Henry Fielding’s picaresque novel, sharing themes of a spirited protagonist navigating societal fortunes and misfortunes in 18th-century England with a mix of drama and commentary.
• Dangerous Beauty (1998): Features a strong female protagonist navigating a world that limits women’s options (16th-century Venice), using charm and intellect for survival and love amidst societal judgment, similar to Moll’s struggle.
• Sense and Sensibility (1995): A visually rich period drama from the same decade, focusing on the experiences and societal constraints faced by women in 18th-century England, highlighting themes of perseverance and finding one’s way in a rigid social structure.
• The Handmaiden (2016): While a different setting and time period (1930s Korea), it features a complex narrative about a woman navigating a manipulative and oppressive environment, involving themes of exploitation, survival, and a journey towards agency and freedom.

🛒 Moll Flanders Related Products

• The Fortunes and Misfortunes of the Famous Moll Flanders: Experience Daniel Defoe’s original, unvarnished tale of survival, wit, and reinvention in 18th-century London. This classic novel offers a much different, often more cynical, look at Moll’s life than the film.
• The Fortunes and Misfortunes of Moll Flanders (1996 TV Mini-Series): Starring Alex Kingston, this acclaimed BBC adaptation is widely considered a more faithful and energetic portrayal of Daniel Defoe’s novel, covering more of Moll’s adventurous life.
• 18th Century London: A Social History: Dive deeper into the real historical context of the movie’s setting. This non-fiction book explores the daily life, customs, class structures, and challenges of London in the 1700s.
• Period Drama Film Collection: A collection featuring various celebrated historical dramas set across different centuries. Discover other tales of romance, hardship, and societal struggles akin to Moll Flanders.

🎧 Soundtrack

Moll Flanders features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Full of Grace” – performed by Sarah McLachlan

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Best Movie Quotes From Morgan Freeman

Can’t get enough of Morgan Freeman’s iconic voice? This video compiles some of his absolute best movie quotes, and yes, it even features a moment from Moll Flanders (1996)! It’s truly amazing how his voice adds so much gravitas.

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