Daniel Craig & Alex Kingston
in

The Fortunes & Misfortunes of
Moll Flanders

I watched the entire 4 hour mini-series in one sitting.  It's bawdy, at times even shocking, and never a dull moment - much better than the Robin Wright Penn, Morgan Freeman version.  I bought it mainly for Craig, but became enchanted with the talented Alex Kingston in the title role. The ex Mrs. Ray Fiennes plays Moll as a brassy, unapologetic woman who does whatever it takes to survive in a harsh unforgiving world. 

Occasionally turning to the camera with "Well, what would YOU do?" she tells us the story of her life straight-up, without self-pity or embellishment.  Born in prison, she was passed from home to home until finally taken in by a good family.  Their son was a handsome cad who professed to love her but paid her for sex, thus becoming the first in a very long line.

Her third husband, below, is a wealthy gentleman from Virginia.
"Well, what would you do?"	I'd do the same. A girl's gotta eat.
Once in Virginia, Moll figures out  that she's actually married to her own brother.	"Are the Redcoats on the march again, Moll?"  Love that line...  "You have never refused me before." "Consider yourself lucky, then."
Back in England, she meets the love of her life, Jemmy.	They each think the other is rich, but still have a chemistry.
Their wedding night. The following sequence is all too short but notable.  Despite  the abundance of naked breasts in movies and television, direct stimulation of the nipple is sadly rare.	I usually see hands passing over them, the occasional squeeze and lots of faking.  This wasn't.
	That's what I'm talkin' about!
But alas, Jemmy is a Highwayman and has to move on, leaving Moll a note on her pillow.
One day, Moll's coach is held up.	There's no mistaking those eyes.
They each end up in prison, for different reasons.