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Fire and passion infuse Arthur Millers earnest adaptation of master playwright Henrik Ibsens
An Enemy of the People. A small town in Norway is just seeing its first hint of prosperity, thanks to the burgeoning popularity of its healing springs. But Dr. Thomas Stockman discovers that the springs are polluted so badly that they will poison the towns first big wave of tourists. Shutting down the springs for renovation will cripple the town; keeping them open could spread an epidemic across Europe. It seems like a simple black-and-white situation, but it soon spirals out of control. No character is safe from Ibsens scourge--the motivations of wealthy conservatives, the liberal press, and even the Doctor himself are mercilessly laid bare. The play has obvious resonance with current political issues and is performed with such feeling and skill that it is sure to spark discussion, if not an argument or two. Though certainly satisfying for adults, anyone with children who are beginning to become politically aware should make this one a must-see.
--Ali Davis
Video Description
Adapted by master playwright Arthur Miller from Henrik Ibsen's groundbreaking 1882 play,
An Enemy of the People is a scathing indictment of a corrupt society. An idealistic doctor, played by 1966 Emmy-winner James Daly, discovers that the medicinal springs- source of a small Norwegian town's wealth and fame--are in fact poisoned. "Few dramas... clamor with as much present-day social relevance," declared
Variety. Veteran Broadway, screen, and television actress Kate Reid plays the doctor's indomitable wife who stands by him in the face of the town's hostility to his findings, as he becomes "an enemy of the people." "Few dramas...clamor with as much present-day social relevance."
--Variety