The Crucible (1996)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Director:

Nicholas Hytner

Writers (WGA):

Arthur Miller (play)
Arthur Miller (screenplay)

Release Date:

27 November 1996 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | History

Tagline:

Arthur Miller's timeless tale of truth on trial.

Plot:

A 17th-century Salem woman accuses an ex-lover's wife of witchery in an adaptation of the Arthur Miller play.

Plot Keywords:

Salem | Trial | Witch | Satan | Witch Hunt

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 4 wins & 10 nominations

Cast

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

MPAA:

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

Runtime:

124 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:12 | Brazil:12 | South Korea:15 | Philippines:PG-13 | USA:PG-13 (certificate #34461) | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Chile:14 | Finland:K-12 | Germany:12 (f) | Hong Kong:IIB | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:NC-16 | Spain:13 | Sweden:11 | UK:12

Filming Locations:

"Old" United Shoe Factory - 181 Elliott Street, Beverly, Massachusetts, USA

Company:

Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

Paul Scofield's last film.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: In the scene where John Proctor goes out into the pond, when the camera cuts back to the crowd onshore, an airplane condensation trail can clearly be seen in the sky.

Quotes:

Judge Danforth: Who weeps for these weeps for corruption.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Undead (#9.6)" (1997)

Soundtrack:

The Yanvalou Chant

Heartwrenching Drama

Arthur Miller is one of my favorite playwrights. Being a drama major, I read a lot of Miller. THE CRUCIBLE is by far my favorite. It has been for the last six years. This film version is great, not only the acting by some principles, but the sets, costumes, script, and (maybe I'm weird) music. Winona Ryder is exceptional as Abigail, who starts the whole witchcraft thing. Daniel Day Lewis is too subtle and quiet as John Proctor. Judge Danforth is boring in the film. Joan Allen is wonderful. She plays the long suffering wife Elizabeth Proctor and she is just as saintly as the character is supposed to be. The final scene with John and Elizabeth Proctor makes me cry every time when Elizabeth confesses to John that..."...it was a cold house I kept. Forgive me John. Forgive me.".

***1/2 out of 4