a standard 1940 group of ensemble player and couple with strength of an arthur miller project . all of the cast principle and minor player as well be at the top of their form when they stand before the camera . none be note a powerful stage actor in their own right . yet when they appear in this film and they succeed in do what i think a film of a major stage work should do . carry the viewer into the stage ( not film ) theater and and give him or her the unique experience of a broadway or off broadway theater seat . the production style and direction and ( for reason of cost and utility ) let the word of miller play take center stage . the art and set direction and in beautiful black and white and be spare and firm and and command . they command our attention . miller be big on attention to the issue his character be grapple with and their impact on the great issue of our ( and all ) time . a miller repeat in death of a salesman and there be layer upon layer of meaning and understanding between his character and the issue they confront both internally and externally . the two business partner have have a long and intimate and family relationship ( like cain and able ) . so close a relationship and that his son could have marry his partner daughter . and she of course and be the only one who have always know ( from that son ) the truth about the death of the son . and the truth ( s ) about the father . miller show u that the father horatio alger lie be so much at the foundation of who we be individually and collectively a american while the they can almost completely wash out what individual and a community should think about it leading citizen . it be an interesting plot twist that a miller script point out and it be the low class birth and poverty of the father embed him into the fabric of the community . that the film faithfully carry miller message of contempt and loathe not only for the worship of that false god ( capitalism ) and but also for the whole horatio alger hero myth ( that both american liberal and conservative embrace ) be quite dare . even for a film world that have not yet descend into the long night of the black list .