CAIRO- 16 August 2017: On this day in 1985, CBS premiered the TV adaptation of the award-winning book ‘Death of a Salesman’.
‘Death of a Salesman’ is a play written by Arthur Miller, a playwright and a prominent figure of American theater, in 1949. Many consider this play “the greatest play of the 20th century.” The story tells of old Willy Loman the salesman’s “identity crisis” through a series of flashbacks. It reenacts his memories, dreams, confrontations, and arguments.
The play highlights how individuals can be deeply defined by individual events in their lives. The flashback builds up until the moment where the salesman ends his life. Willy is a self-centered man who regrets not taking wealth and better life opportunities.
He propped this false perfect image of himself to others, including his family, to the extent that he started believing it too. However in reality his family dislikes him because he is never around due to his job.
Death of a Salesman was honored a Pulitzer Prize for Drama and a Tony Award for Best Play.
The TV adaptation of the play stars the award winning Dustin Hoffman as Willy Loman. For his role on ‘Death of a Salesman’, Hoffman received a Primetime Emmy Award for Best Lead Actor in Miniseries or Special in 1985 and a Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actor in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television in 1985.
The adaptation stars other actors including Kate Reid, John Malkovich, Stephen Lang, Charles Durning and Louis Zorich.
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