Death of a Salesman always had a special place in my heart. It was the first play that I ever read, and as a travelling salesman, I know what it's like to live on a shoeshine and a smile. During my years in this business I've seen many Willie Lowman types. Salespeople that were super effective in the old days but got left behind, because they refused to change with the times. Although I'm not an actor, I feel that I could portray this role better than any before.This being said, the 1985 movie of Death of a Salesman was brilliantly acted by Hoffman; and I have a new respect for John Malkovich. My only problem was the emotions didn't seem to hit the mark at the two most emotional points of the play. The first being when Biff finds Willie with the woman. Here Willie just wasn't devastated enough - the emotional spirit just wasn't there. I found the same disappointment in the final scene. The sense of panic and impending doom just wasn't there. If these two scenes were directed differently (I can't blame the actors, because they were so good), then I would have rated this 10 stars.

Willy Loman is a salesman, who gets no salary anymore and works with mere commission.He's 63 years old and he's tired of traveling around the country.His wife Linda understands him and loves him.His sons, Biff and Happy are visiting home.Willy has a troubled relationship with Biff.His son once loved and admired his father very much.It all changed when he found out about his father's crime, of committing adultery. Loman is losing his mind.He can be living two times at the same time.He steps from today's world into the past, mostly those joyful times of his life.He speaks with his now deceased brother Ben, who went to Africa and became a wealthy man.I read the original play by Arthur Miller that was published in 1949 pretty recently and liked it very much.Volker Schlöndorff's Death of a Salesman (1985) is a movie version of that.It was seen on Broadway a year earlier.All of the actors are remarkable.There's not one weak performance.Dustin Hoffman, what a perfect choice to play Willy Loman.He's always great but this time he really tops himself.Kate Reid gives a strong performance as Linda Loman.John Malkovich and Stephen Lang are great as the sons, also as the younger versions of them.Louis Zorich is really brilliant as Ben Loman.Charles Durning is excellent as Willy's neighbor and only friend Charley.And so is David S. Chandler as his son Bernard.Jon Polito gives a good performance as Willy's boss Howard.Linda Kozlowski is wonderful as Miss Forsythe.And so is Kathryn Rossetter as Woman from Boston.The strength of the play is in the characters.You care about many of them. you hope something good would happen to Willy, despite his flaws.The title of the play gives away the ending but it's intriguing to find out what events led to that.Death of a Salesman is a great American play and this a great movie made of that play.

This is an adaptation of a 1949 Arthur Miller's play with the same name. Willy Loman is a salesman who is facing financial, domestic and health problem in the twilight hours of his life. Its supposed to an American classic and I must say it is. There are a few plays or novels which are so fantastic to see or read. The play is instant knowledge. Its like one of those instant energy drinks you read/watch it and you know why it is a classic. Any decent adaptation of the play would be great but this film is really great. I liked the treatment. Its just full of dialogs and actors. The director has not changed the play because the film medium. That's why it looks like a play with film like sets. There is not a single moment where you feel you are watching a film. It's obvious from the first scene that you are watching a play. I think this is one of the best adaptation of a play I have seen so far. Hoffman has done a wonderful job. Initially I though 47 years old Hoffman with makeup was not convincing with Kate Reid as her wife but as the film grows on you it doesn't matter at all. I liked the story so much. It's so realistic.All the actors are very good. I think its a must watch for experimental film viewers. what a great play.

Whether Lee J Cobb & Dunnock , or George C Scott, or in this case Hoffman , Reid, & Co., Arthur Miller's timeless classic, DEATH OF A SALESMAN, is the greatest literary work in American History...with Fitzgerald's Gatsby a close second despite similar themes. Miller's classics: All My Sons, The Price, Ride down Mt. Morgan, Incident at Vichy, After the Fall and the Crucible remain universal classics. Only Shakespeare was greater. In this production of Death of a Salesman, the cast shines including Malkovich & Reid - in a sad but powerful and poignant tale of broken hopes and dreams, values, priorities, and yes, even the illusion of the so-called "American Dream". Hoffman as Willy Loman is electrifying , passionate and right on! "Attention must be paid" to this production of Miller's classic.