Best Death of a Salesman film adaptation?

[rorschach37]

Posted: 12/28/13 at 12:08pm

Hello all!

The only incarnation I've seen of "Salesman" was the most recent revival with Philip Seymour Hoffman and I've been looking for a suitable film version. Anyone have a preference as to which I should view first?

[rorschach37]

Posted: 12/28/13 at 12:16pm

double thread. delete

[gleek4114]

Posted: 12/28/13 at 12:37pm

The TV movie with Dustin Hoffman is wonderful!

[aaronb]

Posted: 12/28/13 at 4:34pm

Gotta disagree. There are few actors I love as much as Dustin Hoffman, but he was an awful Willy Loman. Though I haven't seen it, I suspect the Lee J. Cobb is the best.

[bobs3]

Posted: 12/28/13 at 8:05pm

The 1985 tv movie starring Dustin Hoffman, John Malkovich and Kate Reid. Hoffman and Reid are excellent but Malkovich soars to an entirely different level above his co-stars. When they performed the play on Broadway in 1984, Malkovich's Biff became the most acclaimed and talked about performance of the season.

[The Other One]

Posted: 12/28/13 at 11:22pm

Everyone has different opinions. I would have to say that the TV version with Lee J. Cobb and Mildred Dunnock from the mid-60's is my favorite, even if it is slightly edited. The Robert Falls revival was excellent. The video does mute its impact, but it is still a most worthy watch. I did not care for the Hoffman/Malkovich production on stage, but it was beautifully filmed by Volker Schlöndorff and is much more successful on film (although I did not like Malkovich as Biff in either medium). The 1951 film version, a multi-Oscar nominee that fell into obscurity, is fascinating even if it does take some adjusting to, but the only copy I have is not in good condition. It was screened at MoMA recently, so perhaps it has been cleaned up.

Every one of these is worth watching, and I hope you find them.