Good start, but then it gets ruined

Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.

The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

This movie tries so hard to be funny, yet it falls flat every time. Just another example of recycled ideas repackaged with women in an attempt to appeal to a certain audience.

At least the host of PBS's MT admits that liberties were taken with the original work. A potentially poignant film is - per usual- smeared with cinematic fecal matter so predictably painted like graffiti in a subway. The larger picture of the societal ills particular to 17/18th century England is marred by pornography (almost to the point of comedy). I think I've seen more of Alex Kingston's nips than my own in the last six months. What should have been the Les Miserables of England is reduced to wanton balderdash, having negated the seriousness of the underlying theme. Though beautifully filmed, the audience's intelligence is mocked by bottom feeder's fodder. It seems the producer's M.O is H.L. Mencken's slight, "No one ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American people." Fortunately, many may read the book to find out the real story - and actually learn something. My copy is now on order.

This time old Hollywood got it right. The Kim Novak Moll Flanders version played tongue-in-cheek with an attractive heroine and suggested content was entirely more appreciable. It was a female Tom Jones and well done as such. The rendering here starts off on the wrong foot with a repulsive sweat hog of a heroine not credible by any stretch as even attractive, much less alluring to gentlemen. Just a fleshy bar maid sort. Many a kitchen or parlor maid could be done up as well. But we have this flared nostril milch cow being offered as a temptress. Everything after that is a farce rendered in ribald distaste. Totally gag version. Pulp trash. Avoid.

Years ago when this aired on Baton Rouge's WLPB PBS station it was HEAVILY edited! Only after someone reminded me that it was being re-shown on WYES in New Orleans UNCUT I eagerly tuned in! Totally changed the entire direction of the movie! I don't think stations should be allowed to run cut movies. Show it at a later time but don't hack up good movies, especially a classic just for someones Puritanical nonsense! Have to say...even cut up as it was the first time I saw it, it was still a 10.

I love this movie, it's excellent. I give it a 10.Alex Kingston is great. Sexy and funny. Her best performance.