The Crucible *** (1996, Daniel Day-Lewis, Winona Ryder, Joan Allen, Paul Scofield, Bruce Davison) – Classic Movie Review 2583

Arthur Miller’s famous 1952 drama about a community torn apart by mass hysteria has lost none of its relevance in 1996. The handsome looking production is capably helmed by British director Nicholas Hytner (maker of The Madness of King George), who nevertheless isn’t able fully to reveal all the mysteries and meanings of Miller’s purposes in writing the play.

Set in 1692, director Hytner’s well-meaning, unexpected Nineties film version of Miller’s classic stage work, with a screenplay adaptation prepared by him, beautifully conjures up the New England village of Salem, which is convulsed by accusations of witchcraft. But it is mankind’s usual tricks of spite, jealousy and superstition that are really at work. Miller seems partly to have the McCarthy anti-communist witch-hunts in mind here.

Miller followers, admirers of period Big Drama and fans of the actors will find much to cheer in the film. However, Daniel Day-Lewis and Winona Ryder are easily outclassed by Oscar-nominated Joan Allen and especially Paul Scofield, ideally cast as the stern tribunal judge. And The Crucible makes for glum and depressing viewing.

It proves hard going in the cinema as a religious thriller, with determined concentration needed to see the viewer through the first dour hour. Miller’s parable story is set in 1692 in the pious community of Salem, Massachusetts, where a group of teenage girls are discovered dancing naked in the woods by the minister, the Reverend Parris (Bruce Davison). Terrified of the consequences, they accuse everyone of witchcraft and soon the blameless victims of mass hysteria are trapped and victimised.

One of the girls, Abigail Williams (Ryder), who has lost her innocence to married farmer John Proctor (Day-Lewis), drinks a charm to kill his wife Elizabeth Proctor (Allen). A stern, unforgiving judge, Thomas Danforth (Scofield), sentences all the accused to hang on the slightest evidence.

The reteaming of two Age of Innocence stars, Day-Lewis and Ryder, proves a matter of little importance as they produce insignificant star turns, with Ryder particularly weak for all her wild emoting. They are resoundingly upstaged by the grave Scofield, outstanding in the film’s long middle courtroom section, and given an acting lesson by the appropriately sombre Allen.

Also in the cast are Rob Campbell, Jeffrey Jones, George Gaynes, Peter Vaughan, Karron Graves, Charlayne Woodard, Frances Conroy, Elizabeth Lawrence, Mary Pat Gleason and Tom McDermott.

© Derek Winnert 2015 Classic Movie Review 2583

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