Death of a Salesman (1966 American film)

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 was 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. The production was taped after several weeks of rehearsals.

It was a 1966 CBS television adaptation, which included Gene Wilder, James Farentino, Bernie Kopell and George Segal. Cobb was nominated for a 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.

The production marked the acclaimed reunion of the leading actor and actress from the original 1949 broadway cast. 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.

Cast

Main Cast

Lee J. Cobb as Willy Loman
Mildred Dunnock as Linda Loman
James Farentino as Happy 'Hap' Loman
George Segal as Biff Loman
Gene Wilder as Bernard

Supporting Cast

Albert Dekker as Uncle Ben
Edward Andrews as Charley
Marge Redmond as Woman in Hotel
Bernie Kopell as Howard Wagner
Stanley Adams as Stanley
Joan Patrick as Miss Forsythe
Karen Steele as Letta
June Foray as Jenny

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." 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". 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." 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". Associated Press correspondent Cynthia Lowry described the show as a powerful depiction of "tense, sometimes painful drama" told mostly by flashbacks from happier times. 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.