When the knowledge is blinded by prejudice and superstitions disastrous accidents happen. The knowledge we have evolves as the time passes by and our efforts to learn more. When we fail learn and root them in our minds we make some mistakes that haunts us till the end of our civilization. "The Crucible", movie based on famous play "The Crucible" by Arthur Miller recounts such mistake made by our predecessors. The movie depicts the cruel "witch hunting" episode of 1692 in Salem, Masachussets. The 1996 Fox Production that took away Best Screenplay at the Oscars is directed by Nicholas Hytner (Great job!).
As the movie begins, a minister finds a bunch of erotic girls dancing, some even naked, with his daughter Betty and niece Abigail together. (Sexual repression caused by religious forbiddance) Betty pretends to be unconscious afraid of her father while the other minister suspects the probability of wi
tch. A pastor John Hale, who is known for witch tracing, is summoned to investigate. Girls suffer from mass hysteria as the investigation is going on and the ministers call it act of devil. (Bad luck! Freud was not born.) The girls claim to have seen the devil and blame innocent people of having pact with devil as the afraid maid, who led the dance, confesses. Judge Thomas arrives to investigate furthur and punish the accused, who are later hung if didn't confess that evil act. Meanwhile, Abigail, sly and cunning, plans to have vengence with Elizabeth, who had fired her from job for having affair with her husband John Proctor. When John refuses to have relationship, she accuses Elizabeth to be witch. John is also accused of being devil (He claims "God is dead!"), in his dismal and desperate effort to free his innocent wife. He is given a chance to confess to save his life but refuses. At least 19 people are hung for having pact with devil.
tch. A pastor John Hale, who is known for witch tracing, is summoned to investigate. Girls suffer from mass hysteria as the investigation is going on and the ministers call it act of devil. (Bad luck! Freud was not born.) The girls claim to have seen the devil and blame innocent people of having pact with devil as the afraid maid, who led the dance, confesses. Judge Thomas arrives to investigate furthur and punish the accused, who are later hung if didn't confess that evil act. Meanwhile, Abigail, sly and cunning, plans to have vengence with Elizabeth, who had fired her from job for having affair with her husband John Proctor. When John refuses to have relationship, she accuses Elizabeth to be witch. John is also accused of being devil (He claims "God is dead!"), in his dismal and desperate effort to free his innocent wife. He is given a chance to confess to save his life but refuses. At least 19 people are hung for having pact with devil.The great story is powered by some superb performances. You hate sly Abigail (Winoa Ryder). You pity helpless John(Daniel Day-Lewis). You love forgiving Elizabeth(Joan Allen, who won Oscar nomination for the role) and laugh at well educated but prejuidiced Judge Thomas (Paul Scofield). The dialogues are good but subtexts takes the breathe away. The other striking part of the movie is its background score (by George Fenton) that thrills and takes us to the 17th century. The location of picturization and the costumes used portray the society vividly but are sometimes monotonous.
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