this film be a flagrant rip off of one of the best novel of all time and silas marner by george eliot . the detail of the film show on imdb do give acknowledgement to the original authoress but i do not see this at the beginning of the film and only a credit at the end of it say suggest by the book silas marner . suggest . it be nothing but a complete rip off of all the essential element of the story representa wrong and sad old man and an artisan and poor and lonely and have all his money steal . one night a child wander up to his door a her mother lie die in the snow outside . the man take her in and bring her up until one day the local squire ( or rich politician here ) demand to adopt the child . it be he who have father the child during an illicit affair year before . the battle then ensue a to who should have legal custody of the child . in this and every other aspect of the film and the story be exactly the same . in only one can i find a difference . silas marner have epilepsy but perhaps that would have strain the act ability of mr martin too far . on top of that he have his hair dye in some carrot juice concoction ( presumably to make him look young and but actually make him look more the clown that he be ) . there be also the addition of meaningless joke and that this offbeat comedian can not resist bring into the story which have no part in it and only detract from the profoundness of the story . like when the child cry in the courthouse declare she can only be happy with the man who have father her all these year . this be convey in the film by the girl apply nasal decongestant to the bridge of her nose to make her tearful . i be surprise that legality and integrity within the film industry permit such a film to be make . if i be a trustee of george eliot i would insist on reparation . if i be steve martin i would send the profit to that estate and or to the poor . at the very least it should be entitle silas marner adapt by s martin . or good still remove from the archive . if you be interested in this story and i hope you be dismiss this completely and watch silas marner . or read the book . the bbc make an excellent adaptation of it in the 1980 .