Death of a Salesman (Columbia Pictures) (1951)

“Death of Salesman’’ Mat 2-A; Still No. Art 4 FREDRIC MARCH STARS in the new Stanley Kramer production, Columbia Pic tures’ screen version of ‘‘Death of a Salesman,”’ at the . . . . Theatre. Kevin Mc Carthy, as March’s son, is an important member of the featured cast. ‘Death of a Salocaan’ Stars Fredric March One of the most extraordinary motion pictures of the year is promised for the. . ¥!, Theatre’... . . when Stanley Kramer’s first production for Columbia Pictures, “Death of a Salesman,” has its local premiere. Fredric March, the distinguished American actor and twice winner of the Academy Award is starred in the film which is based upon the Pulitzer Prize-winning play. March’s supporting cast, recruited from veterans of the New York and London productions of “Death of a Salesman,” include Mildred Dunnock, Kevin McCarthy, Cameron Mitchell and Howard Smith. In “Death of a Salesman,” Kramer has tackled a theme universal in scope: the dream of success and the conflict with reality. The central character of the film is Willy Loman, a salesman who, all his life, has traded on his ability to be well-liked. This quality, he believes, is the key to success and he grooms his two sons accordingly. Willy’s one mistake, seen by a son, unleashes the overpowering surge of the film’s emotional drama. March plays Willy, the amiable salesman who wants to make a good life for his two sons and his adoring wife but fails to recognize that there is more to success than being a_hale-fellow-well-met. Mildred Dunnock, who created the role for Broadway, enacts the part of March’s wife. Kevin McCarthy, from the London cast of the triumphant play, makes his motion picture debut in “Death of a Salesman” as Biff, Willy’s drifter son. Cameron Mitchell is seen as Happy, the other son, a womanchaser who pursues his visions of success in a minor office job, while Howard Smith plays March’s §lifelong friend and neighbor. Both Mitchell and Smith also appeared in the Broadway play, one of the most-honored dramas of our time. Fredric March, as Willy, is said by Hollywood to transcend even his Academy Award-winning performances in “The Best Years of Our Lives” and “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.” The acting, and the brilliant production of the film reportedly makes “Death of a Salesman” even ‘Death of Salesman’ Columbia Pictures’ “Death of a Salesman,” Stanley Kramer’s_ production of the Pulitzer Prize-winning stavecplay2Opens ...4..) atthe . ... Theatre. Fredric March stars in the powerful new drama that features Mildred Dunnock, Kevin McCarthy, Cameron Mitchell and Howard Smith. The screen play, by Stanley Roberts, is based on the play by Arthur Miller as produced on the stage by Kermit Bloomgarden and Walter Fried. Laslo Benedek directed what is reported to be the most extraordinary motion picture of the year. greater a film than Kramer’s me morable “Champion,” “Home of the Brave” and “Cyrano de Bergerac.” “Death of a Salesman” was written for the screen by Stanley Roberts who based his script on the play by Arthur Miller as produced on the stage by Kermit Bloomgarden and Walter Fried. Laslo Benedek directed. Award Winner Twice winner of the Motion Picture Academy Award, Fredric March is starred in Stanley Kramer’s new screen production, Columbia Pictures’ “Death of a Salesman,” at the i... . » Theatre. > “Death . of «a Salesman” is based on the most honored play of our time, a Pulitzer Prize-winner which, in its screen form, is said to offer March a greater opportunity than even his memorable roles in “The Best Years of Our Lives” and “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.” Mat 1-F; Still No. 69 “I’M NOT ONLY LIKED — but well liked!’ Fredric March tells Mildred Dunnock in Columbia Pictures’ ‘‘Death of a Salesman,’’ new Stanley Kramer production at the . ... Theatre. Kramer’s ‘Death of a Salesman’ Year’s Most Extraordinary Film (Review ) “Death of a Salesman,” Stanley Kramer’s first screen production for Columbia Pictures, which Theatre with Fredric March in the starring role, adds new dimensions to the screen. Seldom has a movie probed so skillfully under the skin of human emotions, examined so compassionately and so fully the rich complex of man’s behavior and his relationships. “Death of a Salesman” is a biting portrait, tempered with pity, of man’s illusions. One of America’s most distinguished actors, March matches the universality of the theme with a performance that shines with dignity and sheer humanity. “Death of a Salesman” was great on opened yesterday at the the stage; with March, it emerges even greater on the screen. The star transcends even his Academy Award-winning performances in “The Best Years of Our Lives” and “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.” “Death of a Salesman” is about Willy Loman, a salesman who _ believes that geniality, being well-liked, can carry a man along to success. He inculcates this belief in his sons instead of establishing in them an appreciation of more solid values. Biff, the football hero and ladies’ man, never quite grows up. Stirred by a restlessness he never understands, Biff wanders the country over, dropping one job for another, to become a major disappointment to his father. The other son, Happy, is content to chase women and to wallow in his minor niche