"Death of a Salesman" Dream Cast

[Yero]

Posted: 3/11/08 at 2:44pm

We're reading it right now in English class and I was just wondering who you would cast if it were revived on Broadway or made into another movie.

[lildogs]

Posted: 3/11/08 at 3:14pm

Hm...
Movie:
Willy: William H Macy
Linda: Felicity Huffman
Biff: Ryan Gosling
Happy: Michael Cera

Stage:
Willy: Kevin Kline
Linda: Cherry Jones
Biff: Robert Sean Leonard
Happy: Jimmi Simpson

[philcrosby]

Posted: 3/11/08 at 3:21pm

Willy: Gene Hackman
Linda: Dianne Wiest
Biff: Tom Hanks

[LimelightMike]

Posted: 3/11/08 at 3:22pm

EVERY single time I think about Kevin playing "Willy" - I have flashbacks to "SOAP DISH" and the Old Lady spiling her drink! LMAO -- One of THE MOST underappreciated films of the 90's.

[lildogs]

Posted: 3/11/08 at 3:44pm

I LOVE Hackman as Willy, but isn't Tom a tad elderly for Biff?

[Mother's Younger Brother]

Posted: 3/11/08 at 3:54pm

Ooooooo, Gene Hackman is a GREAT idea -- Wiest too! How about Michael C. Hall and Jeremy Sisto as Biff and Happy?

[philcrosby]

Posted: 3/11/08 at 4:09pm

Yeah, Tom was probably right about 10 years ago.

Interesting Story:

I was working at Great Lakes Theater Festival in Cleveland in the early 90s, and Tom was preparing a benefit performance to raise money for the company. I was in the theater talking to some other members of the company, excited because we had just announced that Hal Holbrook would be starring in our upcoming production of SALEMAN.

Tom's head whipped around and asked "Who's playing Biff?"

I responded, "I am sure you could be, Tom, all you would have to do is say you were interested."

You could see how much he wanted to, but he was in a big build up to be a huge film star (he had just finished filming PHILADEPHIA.) The part was eventually played by Steven Weber, with Elizabeth Franz as Linda.

[lildogs]

Posted: 3/11/08 at 4:31pm

Hmm...I like the Hall/Sisto combo too

Danny Glover would also make a great Willy, to think outside the little white box

[christhefish]

Posted: 3/11/08 at 5:17pm

Two summers ago I saw Rita Moreno give a lecture on the evolution of theatre, film and television and she closed each segment with a monologue and she did Linda's final monologue and had the entire place on their feet. It was amazing. I would love to see her do the entire show.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 3/11/08 at 6:38pm

My dream cast would include Brian Dennehy and Elizabeth Franz, both of whom were mesmerizing and incredible onstage. I can't see anyone topping those performances.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 3/11/08 at 7:00pm

Definitely Dennehy & Franz

[OrdinaryJukebox]

Posted: 3/11/08 at 10:36pm

Yeah, DUH! There NEEDS to be an African American cast for any show that's ever existed. Geez, how racist...

-Vincent

[scaryclowns223]

Posted: 3/11/08 at 10:57pm

From what I understand Dennehy was an incredible Willy.
But I would love to see Frank Langella take a crack at it.

[LimelightMike]

Posted: 3/12/08 at 2:53am

Vinny, that was harsh... LoL

In truth, I wouldn't mind seeing Danny Glover's take on "Willy" -- I think it would be an interesting concept, if only 'tossed around (and) never quite fulfilled" - like SO many of these damn things. My vote goes to my hero, Kevin - OR - Mr. Langella, whom I wholeheartedly adore in ANYTHING and EVERYTHING right about now... Just sayin'.

[philcrosby]

Posted: 3/12/08 at 8:32am

Elizabeth Franz originally played Linda to Hal Holbrook's Willy Loman in a production which originated in Cleveland, and then did some touring in the southeast. They desperately tried to get it to NY but Arthur Miller refused.

Franz was later cast as Linda with Dennehey ... and quietly confided that Dennehey did not act "with" the others on stage but "to" them. She performed the role as if she were doing it with Holbrook, regardless of what Dennehey was doing, and it was the only way she could make it work.

Holbrook was breathtaking in the role, by the way.