Later, feeling guilty, Arthur explains to Hester that they cannot legally be together for another seven years, when the missing Roger will be declared officially dead. And carrying on in the meantime might be unwise in a society where adulterers are routinely hanged.

So, they keep quiet and avoid each other — until Hester finds she is pregnant and is put on trial. In court, she refuses to identify the child's father and later gives birth behind bars. Upon her release, she is required to go around with a red letter "A" pinned to her breast, and she's followed around by a little drummer boy.

At this point, Roger, who has actually been held captive by Indians, has flipped out. In fact, he becomes so nuts the Indians don't want him around anymore. Upon his release, Roger heads for the New England colony, finds Hester with her illegitimate child and plots a twisted revenge — one that takes several years and culminates in an Indian massacre.

Hester's daughter Pearl, an important character in the book, has been reduced to virtually nothing here (though she is the film's occasional narrator, voiced by Jodhi May). Most other characters are turned into cardboard cutouts.

The actors try, but even such stalwarts as Duvall and Joan Plowright appear uncomfortable. Oldman is surprisingly effective most of the way, though he hardly seems like someone who would inspire the kind of automatic romance that Joffe and Stewart are after.

The result is merely a big-budget, opulently costumed soap opera that is way too long (two hours, 15 minutes) and way too slow.

And yes, as you may already have heard, there is a happy, ride-off-into-the-sunset-together ending.

"The Scarlet Letter" is rated R for violence, rape, gore, sex and nudity — and all three of the top-billed stars have nude scenes, by the way.