in the commercial world. Willy himself is vaguely aware that he has only himself to blame for the failure of his sons, and his shallow philosophy of the need to be a Big Man is not proof against life itself. Even worse is Willy’s knowledge that he made one shattering mistake, seen by Biff, thus unleashing the overpowering surge of his dramatic, enthralling story. In addition to that of March, whose truly great performance matches the stature of the theme of “Death of a Salesman,” the Stanley Kramer production has the benefit of as fine a group of supporting performances as any the screen has ever seen. Mildred Dunnock, who created the role for the stage, is letter perfect as Willy’s wife, giving her characterization new insight on the screen. Kevin McCarthy, also a newcomer to the screen but a veteran in his part, which he played in the London stage production of “Death of a Salesman,” plays Biff, one of the two sons, and Cameron Mitchell also contributes a notable performance as the other son. Howard Smith, another “Death of a Salesman” stage veteran, is grand. The technique created by Kramer and his associates to bring “Death of a Salesman” to the screen is both new and exciting, but it achieves its dramatic purpose of illuminating the life of a man and his family with deadly impact. Stanley Roberts wrote the screen play, based upon the play by Arthur Miller as produced on the stage by Kermit Bloomgarden and Walter Fried. Laslo Benedek directed. “Death of Salesman’’ Mat 2-E; Still No. 108 FREDRIC MARCH and CLAIRE CARLETON are mirrored here in a scene from Columbia Pictures’ ‘‘Death of a Salesman,’’ new Stanley Kramer production based on the Pulitzer Prize play. The film is now at the . ... Theatre with Mildred Dunnock, Kevin McCarthy, Cameron Mitchell and Howard Smith in important featured roles. ‘Death of Salesman’ Won Pulitzer Prize Columbia Pictures’ “Death of a Salesman,” the Stanley Kramer production starring Fredric March, distinguished American actor and twice winner of the Academy Award, will have its local premiere at the.... Theatre starting .... The featured supporting cast includes Mildred Dunnock, Kevin McCarthy, Cameron Mitchell and Howard Smith. “Death of a Salesman,” said by Hollywood to be the most extraordinary motion picture of the year, is based upon the Pulitzer Prize winning play by Arthur Miller as produced on the stage by Kermit Bloomgarden and Walter Fried. The most honored play of our time, “Death of a Salesman” was directed, in its screen version, by Laslo Benedek. March twice won the Academy Award for his performances in “The Best Years of Our Lives” and “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.” ‘Salesman’ Greatest Fredric March Role One of the most difficult acting roles in Hollywood’s history went to Fredric March in Stanley Kramer’s production of “Death of a Salesman,” the Columbia picture now at the .... Theatre. As Willy Loman, the salesman, March had to follow a rigid shooting schedule, preceded by 10 days of rehearsal. March had the unprecedented total of 1125 lines of dialogue, in 388 separate speeches. Demands of the “Death of a Salesman” role were even more severe, with greater footage and dialogue, than in his two Motion Picture Academy Award winners for best acting, “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” and “The Best Years of Our Lives.” Featured players seen in support of March in “Death of a Salesman” are Mildred Dunnock, Kevin McCarthy, Cameron Mitchell and Howard Smith. Laslo Benedek directed the drama. ‘Death of a Salesman’ Film-Makers Wonder What Willy Loman Sells Willy Loman, the salesman who thrilled the world in the Pulitzer Prize-winning play, “Death of a Salesman,’ admits “there’s no line like Willy Loman’s.” At the same time, neither in the play nor in the Columbia Pictures’ screen version, the Stanley Kramer production starring Fredric March at the... . Theatre, is it revealed exactly what that “line” is. What does Willy Loman sell? Arthur Miller, who wrote the prize-winning play produced on the stage by Kermit Bloomgarden and Walter Fried, never did say what Willy Loman sells. In fact, the playwright refused one newspaper’s fabulous financial offer if he would reveal the secret. So Mildred Dunnock, Cameron Mitchell, Howard Smith and Don Keefer, all of whom appeared in the Broadway play, started their game all over again, on the Columbia lot. The film’s director, Laslo Benedek, who has a flair for logic, said: “Well, ‘Death of a Salesman’ does have several clues. Willy talks about selling certain department stores in New England. He mentions The Hub, Slattery’s and others. Whatever he sells, is sold by the gross, because he talks about selling so many gross. They must be items which can be carried in valises, because Fredric March, as Willy Loman, must carry those heavy black suitcases.” “Hum,” guessed March, “they can’t be dresses. No one sells dresses or clothes by the gross. Could it be costume jewelry?” “No,” answered Stanley Roberts, writer of the screen play, “no jewelry is carried in that type of bag.” The cast of “Death of a Salesman” would be grateful to anyone who might conceivably have a reasonably accurate guess. At the same time, it is recognized that only the author really knows— and he isn’t talking! p RL Neale tI SSN Aen AE ed CR TW Se as Me EON COWS AA eA ls ASAIN ae De EO Page 9