IMDb > Death of a Salesman (1951)

Death of a Salesman (1951) More at IMDbPro »

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Overview

User Rating:
7.5/10   307 votes
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Director:
Laslo Benedek
Writers:
Arthur Miller (play)
Stanley Roberts (writer)
Contact:
View company contact information for Death of a Salesman on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
9 May 1952 (Finland) more
Genre:
Drama more
Plot Keywords:
more
Awards:
Nominated for 5 Oscars. Another 5 wins & 6 nominations more
NewsDesk:
Arthur Miller Voted Best Playwright Of The Century
 (From Studio Briefing - Film News. 19 October 1998)
User Comments:
Best version of Death of a Salesman more (8 total)

Cast

  (Credited cast)

Fredric March ... Willy Loman
Mildred Dunnock ... Linda Loman
Kevin McCarthy ... Biff Loman
Cameron Mitchell ... Happy Loman
Howard Smith ... Charley
Royal Beal ... Ben

Don Keefer ... Bernard
Jesse White ... Stanley
Claire Carleton ... Miss Francis
David Alpert ... Howard Wagner
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Additional Details

Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parents
Runtime:
115 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Black and White
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono
Certification:
Finland:S | Sweden:15
Company:
Stanley Kramer Productions more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Arthur Miller disliked this film version of his play because he felt that the flashback sequences made it look as if Willy Loman were literally acting out his past in front of others, and that this made him seem insane. Perhaps because of this, other versions of the play have been shown on TV and video, but the 1951 version has not been televised in more than twenty years, and it has never been issued on VHS or DVD. more
Quotes:
Linda Loman: Attention must finally be paid to such a man. He's not to be allowed to fall into his grave like an old dog. more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in Facing the Past (2005) (V) more

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User Comments

   (Comment on this title)
2 out of 3 people found the following comment useful.
Best version of Death of a Salesman, 24 April 2008
10/10
Author: rossangela from Oregon, USA

I am old enough to have seen the Federick March depiction of Willy Loman in the 1951 TV production of Death of a Salesman, but young enough to remember it well. It was fantastic, and no other actor has come close to March's superb rendition. All the other actors were perfect for their roles as well. I've also seen the Lee J. Cobb and the Dustin Hoffman versions, but they pale in comparison. Actually, as much as I like Hoffman, he was just not effective in this role. And Cobb didn't seem vulnerable enough. Another commenter said that Arthur Miller did not like this 1951 March-acted version, but I must disagree strongly with the Maestro of Drama. Sometimes artists just don't know...they create; we watch, observe, absorb. My partner is an artist (a painter) and although he is a genius, in regards to the creation of his work,his ideas of which ones are the strongest or most affective works just don't jive with the publics' or my perception. I think that's what must have been going on when Miller gave the opinion about this 1951 TV play. I would give up all my Woody Allen, Fellini and Scorsese DVDs for one copy of this masterpiece. Let me know if you find it in DVD or VHS(or 16mm!) It was one of the best things ever produced for TV --- EVER.

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