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Death Of A Salesman

Starring: Stanley Adams, Edward Andrews, Lee J. Cobb, Albert Dekker, Mildred Dunnock
Director: Alex Segal
Format: PAL
Released: 23 Sep 2002
RRP: £18.99
Average Rating:

Customer Reviews

The Version to Own - By: Bruce Kendall, 11 Mar 2003
If you want to see a production of one of American Theater's most important playwright's most important works, then look no further. Though there have been several noteworthy productions over the years, this Broadway Theater Archive treat showcases the "perfect" Salesman cast, in a treatment that is essentiallly a reblocking of the famed Elia Kazan Broadway premiere of the play. Willie Loman's originator, Lee J Cobb, reprises his role, along with Mildred Dunnock. Though Geroge C. Scott & Dustin Hoffman received critical acclaim for their interpretations of Willie Loman, neither holds a candle to Cobb. He simply "is" Willie. George Segal & John Malcovich weigh in about evenly in the "best Biff" category, but the nod goes to Segal, because of the great ensemble cast he was lucky enough to play off of. Yet another winner in a BTA series that chronicles American Theater in its greatest era (60's & 70s).

Just a note to bear in mind that these plays are film versions of the plays exactly as they were staged on Broadway at the time, so don't look for cinematic production values. Sometimes the camera work is not ideal, but that doesn't get in the way of the consistently powerful performances, & that's what great theater is alll about, anyway. I'm just grateful that most of the series is available & hope that the unavailable titles are just being restored & will be rereleased soon.

BEK

TV Classic - By: , 26 Nov 2002
It is always difficult to discern between `the original version` & `the one you saw first`. In the case of TV registrations of Arthur Millar`s play `Death of a Salesman` I saw the 1985 version with Dustin Hoffman first. This `original`, yes `historical 1966 television adaption` stars Lee J. Cobb & Mildred Dunnock recreating their original Broadway roles.
Cobb & Hoffman have different interpretations of Willy Loman & good for them. Good for us. It is very interesting to compare the two.

This 1966 version (which by the way is in realy remarkable condition for a recording that old!) is the closer to the actual theatre setting. It makes very clever use of `shine-through` wallls (transparent linen with lights onto it or on the objects behind it); I never realised this used as early as the 60's. The way Willy's brother Ben appears in the 1985 version is less theatrical: Although this version is a television adaption I have no doubt the theatre presentation wasn't very different.

I must say I like Hoffman as good as Cobb, & I won't hold it against anyone if they would think *this* version *the* television adaptation..