The Crucible (1996) Review

The Crucible

Director: Nicholas Hytner
Writer: Arthur Miller (from the play by Arthur Miller)
Producer: Robert A. Miller / David V. Picker
Studio: 20th Century-Fox
Stars: Daniel Day-Lewis, Winona Ryder, Paul Scofield, Joan Allen, Bruce Davison
Length: 124 min
Genre: Drama
MPAA Rating: PG-13
My Rating: ****
Oscar Nominations: Adapted Screenplay, Supporting Actress (Allen)
Reel Nominations: Adapted Screenplay, Actor (Day-Lewis), Actress (Ryder), Supporting Actor (Scofield), Supporting Actress (Allen)

I will never understand the hate for Winona Ryder. Sure, she shoplifted, an act which singlehandedly put her career on hold for the remainder on the decade. But what about pre-Saks Winona, the one who was easily one of the most successful and talented actresses of the 1990’s? She constantly played challenging roles in films such as Dracula, Little Women, Girl, Interrupted, and The Age of Innocence (for which she wins 1993’s Reel Award for Best Supporting Actress). In addition to these great performances, she also gave one of the most underrated performances of the decade as Abigail Williams in the film version of Arthur Miller’s The Crucible. She does something that few actresses do for fear that it will damage their star status: she makes you hate her. Every word that she spits out (yes, spits, for she doesn’t speak her dialogue normally, but instead injects venom into every line and aims it as an arrow at the audience’s heart) reveals the lack of heart at the core of Abigail, making the viewer simultaneously despise and pity her. It is truly a masterful piece of work and among her best performances.

The show does not entirely belong to Ryder, however. The cast also includes Daniel Day-Lewis as the tragic anti-hero John Proctor, whose adulterous relationship with Abigail was the spark that ignited the legendary witch hunt in Salem. The performances of Day-Lewis and Ryder depend upon each other every step of the way, for Abigail has the audience’s sympathy at the film’s start. Proctor is just a lecher who deserves everything and anything that comes to him, while Abigail is an innocent victim, lured by the older man’s charms and good looks. Their performances and nothing else have to convince us that Proctor is the one to root for, and Abigail the one to lay blame upon.

We also have the last great performance from the legendary Paul Scofield, who manages to convey an aura of authority the second he appears onscreen, and Joan Allen, so perfect in the thankless role of Proctor’s loyal wife Elizabeth.

But what of the film itself? Arthur Miller’s adaptation is superior to his rightfully lauded play in many ways, with the new medium allowing the author to expand on his original writings and allow the play to breathe and flow more smoothly. It also contains some wonderful technical aspects, including a powerful score, and perfectly understated art direction and costumes. The film also features several questionable directorial touches that tend to seem more obvious and kitschy than artistic, and this is really the only factor that keeps me from thinking more highly of The Crucible as a whole. Still, it is a great film that deserved much more attention than it got.