The Crucible
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Movie Reviews of The Crucible
Movie Review: One of the Finest Films of the 1990s
Summary: 5 Stars
It still baffles me that this superb drama was not even nominated for a Best Picture Oscar the year it was released (1996). In my opinion, it was one of the finest films of that decade.
Arthur Miller originally wrote his play, THE CRUCIBLE, to serve as an analogy for the House Unamerican Activities witchhunt that was then going on in this country. People may not have been condemned to hang back then, but lives and careers were being destroyed, often on the whims of the investigators and witnesses.
The setting for the play and the film, adapted for the screen by Miller, is 17th century Salem, Massachusetts, where 19 people were actually hanged because they would not confess to being in league with the Devil.
A group of teenage girls, led by Winona Ryder, meets in the woods at midnight for a secret love-conjuring ceremony, but instead of love, Ryder wishes for the death of her former lover's (Daniel Day-Lewis) wife (Joan Allen). When the ritual is witnessed by the corrupt town minister (Bruce Davison), the girls are accused of witchcraft.
To save themselves from being whipped, Ryder devises a plan that ultimately causes many members of the community, accused of consorting with Satan, to stand trail before judge Paul Scofield.
Before this tribunal, proof is not necessary...merely an accusation by Ryder and her girls or any citizen, whatever their ulterior motives.
When Allen is accused by Ryder, Day-Lewis takes on the court in an attempt to prove his former lover a fraud.
This is a disturbing, frightening motion picture, mainly because this did happen and it can happen again.
Nicholas Hytner directed. Jeffrey Jones co-stars.
© Michael B. Druxman
Movie Review: The Crucible still relevant in the new millenium
Summary: 5 Stars
I teach high school American Literature, and The Crucible is a regular part of our curriculum. We traditionally read it in the fall, accompanied by the Puritan literature of the period in which it is set. Students find it interesting and engaging, for the most part, but often have a tough time picturing the action. This film--which I was astonished to learn is the only English-language production--is beautifully done and artfully acted. I was also surprised to learn that Arthur Miller himself wrote the screenplay at age 81! I wonder why the film was not produced in the U.S. until 1996? The adaptation is faithful, though Miller himself made some interesting choices, such as dividing some of the soul-searching counterpoint to Danforth's legal juggernaut between the young Hale and an expanded character, Judge Sewell, who is nothing more than a background character in the original play. I especially liked the visual effect of the halo that appears around Elizabeth Proctor as she resolves to tell the only lie of her life in defense of her husband. Joan Allen (the Black and White mom from Pleasantville) gives another real-as-it-gets performance as the saintly yet very human Elizabeth. Another of my favorite moments with Allen occurs when she is taken away from her home to stand trial on the trumped up charges of witchcraft. In the play, John tells her to "fear nothing" and she responds in kind, but the stage directions make it clear she is terrified. Joan Allen delivers the line, "I will fear nothing" with an absolute iron will that infuses her character with heretofore unseen strength.
All in all, this film is worth a close viewing and it adds genuine depth to the reading of Miller's classic.
Movie Review: APPROACHING SHAKESPEARE IN QUOTABLE LINES!
Summary: 5 Stars
THE CRUCIBLE, Arthur Miller's masterful parable of hypocrisy and cynicism during the communist "witch hunts" of the McCarthy era, can stand on its own as a story about the Salem Witch trials from seventeenth century New England. Besides, Miller offers about as many wonderful quotes as you might find only in the works of the immortal Bard of Stratford on Avon. Consider just a few:
- Oh, Elizabeth, your justice would freeze beer!
- Oh God forbid that such an one is charged but she is mentioned somewhat.
- Are the accusers always holy now? Were they born this morning as pure as God's fingers? I'll tell you what's walking Salem: vengeance! The little crazy children are jangling the keys of the kingdom and common vengeance writes the law!
- Now Hell and Heaven grapple on our backs and all our old pretenses ripped away! Aye! And God's icy wind will blow.
- The pure in heart need no lawyers, Mr. Proctor, proceed as you will.
- For a man of such terrible learning you are most bewildered, Mr. Hale.
AND
- Now, we will touch the bottom of this swamp.
Wonderful stuff.
The film adaptation is splendid and you just can't miss with Daniel Day-Lewis and Winona Ryder!
THE HORSEMAN
Movie Review: "Shut it Mary Warren!"
Summary: 5 Stars
I have taught this play for ten years and have welcomed the modern version as a way to reach my students. Daniel Day Lewis does a fabulous job as John Proctor. "Because it is my name... because I lie and sign myself to lies! Because I am not worth the dust on the boots of those that hang!" My students are drawn to the movie b/c of the "new" hollywood actors (Ryder and Lewis). I will say I see the lightbulbs come on for my students in the courtroom scene in Act III where the girls repeat Mary Warren. Everyone (but the judges) seems to know that the girls are "foolin". The added scene (ActII, scene II) is better left out, as I feel that most of us in the audience "get" John and Abigail.
I think the tone of the movie mirrors the tone in the book excellently. The conflict between Giles Corey and Thomas Putname (AND Rev. Parris) was well represented in the movie. And THANK YOU Arthur Miller for including Giles Corey's sentence of PRESSING - students LOVE that - and it is SO telling of Corey's character.
I recommend this movie to American Literature fans and anyone lucky enough to teach this play. (After all this time, I'm sad my time has come to an end... I've been moved to World Literature...)
Movie Review: excellent film of a great play
Summary: 5 Stars
If you can believe it, the first play I was ever in was The Crucible, when I had just finished sixth grade. We had a rather progressive director for the YMCA summer drama workshop. Her philosophy was that this was not theatre for children, but theatre by children and we did the last couple of scenes of this great play. I got to play Judge Danforth and my little brother was the Reverend Mr. Hale. I doubt any of our cast fully understood the play's ramifications then, but some of us understood enough to learn more, to read the entire play, and to try out for more plays when the chance came.
Arthur Miller did an excellent job of adapting his play for the screen, making the most of the opportunity to do things impossible on the stage without losing what made the play work well live. The movie is well-directed and features a superb cast.
My one regret is Miller's omission of Proctor's line about 'those who quail to bring men out of ignorance,' a line which has resonated again and again for me in the over 35 years since I first had the chance to appear in the play. Well worth the money, especially if one wants to know more about either the Salem witch trials or the McCarthy debacle.