The Crucible (1996)

A Salem resident attempts to frame her ex-lover's wife for being a witch in the middle of the 1692 witchcraft trials.

Director:

Nicholas Hytner

Writers:

Arthur Miller (play), Arthur Miller (screenplay)

Stars:

Daniel Day-Lewis, Winona Ryder, Paul Scofield

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 4 wins & 27 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Daniel Day-Lewis	...	John Proctor
Winona Ryder	...	Abigail Williams
Paul Scofield	...	Judge Thomas Danforth
Joan Allen	...	Elizabeth Proctor
Bruce Davison	...	Reverend Parris
Rob Campbell	...	Reverend Hale
Jeffrey Jones	...	Thomas Putnam
Peter Vaughan	...	Giles Corey
Karron Graves	...	Mary Warren
Charlayne Woodard	...	Tituba
Frances Conroy	...	Ann Putnam
Elizabeth Lawrence	...	Rebecca Nurse
George Gaynes	...	Judge Samuel Sewall
Mary Pat Gleason	...	Martha Corey
Robert Breuler	...	Judge Hathorne

Storyline

A small group of teen girls in 1692 Salem, Massachusetts caught in an innocent conjuring of love potions to catch young men are forced to tell lies that Satan had invaded them and forced them to participate in the rites and are then forced to name those involved. Thrown into the mix are greedy preachers and other major landowners trying to steal others' land and one young woman infatuated with a married man and determined to get rid of his innocent wife. Arthur Miller wrote the events and the subsequent trials where those who demanded their innocence were executed, those who would not name names were incarcerated and tortured, and those who admitted their guilt were immediately freed as a parable of the Congressional Communist witch hunts led by Senator Joe McCarthy in 1950's America.

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Plot Keywords:

witch | salem massachusetts | witch hunt | witchcraft | salem witch trial | 

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Taglines:

Arthur Miller's timeless tale of truth on trial.

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Genres:

Drama | History

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for intense depiction of the Salem witch trials

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

27 November 1996 (USA)

Also Known As:

Las brujas de Salem

Filming Locations:

House of Seven Gables, Salem, Massachusetts, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$25,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$62,995, 1 December 1996, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$7,340,103, 21 February 1997

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox

Technical Specs

Runtime:

124 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Dolby Digital

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Emma Thompson was originally slated to play the part later taken by Joan Allen.

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Goofs

John Proctor uses the scythe incorrectly. A scythe is drawn right to left in an arc parallel to the ground. The stroke requires neither great physical strength or blade speed. However, Proctor, with much effort, uses a golf-like motion which rips what grass the blade makes contact with and arcs way over his head. The scythe is never lifted in either the draw or the return.

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Quotes

Abigail: Let *you* beware, Mr. Danforth. Do you think yourself so mighty the Devil may not turn *your* wits?

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Connections

Referenced in Small Town Culture War (2009)

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Soundtracks

The Yanvalou Chant
Provided by Shakmah Winddrum

User Reviews

Terrific cast

The Raymond Rouleau French version of the fifties featuring Simone Signoret and Yves Montand as the Proctors seems to have vanished in the air.It's never on French TV and it's not available on tape or DVD either.In the fifties this could not be filmed in the USA ,because it was a highly topical issue,hence the Rouleau version which was first a stage production.

Actually,this masterwork is so strong that it can't be connected only with MCCarthyism.Its scope reaches far beyond.It's a plea for tolerance,freedom of thinking and dignity of the human being wherever and whenever they may be endangered.An excellent cast does the play justice.Daniel Day-Lewis gives a powerful performance (I say God is dead!)that few of his peers can equal.Wynona Ryder is efficient in her ambiguous part.Joan Allen gives a subdued but moving interpretation.Paul Scoffield personifies the inhuman law with authority.Bruce Davison ("Willard"'s hero ,1971).

All in all, a magnificent show ,thanks to all concerned.