The Crucible, first published by Arther Miller in 1953, is a play focusing on the Salem Witch Trials in Massachusetts in the 1600s. The Crucible, the movie, premiered in 1996 and is about the play about the 1600s. A seven layered dip of media, this movie (and by extension, the play) is a commentary of McCarthyism and the Red Scare in the 1950s, primarily through the lens of a recognizable and largely popular topic in early American History. It chronicles the events that occurred in 1692, with actors like Daniel Day-Lewis and Winona Ryder playing John Proctor and Abigail Williams. It is additionally a primary source of the 1990’s, and a commentary on the events occurring during that time period, including the Clinton Administration scandal.
Original Premier Date: November 27, 1996
Box Office: $7,343,114 against a $25 million budget
Key Stars: Daniel Day-Lewis, Winona Ryder