Firstly, a massive thank you to our Patreon supporters. These supporters have become the single biggest contributing factor to the survival of DVDBeaver. Your assistance is essential to our survival.

 

What do Patrons receive, that you don't?

 

1) Our weekly Newsletter and Calendar Updates sent to your Inbox!
2) Access to over 100,000 unpublished screen captures in lossless high-resolution format!

 

Please consider keeping us in existence with a couple of dollars or more each month (your pocket change! / a coffee!) so we can continue to do our best in giving you timely, thorough reviews, calendar updates and detailed comparisons. I am indebted to your generosity.


 

Search DVDBeaver

S E A R C H    D V D B e a v e r

Directed by Terence Young
UK 1965

 

It’s marry Olde England when Moll comes to London! The ravishing Kim Novak (Vertigo) stars in The Amorous Adventures of Moll Flanders, a bawdy comedy based on the novel by Daniel Defoe (Robinson Crusoe). An all-star supporting cast—including Angela Lansbury, Vittorio De Sica, Leo McKern, George Sanders, Lilli Palmer and Cecil Parker—joins the fun as Moll sets out on her (ahem) well-laid plan to make schemes come true in 18th-century London. She masquerades as a rich widow to land a wealthy nobleman (Richard Johnson), never dreaming that he’s actually a penniless scoundrel posing to win the presumably rich Moll. What a perfect match! Lavishly directed by Terence Young (From Russia with Love, Cold Sweat), the fortunes and misfortunes of the famous Moll Flanders add up to a rollicking, ribald cinematic romp! This new restoration by Paramount gives us the home entertainment debut of the 131-minute uncut and uncensored version of the film.

***

The Amorous Adventures of Moll Flanders (1965), directed by Terence Young, is a British historical comedy loosely adapted from Daniel Defoe’s 1722 novel. The film follows Moll Flanders (Kim Novak), an orphan in 18th-century England who aspires to rise from poverty to gentility through charm and cunning. Starting as a servant to a mayor’s family, Moll seduces the eldest son, only to marry his younger, drunken brother, who soon dies, leaving her widowed. She then works for Lady Blystone (Angela Lansbury), where she meets Jemmy (Richard Johnson), a bandit posing as a sea captain who mistakes her for a lady. After rejecting advances from Lady Blystone’s husband and losing her job, Moll marries a wealthy banker (George Sanders) but flees on their wedding night when Jemmy reappears. Joining Jemmy’s gang of thieves, she thrives until they’re both imprisoned. Facing execution, Moll is saved when the banker dies of a heart attack upon seeing her, leaving her his fortune. As a wealthy widow, she buys freedom for herself and Jemmy, and they wed aboard a ship to America. The film trades Defoe’s darker themes for bawdy humor and romance, streamlining Moll’s exploits into a lighter, comedic romp.

Posters

Theatrical Release: May 26th, 1965

Reviews                    More Reviews                    DVD Reviews

 

Review: Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray

Box Cover

CLICK to order from:

  

Bonus Captures:

Distribution Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray
Runtime 2:11:34.928        
Video

2.35:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 43,666,512,641 bytes

Feature: 40,241,799,168 bytes

Video Bitrate: 36.94 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.

Bitrate Blu-ray:

Audio

DTS-HD Master Audio English 1557 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1557 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)
Commentary:

Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps / DN -31dB

Subtitles English (SDH), None
Features Release Information:
Studio:
Kino

 

2.35:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 43,666,512,641 bytes

Feature: 40,241,799,168 bytes

Video Bitrate: 36.94 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

 

Edition Details:

• NEW Audio Commentary by Film Historians David Del Valle and Daniel Kremer
• Theatrical Trailers for The Amorous Adventures of Moll Flanders (3:38 - Low-res,) Thoroughly Modern Millie, Irma La Douce, Man's Favorite Sport?, For Love or Money and The Mirror Crack'd


Blu-ray Release Date: June 3rd, 2025

Standard Blu-ray Case

Chapters 9

 

 

Comments:

NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: Kino Blu-ray (April 2025): Kino have transferred Terence Young's The Amorous Adventures of Moll Flanders to Blu-ray. It is cited as being from a "Brand New HD Master – From a 4K Scan of the 35mm Original Camera Negative". Shot by Ted Moore, known for his work on early James Bond films like Dr. No and From Russia with Love, the cinematography of The Amorous Adventures of Moll Flanders is polished and dynamic, captured in vivid Technicolor on 35mm film. The 1080P emphasizes the grandeur of the 18th-century settings with expansive wide shots - rolling green hills, bustling marketplaces, and stately manors - balanced by intimate close-ups that highlight Kim Novak’s coy expressions or Richard Johnson’s roguish charm. Colors aren't bad - maybe a shade, understandably, faded. The video quality - sourced from a 4K scan - revives the film’s Technicolor splendor, making Moll’s escapades a visual treat with pleasing detail and adept hues. Overall, better than I though and the HD presentation is likely the best we'll be getting for the film.

