I love this production. I taped it off of Showtime way back when it first aired, and last year spent a stupid amount if money on a VHS Emmy consideration screener. It will be nice to see this in a nice crisp picture.
Brian was a friend of mine. I was his dresser in a production of CAMELOT in the 70's and we remained friends. I saw his Willy Loman several times and he was outstanding in it.
I had no reference points to which to compare this production, but I thought it was well-acted all around with a terrific performance by Dennehy at its center. I also thought Ron Eldard - who replaced Kevin Anderson by the time the play was filmed - did a nice job as Biff, conveying his vulnerability.
One of the production's strengths, for me, is that the performances by Dennehy and the cast blow past its more didactic moments. Dennehy isn't just some Everyman victim. He is both delusional and painfully aware, as in a late scene with Charley (played wonderfully by Howard Witt).
I felt a certain envy for people who got to see this play live, because while the filming if fine, I suspect it was even more powerful in person.
I don't have a reference point either but was blown away by Dennehy. I first read Death of a Salesman in 1998 in high school so I wish I had gone to NYC one summer day and seen this production but somehow I didn't even know this production existed back then (I grew up in NJ suburbs.) I'm so glad they filmed it and I agree that it must have been more powerful to see it live.
My 10th grade English teacher played the DVD for us after our study of the play. That was 10 years ago, and I was absolutely thrilled to see it again now. Incredibly moving, with a particularly brilliant performance from Elizabeth Franz.