Crucible (1996)

Editor's Note A powerful adaptation of the classic stage play about a Puritan community in seventeenth century Massachusetts awash in guilt, denial, and hysteria when a ring of lustful teenage girls begins accusing its citizens of witchcraft. When one man fights to retain his integrity in the face of madness, the adolescent slander invariably extends to him. Based on actual historic events and meant as a metaphor for the paranoid persecutions of the McCarthy era, the story (re-penned for the screen by playwright Arthur Miller) is a parable about society's fascination with and revulsion for cultural scandal.

	Bruce Davison
	Daniel Day-Lewis
	Jeffrey Jones
	Joan Allen
	Paul Scofield
	Peter Vaughn
	Rob Campbell
	Winona Ryder
	Andrew Dunn - Cinematographer
	Arthur Miller - Based On Play By
	Arthur Miller - Screenplay
	David V. Picker - Producer
	George Fenton - Original Music By
	Nicholas Hytner - Director
	Robert A. Miller - Producer
	Tarig Anwar - Editor

The film adaptation of Arthur Miller's classic, fact-based play, which was a veiled metaphor for the "Red Scare" McCarthy Hearings of the 1950s.| Set in 17th century Salem, Massachusetts, the story concerns Abigail, a teenager who once had an affair with married farmer John Proctor. Their relationship comes to an end, however, when his wife Elizabeth learns about it. One night, in the woods, Abigail and a group of girls undress and engage in a ritualistic ceremony, during which Abigail puts a deadly curse on Elizabeth.| But when this revelry is brought to light, the shocked villagers come to believe that Satan is in their town. A witch hunt begins, with arrests, trials and burnings at the stake in store for many of the accused girls. | Furthermore, the affair between John and Abigail does not escape scrutiny... Rolling Stone
"...A seductively exciting film that crackles with visual energy, passionate provocation and incendiary acting. The mood is electric from the first scene..." 12/12/1996 p.89-90

Entertainment Weekly
"...Joltingly powerful....[The performers] bring it off spectacularly..." -- Rating: A 12/06/1996 p.50

Variety
"...Handsomely mounted....The elemental and universal issues raised by THE CRUCIBLE are stirring....The cast is stellar..." 11/04/1996

Chicago Sun-Times 5 of 10
The characters I believed in most were Elizabeth Proctor, the Rev. Hale, and Judge Danforth. As writ - Roger Ebert