The Crucible, written by Arthur Miller, is a great play based on the Salem Witch Trials. From the beginning scene in the woods to the final hanging scene in the end, the film was just as good or even better than the original play. The film is definitely a good tool in the learning process because it transforms a thought into a picture. When someone sees a scene in the movie, and remembers it from the play it is good reinforcement. The film, in my opinion, was better because it is hard to read emotion. A perfect example would be the courtroom scene between Reverend Hale and the judges. He is trying to convince them that John Proctor is telling the truth about the girls lying. His emotion is so hard to explain that it is almost impossible to put on paper.
During some scenes in the play, the setting seems a little blurry. It gave a quick description, and that was all the reader had to work with. For example, in Act III, the reader is told that the act takes place in the courtroom. It then goes on, with the reader having to visualize what he thinks a courtroom looks like even though he or she has never seen a courtroom of 1692. Other than that, the setting was very accurate in accordance to the storyline.
On screen, many scenes were effective, but the most effective was when Danforth and Hale tried to get Proctor to sign a confession that he had "trafficked" with The Devil. This scene is effective because Proctor knows that he never dealt with The Devil, yet people want him to sign to save his life. So he signs it and shows it to the judge, but refuses to give it to him. Proctor doesn't give Danforth the confession because all he has left in his life are his name and his pride. He isn't about to give them away to be nailed to the church door. He rips it up in their faces showing that his name and pride will not be taken so easily.
By adding the witchcraft and hanging scenes, Miller makes the play seem more complete.