While there were a few odd choices in the casting of this TV-movie (Or rather, the then-current BRoadway revival this film preserved), overall the powerful realism and tragedy of Arthur Miller's classic play still shine through. Dustin Hoffman has some very good moments as Willy Loman, but overall his odd physical and vocal mannerisms are a bit too distracting. Still, those good moments are really, REALLY good and enough to almost make you forget everything else. John Malkovich mumbles his way through the role of Biff. It is Kate Reid who gives the greatest performance as Linda. She feels the most like a real person and her "Attention must be paid" speech and her final "Free and clear' monologue are heartbraking. Stephen Lang is suprisingly excellent as Happy, and the supporting cast is good. Tony Walton's sets (Which won him an Emmy) are interesting- not quite "stage-bound," but not really cinematic, either. The whole film has that feel but it's hard to imagine a more haunting and effective score than the one Alex North composed for the original stage production, and which was used in the film. Overall, the play is so good that it really cannot have less than a strong impact, even in a flawed production like this one. But perhaps other film versions (Such as the recently re-released 1966 TV-adaptation with the original Willy and LInda, Lee J. Cobb and Mildred Dunnock) are stronger overall than this one.
Review of Death of a Salesman
