Death of a Salesman (1966 American film) explained

Genre:Tragedy
Director:James B. Clark
Alex Segal
Producer:Daniel Melnick
David Susskind
Starring:Lee J. Cobb
Mildred Dunnock
James Farentino
George Segal
Music:Robert Drasnin
Company:CBS
Network:CBS
Runtime:100 minutes
Country:United States

Death of a Salesman is a 1966 American made-for-television video adaptation of the 1949 play of the same name by Arthur Miller. It was directed by Alex Segal and adapted for television by Miller. It received numerous nominations for awards, and won several of them, including three Primetime Emmy Awards, a Directors Guild of America Award and a Peabody Award. It was nominated in a total of 11 Emmy categories at the 19th Primetime Emmy Awards in 1967. Lee J. Cobb reprised his role as Willy Loman and Mildred Dunnock reprised her role as Linda Loman from the original 1949 stage production.

Playbill markets this version of the play as an "abbreviated" one. Although the performance is abridged, it was adapted for television by Miller himself, meaning that not much substance was lost in the changes.[1] The production was taped after several weeks of rehearsals.[2]

It was a 1966 CBS television adaptation,[3] which included Gene Wilder, James Farentino, Bernie Kopell and George Segal. Cobb was nominated for an Primetime Emmy Award for the performance. Mildred Dunnock, who had co-starred in both the original stage version and the 1951 film version, again repeated her role as Linda, Willy's devoted wife, and earned an Emmy nomination. In addition to being Emmy-nominated, Cobb and Dunnock were nominated for a Grammy Award at the 1967 ceremony in the category of Best Spoken Word, Documentary or Drama Recording. This teleplay is one of several adaptations of the play and was contemporaneous with a May 1966 BBC version starring Rod Steiger and produced by Alan Cooke.[4] [5]

The production marked the acclaimed reunion of the leading actor and actress from the original 1949 broadway cast.[6] [1] The performance also marks a strong dramatic turn for George Segal who is known for his comic work, while a young Gene Wilder presents a comic but sensitive performance as Bernard.[1]

Cast

Main Cast
Supporting Cast

Reception

New York Times television critic Jack Gould praised the production as an "evening of exalted theater," and described it as "a revelation of Arthur Miller's 'Death of a Salesman' that will stand as the supreme understanding of the tragedy of Willy Loman."[7] Joan Crosby of The Pittsburgh Press praised all members of the Loman family for their performances and described the performance as "An evening of high drama, not to be missed".[8] United Press International critic Rick Du Brow noted that the first television adaptation earned a place in history: "it promptly took its place among the most unforgettable productions in the history of the video medium."[9] Du Brow praised Cobb's performance as great, Dunnock as a "bastion of strength decency and human understanding," Segal as "superb" and Farentino as "outstanding".[9] Associated Press correspondent Cynthia Lowry described the show as a powerful depiction of "tense, sometimes painful drama" told mostly by flashbacks from happier times.[10] Lowry described Cobb's distraught performance as "overwhelming", Dunnock's portrayal of the "loving, patient and blindly loyal wife" equally powerful and the performances of both sons as sensitive.[10] [9]

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryNominee(s)ResultRef.
Directors Guild of America AwardsOutstanding Directorial Achievement in TelevisionAlex Segal[11]
Grammy AwardsBest Spoken Word, Documentary or Drama RecordingLee J. Cobb and Mildred Dunnock[12]
Peabody AwardsPersonal AwardTom H. John[13]
Primetime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Dramatic ProgramDavid Susskind and Daniel Melnick[14]
Outstanding Single Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a DramaLee J. Cobb
Outstanding Single Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a DramaMildred Dunnock
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in DramaAlex Segal
Individual Achievements in Art Direction and Allied Crafts – Art DirectionEarl Carlson and Tom John
Individual Achievements in Electronic Production – Electronic CameramenRobert Dunn, Gorman Erickson, Fred Gough,
Jack Jennings, and Dick Nelson
Individual Achievements in Electronic Production – Lighting DirectorsLeard Davis
Individual Achievements in Electronic Production – Technical DirectorsA.J. Cunningham
Individual Achievements in Electronic Production – Video Tape EditingJames E. Brady
Special Classifications of Individual AchievementsArthur Miller

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Death of a Salesman (1966). Amazon . September 18, 2012.
  2. Web site: 'Death of a Salesman' makes Sunday a Night to Anticipate. September 22, 2012. The Victoria Advocate. Lowry, Cynthia.
  3. Web site: TV Tackles Tennessee. Drew, Michael H.. Milwaukee Journal. September 20, 2012. December 4, 1966.
  4. Web site: Rod Steiger. September 20, 2012. July 10, 2002. The Guardian. Baxter, Brian.
  5. Web site: Death of a Salesman. September 20, 2012. AbeBooks Inc..
  6. Web site: Death of a Salesman starring Lee J. Cobb and Mildred Dunnock DVD. September 17, 2012. Playbill. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20121108055714/http://www.playbillstore.com/deofsa.html. November 8, 2012.
  7. Web site: TV: 'Death of a Salesman'; New Interpretation Tops Stage Version-- Miss Dunnock and Cobb Repeat Roles. September 21, 2012. May 9, 1966. The New York Times. Gould, Jack.
  8. Web site: Television Scout: Cobb Soars as 'Salesman' in Miller Drama. Crosby, Joan. The Pittsburgh Press. September 21, 2012. April 2, 1967.
  9. Web site: 'Death of a Salesman' is Great TV Hit As Expected. September 21, 2012. May 9, 1966. Williamson Daily News. Du Brow, Rick.
  10. Web site: TV Adapts 'Death of a Salesman'. September 28, 2012. May 8, 1966. The Miami News. Lowry, Cynthia.
  11. Web site: 19th DGA Awards . . July 13, 2023.
  12. Web site: 9th Annual GRAMMY Awards . . July 12, 2023.
  13. Web site: Personal Award: Tom John for "Death of a Salesman," "Color Me Barbra," and "The Strollin' Twenties" . . July 12, 2023.
  14. Web site: Death of a Salesman . Emmys.com . . July 12, 2023.