"American Playhouse" Three Sovereigns for Sarah (1985)

User Rating:

6.7/10   

Director:

Philip Leacock

Writer:

Victor Pisano (writer)

TV Series:

"American Playhouse" (1982)

Original Air Date:

27 May 1985

Genre:

Biography | Drama | History

Plot:

Plot Keywords:

Family Relationships | Satan | Justice | Minister | Hysteria

Cast

Vanessa Redgrave	...	Sarah Cloyce
Kim Hunter	...	Mary Easty
Will Lyman	...	Rev. Parris
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Buffy Baldauf	...	Mercy Lewis
Les Barden	...	Ipswich Jailer
Hamilton Benz	...	Israel Portor
Barbara Blossom	...	Lydia
Judy Braha	...	Elizabeth Parris
Stacey Caplin	...	Bette Parris
Christopher Childs	...	Rev. Noyes
Jim Chiros	...	Jailer / Guard
Mara Clark	...	1st Matron
Bijou Clinger	...	Sarah Good
Bob Colonna	...	Judge Corwin
Shay Duffin	...	Judge Hathorne
John Dukakis	...	Joseph Putman
Jennifer Dundas	...	Anne Putnam Jr. (as Jennie Dundas)
Martha Farrar	...	2nd Matron
Rebecca Fasanello	...	Liz Hubbard
Richard Grusin	...	Sargeant
David Hannegan	...	1st Magistrate
Ronald Hunter	...	Samuel Nurse
John Kelly	...	Giles Cory
Karol Kostka	...	2nd Minister
Richard Joseph Lafond Jr.	...	Youth
Victor Magnotta	...	Executioner
Patrick McGoohan	...	Chief Magistrate
Judy McIntyre	...	Farmer's Wife
Jessica Pisano	...	Jailer's Daughter
Maryann Plunkett	...	Anne Putnam Sr.
Sigmund Polozny	...	1st Minister
Dana Putnam	...	Dorcy Good
Harriet Rogers	...	Hana
John Savoia	...	Sheriff
Brian Smiar	...	Sargeant's Ass't
Sylvia Anne Soares	...	Tituba
Donald Symington	...	Peter Cloyce
Phyllis Thaxter	...	Rebecca Nurse
Rino Thunder	...	John Indian
Derek Till	...	2nd Magistrate
Maria Todd	...	Mary Wolcott
Daniel von Bargen	...	Thomas
Kyrsha Wildasin	...	Abigail Williams
William Young	...	Dr. Griggs

Runtime:

171 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

Iceland:16 | UK:15

Filming Locations:

Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Company:

American Playhouse

Trivia:

Patrick McGoohan took over the role of the Chief Magistrate at short notice, to replace 'Mason, James' who died shortly before shooting was scheduled to begin.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Divine Magic: The Witch Hunt (1995) (TV)

Best depiction of the Salem Witchcraft sagas I've seen.

I lived in Ipswich, Massachusetts, and received a letter of referral and recommendation from Harvard University to review the original historical documents pertaining to the Salem Witchcraft Trials. I have done extensive research regarding the episodes, and I have visited the original sites documented in the film. Portions of the mini-series were shot at my friend's home in Wenham, MA. (The ropes for the hangings are still hung in my friend's back-yard tree!) Redgrave does an excellent job of portraying a fictional, yet accurate figure who convinces the viewer that the witchcraft trials really had nothing to do with "witchcraft." My house that I lived in is actually featured--and because it was built in 1774, it is more or less historically portrayed. The scenes where Redgrave is imprisoned struck home because the "moors" where she is suffering are cold, horrid, and subject to all sorts of the elements. This is a "movie" (read: mini-series) that has stuck with me for years and years. The lengthy portrayal is not only accurate, but dramatically and cinematographically superb. You won't be disappointed if you view it, and I wouldn't be surprised if you bought the video to keep for your library.