American witch-hunts, be they literal or metaphorical, are always full of excellent drama. Arthur Miller's play The Crucible was made into film by director Nicholas Hytner, who has managed to capture the intensity and pace of the play. Miller wrote the screen play for the film, which works excellently and is evidence of his genius.
The story of The Crucible is about the Salem witch-hunts which took place in the 17th Century. After a group of girls, led by Abigail Williams (Winona Ryder), are discovered dancing in the forest by their puritan leader, the town descends into chaos, with the girls accusing certain townsfolk of bewitching them. What ensues is a dramatic quest for truth amongst vendettas, paranoia, and lies.
Within the film there are some heavyweight performances, most notable is Daniel Day-Lewis, who plays the flawed hero John Proctor, trying to free his accused wife whilst struggling with his own guilt about his private life. Ryder is excellent as the antagonist, and Rob Campbell displays a multitude of abilities as the Reverend Hale.
Plays often work well as movies, as the foundation is already well developed: the script. However, the limited scene locations and duration can often be aspects of a film which do not translate well onto screen. However, Hytner has captured the essence of the story, and made the themes which made Miller's play relevant in the 1950s (during the Red Scare) relevant to a modern audience. The lessons of the Salem witch trials will always be valuable, and cultural productions which evaluate them, such as Miller's play of Hytner's film, are important artifacts for the modern world.
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