The Crucible (1996)

Pretty Good

Admirable film.

Absolutely the worst movie.

A brilliant film that helped define a genre

Right up there with the 2002 film 'Salem Witch Trials' (the one with Kirstie Alley, Henry Czerny, Gloria Reuben and Julian Richings) I think The Crucible, a 1990's adaptation of the Arthur Miller play which tries to present a portrayal of the tragedy, is one of the best that cinema has to offer. Winona Ryder is excellent in this especially as Abby, the goody-two-shoes who is secretly the worst of them all. Everything about this film, right down from the soundtrack to the foggy, rural scenery, is unforgettable and chilling. Film portrayals of plays don't always work. They can either come across as too campy or too serious at times. Nevertheless, if there were ever a good one, this would definitely be one to look for.

Based on the 1953 play by Arthur Miller who adapted it for the screen, this is an excellent historical drama with a clever political allegory. I have to say that I have never been a huge fan of Miller's work but I love "The Crucible". Admittedly, this may be because I have always been very interested in both the Salem witch trials and the McCarthy era. The parallels between the events of the 1690s, as depicted in the play, and those of the early 1950s are many and obvious. In adapting his play, Miller wisely stuck closely to the source material and the film consequently has a first-rate and powerful script. Although all of the characters involved were based on real people, both the play and the film takes numerous liberties in the manner in which the Salem witch trials and the surrounding events are portrayed. It is extremely well directed by Nicholas Hytner, who shows a great deal of flair in his handling of the often very intense scenes. Rather appropriately, the film was shot in Massachusetts.The film stars the playwright's future son-in-law Daniel Day-Lewis in a brilliant performance as John Proctor, a prosperous farmer who had an affair with his former servant Abigail Williams nine months before the accusations of witchcraft commenced. This is the most notable and effective fabrication on Miller's part as no such relationship ever took place. In reality, Abigail was only 11 or 12 in 1692 but she is depicted as being in her late teens in the play for obvious reasons. While this is not exactly admirable behaviour, John is a good and decent man who regrets his affair and tells Abigail that it cannot happen again for the sake of his marriage. His wife Elizabeth, played by the always wonderful Joan Allen, is understandably resentful. In spite of the fact that she has seemingly forgiven his indiscretions, she feels that she cannot trust him and keeps a close eye on him. John becomes resentful himself as he has promised that it will never happen again and feels that such scrutiny is unwarranted. As a result, their relationship is often tense but it is shown that they love each other completely when Elizabeth becomes the latest in a long line of innocent residents of Salem to be accused of witchcraft. Abigail, played by an uncharacteristically antagonistic Winona Ryder in one of her best performances, levelled this accusation as she wanted Elizabeth dead in the hope that she will be able to continue her relationship with John. Amazingly, it doesn't work. John confesses his adultery but Elizabeth denies it in order to protect his reputation, unknowingly damning them both. John is himself accused of witchcraft on the basis that he bewitched Mary Warren into claiming that she, Abigail and the other girls were only pretending to have seen the accused consorting with the Devil and his familiars. Mary told John the truth in an attack of conscious but she "admits" to the court and the people of Salem that she was lying in order to save her life.As regards the McCarthyism allegory, there are two characters who are seemingly intended to represent the senator himself. The first is the hateful Abigail, who sees witches everywhere and enjoys tormenting the Salem townsfolk with her accusations, and the second is the chief magistrate and deputy governor Thomas Danforth. In one of his final roles, Paul Scofield is fantastic as the silky smooth Danforth, who is depicted as being a harsh and cruel judge and a cold, callous man. He does not say so openly but he is clearly believes that the accused are guilty until proved innocent and believes that he must cleanse Salem of every trace of the Devil. Danforth presides over the trials with a sort of eerie calm, seldom raising his voice and handing down death sentences without a second thought. There is one moment when it seems that he is open to reason but that hope is quickly dashed as the film draws closer to its inevitable and tragic conclusion. Reverend John Hale, played not terribly well by Rob Campbell, serves as a very effective contrast to Danforth. He was called to Salem by Reverend Samuel Parris in order to investigate the claims of witchcraft and essentially got the ball rolling as far as the trials are concerned. However, the sheer scale of the injustice and brutality on display shocks him and he is shown to be a far more just and reasonable man that he first appeared. George Gaynes, who sadly died last month, has a nice supporting role as Judge Samuel Sewall, who is less vocal in his condemnation of the trials but nevertheless realises their folly.Peter Vaughan is very good as the elderly Giles Corey, who was famously pressed to death and refused to plead either innocent or guilty. His last words were, "More weight." It's one of those instances where I would think that something was completely unbelievable if I did not know that it were true. Bruce Davison, who excels at playing extremists, gives a great performance as Reverend Parris, Abigail's uncle and the owner of the slave Tituba who is the first person in Salem to be accused of witchcraft. Although he claims that every defence is an attack on the court, there are several hints towards the end of the film that even he has grown tired of all of the deaths and accusations. Perhaps he has just had enough by that stage. The film also feature strong performances from Mary Pat Gleason as Martha Corey, Karron Graves as Mary Warren and Elizabeth Lawrence as Rebecca Nurse.Overall, this is a marvellous depiction, in terms of drama if not historical accuracy, of an infamous miscarriage of justice. Unlike most works about the Salem witch trials, however, it does not make the mistake of depicting the accused as being burned at the stake.