NOTE: We have added 50 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Kino use a DTS-HD Master dual-mono track (24-bit) in the original English language. The sound effects in The Amorous Adventures of Moll Flanders are exaggerated and theatrical, leaning into the film’s comedic roots. Everyday sounds - clattering carriage wheels, the creak of wooden floors, the clink of ale mugs in taverns - establish the 18th-century setting with a heightened, almost cartoonish clarity. Action sequences, like the bandit chase, feature a cacophony of hoofbeats, shouts, and crashing props (barrels toppling, doors slamming), mixed loud to match the visual chaos. The score, composed by John Addison (Strange Invaders, Cockleshell Heroes, Guns at Batasi, The Man Between, A Taste of Honey, The Honey Pot, The Seven-Per-Cent Solution, Smashing Time, The Maggie), is a jaunty, period-infused delight that sets the film’s mischievous mood from the opening credits. Addison, fresh off his Oscar-winning work on Tom Jones, crafts a soundtrack rooted in 18th-century instrumentation - harpsichord trills, sprightly strings, and woodwind flourishes - blended with a modern, comedic bounce. The main theme is light and catchy, with a skipping rhythm that mirrors Moll’s opportunistic hops from one adventure to the next. The dialogue - clear and consistent in the lossless - delivered in English with a mix of British and American accents, is crisp and performative, reflecting the film’s theatrical bent. Kino offer optional English subtitles on their Region 'A' Blu-ray.

The Kino Blu-ray offers a new commentary by two favorites; David Del Valle (Six Reels Under) and Daniel Kremer (Sidney J. Furie: Life and Films.) Del Valle, a veteran raconteur known for campy insights and Daniel Kremer, a filmmaker and historian both have a knack for context. It's a lively, informed track - Del Valle spins anecdotes about Novak’s fading stardom and Sanders’ sardonic charm, while Kremer ties the film to Young’s Bond pedigree and the ‘60s period-comedy trend (Tom Jones echoes). They dissect the adaptation’s liberties with Defoe, the cast’s chemistry, and the production’s gloss, balancing trivia (e.g., Novak’s casting over British hopefuls) with analysis of its bawdy appeal. Their rapport keeps it engaging. I loved the pairing - hope we get more from them together. There are also theatrical trailers The Amorous Adventures of Moll Flanders (in low-res), Thoroughly Modern Millie, Irma La Douce, Man's Favorite Sport?, For Love or Money and The Mirror Crack'd. The package has a reversible sleeve (see below) of original artwork.

Terence Young's The Amorous Adventures of Moll Flanders dilutes Defoe’s exploration of survival, morality, and social critique into a frothy mix of ambition, romance, and class satire. Moll’s pursuit of wealth and status - using her wit and sexuality - echoes the novel’s proto-feminist undertones, but here it’s played for laughs rather than tragedy. Social mobility is a central thread - Moll’s climb from servant to heiress mocks the rigid class system - but the film sidesteps the novel’s darker commentary on exploitation and sin. Symbolically, the ship to America represents escape and reinvention, a Hollywood-friendly resolution absent from Defoe’s text. The bawdy tone and happy ending reflect a 1960s desire for escapism over moral reckoning. Moll, portrayed by Kim Novak with a blend of allure and pluck, is the film’s engine - a charming opportunist whose romantic missteps fuel the plot. The Amorous Adventures of Moll Flanders is a glossy, good-natured diversion - more a product of its era than a faithful take on Defoe. Its strengths - vivid visuals, a game cast, and breezy humor - make it an enjoyable watch for those who favor fluff over grit. If you enjoy period romps with a dash of cheek, it’s a pleasant detour. The Kino Blu-ray is a worthwhile pickup for fans of Novak, ‘60s comedies, or Technicolor period spectacles. The commentary adds significant value on top. Certainly recommended.

Gary Tooze

 


Menus / Extras

 


CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION

 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


Examples of NSFW (Not Safe For Work) CAPTURES  (Mouse Over to see- CLICK to Enlarge)
 
Kim Novak's 'nipple slip'
 

 


 

More full resolution (1920 X 1080) Blu-ray Captures for DVDBeaver Patreon Supporters HERE

 

 

Box Cover

CLICK to order from:

  

Bonus Captures:

Distribution Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray


 


 

Search DVDBeaver

S E A R C H    D V D B e a v e r

 

Hit Counter

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DONATIONS Keep DVDBeaver alive:

 CLICK PayPal logo to donate!

Gary Tooze

Thank You!