Period films based on literary masterpieces range from the superior ("Age of Innocence," "The Remains of the Day") to the detrimental ("The Scarlet Letter"). "The Crucible" falls somewhere in between and, although it is not a great film, it is certainly a passionate, powerful film that does justice to Arthur Miller's spectacular 1953 play. Its power has not been diminished on the big screen.
"The Crucible" is set during the 17th century when an array of witchhunts began. mostly led by the teenage girls who were accused. Set in 1692, the movie starts off with a devilish ceremony where a group of girls are ranting in the woods of Salem, Massachussetts, performing an unholy ritual. Abigail (Winona Ryder) is the master of ceremonies, and she drinks animal blood to destroy the wife of the man she loves. This unholy practice is witnessed by Abigail's uncle, Reverend Parris (Bruce Davison), and a witchcraft trial commences the next day. And almost immeiately, the accusations, denials and name-calling begins - Abigail and the others decide to fool everyone into thinking that the devil is visible, but visible only to them.
Numerous innocent townspeople are accused, including John Proctor (Daniel Day-Lewis), a farmer who had a brief affair with Abigail and is now married to his strictly devout wife, Elizabeth (Joan Allen). Abigail's form of revenge is to accuse the reverent Elizabeth of witchcraft - at this point, any of these girls can accuse anyone in town of witchcraft no matter how false the claims may be (they go through extreme measures to prove them, too). The trials continue and destroy many lives (mostly by hanging). Paul Scofield plays Judge Danforth who overlooks the trials, and decides that if the accused confess to their demonic ways, they will not be hanged. He presides over the trial with doubts but is inclined to believe that demons of another kind have infiltrated this town.
"The Crucible" is a startling, alert interpretation of the Miller play, which should come as no surprise since Miller wrote the screenplay himself. The performances by the young actresses are over-the-top but necessarily so, to establish the lengths of their insane accusations. Winona Ryder is effectively hateful as the angry, vengeful Abigail (a far cry from her role in "Little Women"), a frail, demonic child ready to pounce. Daniel Day-Lewis is also superb as the brave, decent Proctor who simultaneously finds his soul being eaten away by Abigail and his love growing stronger for Elizabeth. Joan Allen ("Nixon") gives the most understated performance as the seemingly frigid Elizabeth, and her final scene with Proctor is heartbreaking to witness. And let's not forget the overpoweringly magnetic Paul Scofield ("Quiz Show"), a delectable presence whenever he's on screen spouting his lines with gusto and verve. Another Academy Award nomination is in order for this grand actor of the cinema, in addition to the whole cast.
If "The Crucible" falls short of greatness, it is because director Nicholas Hytner ("The Madness of King George") plunges us into a sea of excess right from the start, giving us little time to catch up with the story or the characters (Ryder's portrayal of Abigail is nutty and vicious from the beginning). Still, this beautifully mounted version summons the rage, hatred and madness of those rough times with knowing cinematic skill, and doesn't commit the fatal flaw of becoming a static, filmed play.
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