The Amorous Adventures of Moll Flanders (Paramount Pictures) (1965)

SYNOPSIS (Not for Publication) It is the year 1720... in an orphanage, little girls wait expectantly for the governors’ visit. Each child is asked about her future ambitions. One girl, more alert and by far the prettiest, says she wants to be a gentlewoman. The Mayor, amused and touched, hands the bewildered girl a shilling. Her name is Moll Flanders. By the time Moll (KIM NOVAK) has reached seventeen, she has been in the household of that same Mayor for years and, although a servant, has been treated as a member of the family. Her gifts and charm attract everyone. Moll, herself, is attracted to the eldest son. He promises to marry her if she will accept his other proposals and Moll succumbs. Soon, he leaves and Moll is minus her virtue. One day, while bathing in the lake, Moll is disturbed by two highwaymen, handsome Jemmy (RICHARD JOHNSON) and his companion Squint (LEO McKERN). She is rescued by the Mayor’s younger son. However, the sight of Moll emerging nude from the lake is more than he can bear and he quickly marries her. Alas, the match is doomed from the start. Moll’s husband is a drunk and, one night, his carriage overturns leaving Moll a penniless widow. She finds a job as maid to Lady Blystone (ANGELA LANSBURY). Her husband, the count (VITTORIO DeSICA), is penniless and they are constantly pursued by bailiffs and duns. Moll is sent by stagecoach to London with her mistress’ baggage. The only other passenger, a Banker (GEORGE SANDERS), takes her for a fine lady. During their journey, the two highwaymen, Jemmy and Squint, hold up the coach. Jemmy thinks she is Lady Blystone. In London, Moll goes to her mistress’ house. The first caller on Lady Blystone is the Banker, who takes Moll for a guest. Overjoyed to find her alone, he makes the best of his opportunity. Meanwhile, Jemmy and Squint plan for easy riches. Jemmy is going to masquerade as a gentleman and marry the rich widow Lady Blystone— alias Moll. With the aid of Dutchy (LILLI PALMER), Jemmy dons the clothes of a sea captain and calls on ‘‘Lady Blystone.”’ At this meet ing, Moll resumes her role as the lady. A courtship blossoms and they fall in love. Ashamed, they confess to each other their true identities. Then, Jemmy declares that he can not marry her until he is rich, and sorrowfully, they part. Back at Lady Blystone’s, the Count plans to seduce Moll. Revengeful Lady Blystone has her erring paramour arrested and sent to debtor’s prison. Now, Moll is jobless and, in desperation, calls on her old friend, the Banker. Overjoyed, he marries her. On the wedding night, Moll sees Jemmy and she sets out after her true love. She searches in vain. Soon, she turns to Dutchy for help. Moll accepts thieving and saves for the day when she will meet her lover again. Unknown to her, Jemmy is doing the same thing. Then comes the fateful day when their paths cross. Moll is stealing lace in one shop while Jemmy and Squint are robbing the store next door. Everything goes wrong. They are all arrested, flung into Newgate Gaol, and sentenced to the gallows. On the day of executions, a party of worthies visit the prison. The Banker is among them. Seeing his wife proves too much of a shock —he collapses and dies on the spot. Moll, his lawful spouse, inherits the Banker’s fortune and buys reprieves for everyone. Their sentences are reduced to transportation to the Colonies. Moll and Jemmy are reunited. Lady Blystone The Count 126 MINUTES RUNNING TIME: CREDITS Marcel Hellman Terence Young Denis Cannan and Roland Kibbee John Addison Produced by Directed by Screenplay by Music Composed and Conducted by Kim Novak Says She Uses Womanly Instinct In Her Portrayal of Amorous “Moll Flanders’ Kim Novak may not be a professor of English literature, but that shouldn’t bar her from discussing Moll Flanders, one of fiction’s most famous characters. In fact, she probably has more right to talk about Moll than the average prof—for at the moment, Kim is Moll. The star was in Kent about 50 miles from London location-shooting her title role in ““The Amo rous Adventures of Moll Flanders, 9? a Paramount release based on Daniel Defoe’s classic novel first published in 1722 and opening ........ Oe ee ee Theatre. She says, “In playing Moll, I use my instincts rather than my intellect. Also, we can’t forget that Moll Flanders was a product of the age she lived in—and a very bawdy, free-swinging and colorful age it was. I kept that in mind as I did the part.” Everybody from gentle reader to the most highbrow expert agrees that Defoe’s creation was a_ bewitching gal—if a little easy-going about morals and not too conscience-stricken when she had to “borrow” somebody else’s money or valuables. After considerable study of the original novel and, obviously, her role in the Technicolor-Panavision screen adaptation, Miss Novak has her own interesting views about Moll’s character. “The way I see Moll,” Kim reported, “she was a very honest, strong-willed and basically good person. But she kept landing in trouble because she led too much with her heart, following her im she felt Moll was bright, but not in any educated or intellectual way. “She had innate intelligence, like an animal. She could learn from some things—but not from others.” Kim said there was another point about Moll she wanted to put over —‘the certain innocence she kept right to the end.” “Moll,” she explained, “had a strong feeling of trust in people. She winds up with money, but she doesn’t have all this from planning it out. “However, don’t get me wrong. When money comes across her path, she is pretty bright about getting her hands on it!” Kim had praise for the direction of Terence Young, whose most recent successes are the record-breaking James Bond movies, “Dr. No,” and “From Russia With Love.” To work with Kim, veteran producer Marcel Hellman lined up a stellar cast—Richard Johnson (who has recently become the off-stage husband of lovely Kim), Angela Lansbury, Vittorio De Sica, Leo McKern, George Sanders and Lilli Still #MF-14 Mat RICHARD JOHNSON portrays a dashing highwayman, who inadvertently crosses the path of flirtatious Moll Flanders (Kim Novak), and finds his fate sealed by the magnetism and voluptuousness of this woman. “The Amorous Adventures of Moll Flanders” is a Marcel Hellman Production for Paramount release, which opens ........ at the... oh 2% Theatre. ’ Still MF -144 Mat 2A REUNITED—After traveling the zestful road of ruinous adventure in a bawdy era of wild pleasures, Moll Flanders (Kim Novak) and her lover, Jemmy the highwayman, are finally reunited as they sail together for their new homeland. “The Amorous Adventures of Moll Flanders” is a Marcel Hellman Production for Paramount release, which opens ........ ab theses. « Theatre. In Tech nicolor and Panavision, the film was directed by Terence Young from a screenplay by Denis Cannan. Co-starring with Kim Novak and Richard Johnson are Angela Lansbury, Vittorio De Sica, Leo McKern, George Sanders and Lilli Palmer. Richard Johnson: Sheds Shakespearean Robe to Be New Screen Heart-Throb Once upon a time, the movie’s great and dashing romantic heroes came from the hinterlands. They were he-man products from oil fields, Northern forests or the vast Western ranges whose virility brought them overnight fame once they went before motion picture cameras. Today, the situation has undergone a complete change. Richard Johnson, an example of this evolution, is the dashing lover of Kim Novak in Marcel Hellman’s production, “The Amorous Adventures of Moll Flanders,’ a Paramount release opening i eer atuibe........ Theatre Now, the theatrical robes of an English Shakespearean actor may be exchanged for a new oufit as a dynamic screen lover who captivates feminine audiences all over the world. Women are enthralled these days by such brilliant artists from the British Shakespearean theatre as Richard Burton, Peter O’Toole, Rex Harrison and Laurence Olivier. The name of Richard Johnson can now be added to this noted list. Johnson is a dark and handsome “Romeo” with electric vitality to match. Since the completion of the bold and bawdy “Moll Flanders,” the strapping six-footer has already been besieged with more picture offers than he could possibly handle. The London Daily Mail called the shot in reviewing his sensation al performance as “Romeo” in the Stratford-On-Avon presentation. The enthused critic said, “This Romeo is so virile, his performance will probably set the studios hot on his heals.” The London Daily Herald stated, ‘He may well be the screen heart-throb of the future.” Well, the future has arrived for Richard Johnson. He’s had the cream of the crop of leading ladies on the screen. These include Sophia Loren, Gina Lolobrigida and Leslie Caron, in addition to the lovely and sumptuous Kim Novak, who has recently become the off-stage Mrs. Richard Johnson. The dashing Johnson will enhance his popularity with his virile role in “The Amorous Adventures of Moll Flanders,” filmed in Technicolor and directed by Terence Young.