Firstly, be careful if this comes on PBS, because some local stations cut certain scenes out, and just like with "Tom Jones", if you got rid of the sexcapades, you wouldn't get the story at all. This adaption re-arranges her sexual liaisons from the book and leaves a few out, drops any themes regarding religious repentance and "sincere penitence" - it's mostly a fun, saucy romp with some feminist undertones. Moll isn't willing to accept her circumstances and powerlessness for long, something unheard of in most fiction of that time or the next few hundred years: a woman's happiness and security was expected to come from marrying into some kind of fortune, period. The story is quite revolutionary for its time in showing a woman who, from a very young age, tries to control her own fate and be in control of her own life. And what option does a woman have to attempt that in this period but sex, blackmail and, eventually, thievery? Anyone who wants to criticize Moll for leaving her latest crop of children is (always in a stable, good home) is, I'm sure, silent when men in stories do exactly the same thing... Alex Kingston owns the character absolutely. She is gorgeous and completely believable at every age and circumstance. This film was my introduction to Daniel Craig back in 1996 - and it's a really good introduction. In this age of beautiful digital clarity, the picture is a bit muddy, but still a beautiful, visual feast.
