La mort d'un commis voyageur

I saw this film upon its release in 1951, and although only 12 at the time and surely unable to grasp some of the finer psychological points of the drama, I was a pretty 'old' 12 and was already an absolute devotee of fine acting on the screen, having gone to the movies in that pre-TV era 7 days a week from the age of 8 (my favorite actor was Claude Rains). I was mesmerized by Fredric March's performance then, and I still am now, even after seeing Lee J. Cobb, Brian Dennehy, Dustin Hoffman and a few others as Willy Loman. Every other version of the play I have seen seems to fall short in one way or another when compared to this one. There are some errors in other reviews that should be noted in passing: Two of them make reference to this as a TV movie, but it was a regular theatrical release and played the usual movie house circuit of the time. Another states that the film was picketed by the American Legion due to Miller's testimony before HUAC. I can't speak to the picketing, but I certainly don't recall any such thing, and Miller's problems with HUAC came several years after the film played the circuits. Lastly, to this day I do believe that March, Dunnock and McCarthy should have won Academy Awards for their performances. March was beaten out by Humphrey Bogart in "The African Queen", a worthy contender to be sure but one I clearly recall being given more on the basis of the unusual character (for him) played by Bogart. But it was the Year of "Streetcar Named Desire", and if Bogart had not won it, surely it would have gone to Marlon Brando. March had already won two of them and, outside Walter Brennan, no one had won three AAs up to 1951. Dunnock and McCarthy were certainly more impressive than the excellent Kim Hunter and Karl Malden in their respective films and supporting roles. As I said, this was the Year of "Streetcar Named Desire". March was one of the greatest American actors of the 20th century, and incredibly versatile, and of all the true 'star' Hollywood actors of his time, he and Paul Muni had by far the most illustrious stage careers concurrent with their film successes, something that meant a lot more then than it does now. Anyway, this is THE film version of this play, much in the same way that no other version of "Of Mice and Men" really holds up to the Meredith-Chaney version, no matter how hard subsequent versions try!

When Death Of A Salesman was still on Broadway critics acclaimed Arthur Miller's play as an American classic and so it remains. There are so many versions out there that you've got so much to compare. And Lee J. Cobb who created the role of Willy Loman managed to get an acclaimed television version made for future generations to see.

I think that Fredric March's interpretation stands up to any that's out there. For one thing at the age of 54 he's the proper age for the part. March fleshes out the Loman character and plumbs his depth of a man who has seen life pass him by and he's running on fumes. He's not going to rise to management in his profession simply on his likability. And for Willy Loman that's the most important thing in the world.

His family which includes wife Mildred Dunnock and sons Kevin McCarthy and Cameron Mitchell stand by him. But McCarthy who since being a high school football hero has led a drifting aimless life is curiously alienated from his father. The source of that alienation is what you see Death Of A Salesman for.

Arthur Miller's work which is a classic about showing middle age with a purposeless existence has so many interpretations. Everyone has there own interpretation of Willy Loman so here's mine. When we're young we all start out with ambitions and dreams. Choices we make at that time determine our fates whether realize it or not. Most of us adjust and try to make a comfortable existence. It's usually our leisure time activities that identify us as individuals. Hobbies, causes, even sports fandom if that's your thing make life bearable. Willy didn't need to be liked, the poor guy needed a hobby.

Fredric March got an Oscar nomination for Best Actor, but lost to Humphrey Bogart for The African Queen. Mildred Dunnock and Kevin McCarthy were nominated in the supporting actress and actor categories. The film also received nominations for Best black&white cinematography and best musical scoring. It did not come home a winner as this was the year for A Streetcar Named Desire. Ironically March as Willy was up against the Broadway Biff Loman who was Arthur Kennedy and was nominated for Bright Victory.

I urge everyone to see all versions of Death Of Salesman as possible. I guarantee you will see as many Willys as there are actors to play him. This is as good as any.

This is the version people of my generation grew up on; it played on TV in the 50's, and being black and white non-widescreen and uncensorable, what we saw was what was filmed. Frederick March hammmed it up a bit, but in retrospect the play itself is hammmy (emotion-charged). It has been said Arthur Miller disliked the film, particularly the realistic representation of Willie's reveries and imaginings. Kevin McCarthy did a fine job as Biff. I loyally refused for years to watch Dustin Hoffman's version, but when I finally gave in I enjoyed his substantially different interpretation. But if he differed from March, then it follows March differs from him. In short, a whole other way of enjoying the greatest American soap opera ever penned.

This all but lost 1951 version of Arthur Miller's American masterpiece was nominated for several prestigious Academy Awards in 1952, including Best Picture. That it has never been officially released on video is a shame, for, quite simply, Fredric March's go around as Willy Loman is a absolute treasure. The supporting cast are uniformly excellent; the mood and tone are consistently melancholy; the sets are spare, even stagy; and, most important, the pace is as brisk as this play will allow. Please search out this one out on TV-- you will not be disappointed.

For reasons unknown to me, this version of the film has been unavailable for years. When I finally was able to view it recently, I thought it was excellent, and that Frederic March was the ideal Willy Loman. Played on Broadway by Lee J. Cobb, George C. Scott and Brian Dennehy, powerful men with powerful presences, the role has the potential to make Willy's downfall extremely dramatic, a testament to how far the mighty can fall. But in Frederic March, we better see his inherent weakness, and believe his corruption. We're not tricked into believing that his life's work was ever worthwhile, that it just fell on hard times. Instead, we see that his life was a lie from the beginning, which is what I believe the play intends.

Dustin Hoffman, another great actor, also famously played the role on Broadway and in the TV version of that production, widely available on video and therefore perhaps the version most viewers are familiar with. His interpretation was quirky and unreal, a character actor playing the lead in a modern take on a Greek tragedy, and it didn't work for me. But no matter how you feel about the play and the role, if you can catch this Frederic March version, do so; you won't regret it.