Starring: Daniel Day-Lewis, Winona Ryder, Paul Scofield, Joan Allen, Bruce Davison Directed By: Nicholas Hytner Average Rating: Audience Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested) Binding: VHS Tape Format: Closed-captioned, Color, NTSC Label: 20th Century Fox Number of Items: 1 Release Date: October 13, 1998 Running Time: 124 minutes Theatrical Release Date: November 27, 1996
Description: The Salem witch trials of 1692 are brought vividly to life in this compelling adaptation of Arthur Miller's play, directed by Nicholas Hytner ("The Madness of King George"). A group of teenage girls meet in the woods at midnight for a secret love-conjuring ceremony. While the other girls attempt to cast love spells, Abigail Williams (Winona Ryder) wishes for the death of her former lover's (Daniel Day-Lewis) wife. When their ceremony is witnessed by the town minister, the girls suddenly find themselves accused of witchcraft. Soon the entire village is consumed by cries of witchcraft, and as the hysteria grows, blameless victims are torn from their homes, leading to a devastating climax.
Amazon.com: The Salem witch hunts are given a new and nasty perspective when a vengeful teenage girl uses superstition and repression to her advantage, creating a killing machine that becomes a force unto itself. Pulsating with seductive energy, this provocative drama is as visually arresting as it is intellectually engrossing. Arthur Miller based his classic 1953 play on the actual Salem witch trials of 1692, creating what has since become a durable fixture of school drama courses. It may look like a historical drama, but Miller also meant the work as a parable for the misery created by the McCarthy anti-Communist hearings of the 1950s. This searing version of his drama delves into matters of conscience with concise accuracy and emotional honesty. Three passionate cheers for Miller, director Nicholas Hytner, and costars Daniel Day-Lewis and Winona Ryder. --Rochelle O'Gorman
Thanks for the DVD! Ordered this to show my American Lit class. The DVD was in great condition and arrived on time! Thanks!
So good!!!!! I so loved this movie. Everything about it was awesome. The scene when Daniel Day-Lewis won't sign his name made the tears flow from my eyes. Watch it!
A story of commitment to oneself We watched this film as part of our college friends book club (we are now in our 30's). I am not usually into period pieces (except isolated exceptions), but found this one interesting from a psychological and sociological perspective.
The performances are excellent, and the scene where Daniel Day Louis refuses to hand over the paper with his name is one of the most memorable, executed with a true, gut wrenching genuineness. The characters manage to conjure (no pun intended) sympathy and hatred from the audience, and despite the fact that I am not a huge fan of Winona Ryder, this was my favorite performance.
The story of betrayal, mass hysteria and persecutation still resonates with many "scapegoating" circumstances today and and historically, and the choices faced by the characters (John Proctor to live or die, his wife's struggle to forgive and attempt to save him, and Abigail's decision to dance a fine line between good and evil), is very powerful.
Like the media today, which sometimes presents events in a very slanted, and pigeonholed manner, the citizens of the town, saw the events with the same narrow knowledge base. In addition, they were blinded by their strict life style, condemnation of all that was "different", and lack of exposure to alternate explanations. It reminded me of other religious fanaticism experienced throughout history (Spanish Inquisition, etc).
The depiction of heroism, and what it means to remain true to oneself (as John Proctor) did, was admirable and genuine. Despite facing certain death, his honor and transference of land to his family was more importanht. It was as if with his death, he was also absolving himself from his guilt in betraying his wife, and would in effect be free of the extreme societal constrictions.
Excellent film-worth discussion and comparison to contemporary society.
Revisiting an old important statement Although this video is based on a play by Arthur Miller which was directed to the hysteria of "Communist Conspiracy" in 1953, it addresses a problem which remains with us today; that of finding "evil where none truly exists' except in the perception of those with whom they are in disagreement about religious, ethnic or political policies. That the meanness of Abigail is not something new but something which has existed as long as desire controls rational thinking. It is worth reviewing in both home and school sites and worth consideration for conversation. Bettylene W. Franzus
Arthur Miller's Analogy Shadow Watcher Nobody Drowns in Mineral Lake
It still baffles me that this superb drama was not even nominated for a Best Picture Oscar the year it was released (1996) because, in my opinion, it was one of the finest films of that decade.
Arthur Miller originally wrote his play, THE CRUCIBLE, to serve as an analogy for the House Unamerican Activities witchhunt that was then going on in this country. People may not have been condemned to hang back then, but lives and careers were being destroyed, often on the whims of the investigators and witnesses.
The setting for the play and the film, adapted for the screen by Miller, is 17th century Salem, Massachusetts, where 19 people were actually hanged because they would not confess to being in league with the Devil.
A group of teenage girls, led by Winona Ryder, meet in the woods at midnight for a secret love-conjuring ceremony, but instead of love, Ryder wishes for the death of her former lover's (Daniel Day-Lewis) wife (Joan Allen).
When the ritual is witnessed by the corrupt town minister (Bruce Davison), the girls are accused of witchcraft. To save themselves from being whipped, Ryder devises a plan that ultimately causes many members of the community, accused of consorting with Satan, to stand trail before judge Paul Scofield.
Before this tribunal, proof is not necessary...merely an accusation by Ryder and her girls or any citizen, whatever their ulterior motives.
When Allen is accused by Ryder, Day-Lewis takes on the court in an attempt to prove his former lover a fraud.
This is a disturbing, frightening motion picture, mainly because this did happen and it can happen again.
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