The Crucible is a popular text in British schools. Not only based on the real life incident of the Salem witch trials but also a political allegory to the McCarthy hearings in the US Congress in the early 1950s which inspired Arthur Miller to write the play.The movie has been adapted by Miller himself and the watchword is hysteria how like an ether it can easily be inflamed leading to blind panic with no morality. The film was released in 1996 yet just a few years earlier there was ethnic cleansing in the former Yugoslavia, Rwanda, clan fights in Somalia. Mass hysteria was alive and well and something Miller would had been well aware of. In that sense the film should be more than a historical product of witch trials in the 17th century and communist witch hunts in the 1950s but something that is relevant even today.The film begins with young girls conjuring love potions in the fields and then forced to tell lies that the they had been possessed by the devil when they had been caught by the local minister. They start dragging innocent people into the fold by accusing them of witchcraft, before long petty vendettas are being settled with accusations being hurled with ulterior motives.Once the inquisitors arrive, accusations are made simply to save themselves from hanging no matter other innocent people will hang instead unless they confess or accuse others.Winona Ryder leads the young women but she is also infatuated with a married farmer, John Proctor (Daniel Day-Lewis) with whom she had a short affair and now uses the events to get rid of his wife by accusing her of witchcraft.However the adaptation does not succeed because the mass hysteria by the girls also looks rather silly, more a badly acted play rather than a prestigious film adaptation. The film also loses its parable element as only late on do you get the inkling with the McCarthy hearings which inspired the play in the first place and is such an important part of the play's DNA.Day Lewis is fine, you see his authentic facial hair, some early scenes of working the land but there is the now trademark hamminess here and there which his fans mistake for great acting. Paul Scofield who once made his name in The Man for all Seasons plays the reverse role here as the hanging judge determined to cleanse this small Massachusetts town despite the consequences and in his solemn way gives an acting masterclass.

Written by Arthur Miller & based on his play of the same name, 'The Crucible' offers Great Performances by its terrific cast. While as a film, it engages in parts. 'The Crucible' Synopsis: A salem women accuses her ex lover's wife of witchcraft. 'The Crucible' is masterfully shot by Andrew Dunn & honestly Written by Miller. The Writing appeals in parts, although the slow-pace does hamper its overall impact. Nicholas Hytner's Direction is passable. 'The Crucible' is rich when it comes to performances. Joan Allen is fantastic, while Daniel Day-Lewis is persuasive. Winona Ryder is remarkably credible. Paul Scofield is effortless & classy. Bruce Davison is in brilliant form. Jeffrey Jones & Rob Campbell are fabulous. Peter Vaughan is highly competent. On the whole, 'The Crucible' has its share of pluses & minuses.