Shop Ireland

The Crucible [VHS] [1997] starring: Daniel Day-Lewis, Winona Ryder, Paul Scofield, Joan Allen, Bruce Davison

More Product Details...

Review Pages: 1 2 3 Next »

Click here to add a review!

Average rating -

Rating: - Not for the faint-hearted

This is an extremely well-made film with a superb cast. The film tells the story of the witchcraft trials in Salem.

The subject matter is difficult with Paul Scofield managing to make his character believable despite the - to us - incredible misunderstanding and intolerance of his character.

Daniel Day-Lewis is also excellent showing the 'everyman' view of what is happening in Salem when mass hysteria leads to well-known and respected people in the community being accused of witch-craft and their words being twisted so that whatever they said it was taken as proof of their guilt.

The film (and the story) has a Lord-of-the-Flies like quality showing the worst of human nature. The film is compelling despite the horror of its content.

Rating: - Melting-pot

Daniel Day-Lewis gives his trademark intensity free reign in this absorbing adaptation of Arthur Miller's passionate and powerful play. Winona Ryder plays the manipulative Abigail Williams to a tee, as she naively sets off a chain of events in the town of Salem Massachusetts, that will result in the execution of many of the townsfolk and which was written by Miller as a thinly-veiled attack on the McCarthy Communist 'witch-hunts' of the 1950s.
A dark and brooding tale of greed, piety, and hypocrisy; this 1996 version of the film captures the play's spirit perfectly, and comes highly recommended.

Rating: - An excellent crucible

An excellent film of the play in which all actors excell but none more than Paul Scofield.

Rating: - Well, I'll be hanged!

We had to read the text, 'The Crucible' in Drama as part of our unit of the Higher course. I did quite enjoy the play as it were written, but when we were told we could watch the DVD, I was quite excited. I had been 'warned' it was different from the book so the context would fit into a film, but just how different was it to be? And was it as good as I had expected?

The Crucible is set in 1892, in Salem. This was the time when people were accusing one another of being witches, which was a 'hanging' punishment! In this film, a group of girls are conjuring spirits, with Tituba (a servant to Reverend Parris, from Barbados) leading them in the dance. Parris catches the girls, and finds his own daughter, Betty, in hysterics on the ground before fainting. He questions his niece, Abigail about this, but she assures him it is just fright that did it to her. Though when Parris gets in an important doctor, the talk of 'unnatural things' and 'the work of the devil' is being spread around the town. Is the devil really set to work Salem, or is Abigail making this all up to get back her ex-lover by accusing his wife of being witched?

The play was originally written by Arthur Miller in 1967, a time when people in America were being accused of being Communists and forced to leave the country, so this play fits in well with its time. He then wrote the film script adapted from his book, with the film then released in 1997. It was superbly directed by Nicholas Hytner, but it would not have been the success it was without the fantastic talent from the actors!

Abigail Williams was played by actress Winona Ryder, whom I know only from a single episode of Friends! I am not too keen on her nowadays, but back then she seemed to be quite an amazing actress, gripping hold of the emotional character that is Abigail. John Proctor, Abigail's ex-lover was portrayed by the amazing talent of Daniel Day-Lewis. I do not know him from anything else, but I am sure to look out for his work now! Of course there were many other wonderful actors and actresses in the play, but these were the two that really stood out for me.

The film is a British 12, which I feel is reasonable, since there is partial nudity in the opening scene. It lasts for 125 minutes too (2 hrs 5 mins) which can be quite a long time to sit and watch a film, however we watched it over two lessons so it did not seem so drastic!

This is a fantastic film to watch, well put together and great to see after reading the text! It really helps you to understand the characters a little better, and gives you a clearer idea of how to portray them yourself. Even though they do speak in language we do not use nowadays, it is in no way a challenge to follow. Each actor has clearly put all their efforts into putting this together, making the whole experience phenomenal! So I suggest you watch this, before the devil comes after you too!

© Amy 2008

Rating: - Because I am not worth the dust on the feet of them that hang!

Because I am not worth the dust on the feet of them that hang! How may I live without my name? I have given you my soul; leave me my name!... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... .... ... ... ... ... .... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... .... ... ... ... ... .... ... After being caught dancing naked in the woods, Abigail Williams hatches a plan with the other girls in the village. Abigail claims that she has been fighting to save her own soul, as she is surrounded by people who worship the devil. Instead of dismissing these claims as foolish ramblings of a young girl, the town elders encourage her hysteria. Accusations fuelled by provincial politics, greed, spite, paranoia, and fear become commonplace. Many people are forced to make the ultimate sacrifice rather than tarnish their good name.
Arthur Miller was a prodigious American writer and I am sure, when making a movie of one of his plays, there is a certain amount of trepidation on the part of the Director and the actors to do a reputable job. After all, Mr Miller is not going to be blamed if they make a lousy film. Thankfully, Miller was available to write the screenplay. With a cast that included Daniel Day Lewis, Joan Allen, and Wynona Ryder in her heyday, not much can go wrong and it doesn't. The Crucible is a superb film, filled with frightening insights into mob mentality. It also shows how situations can get completely out of control when rational thought is replaced by foolishness and cruel intolerance. You may argue that The Crucible has lost some of its original impact. It was first shown to American audiences in the 1950s, during McCarthy Era. However, the subtext is still very relevant today because, unfortunately, intolerance, injustice, and mass hysteria are still problems that people face the world over.
The Crucible is a compelling film with a formidable cast that looks and sounds authentic. You can't get much better than that!

Review Pages: 1 2 3 Next »