Death of a Salesman (1985): Cast & Plot
Death of a Salesman is a 1985 drama directed by Volker Schlöndorff, starring Dustin Hoffman as Willy Loman, Kate Reid and Jon Polito. It runs 2 hours 10 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 2h 10m (130 min)
- Director
- Volker Schlöndorff
- Genre
- Drama
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Punch Productions
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Death of a Salesman About?
The premise of Death of a Salesman without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Willy Loman, an over‑the‑hill salesman, confronts a personal crisis after being fired. He strives to reconcile with his long‑suffering wife Linda and his troubled sons, Biff and Happy, while confronting the loss of his identity and the strain it places on his family life. The drama captures his intense struggle for peace and dignity.
Death of a Salesman Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- salesman
- traveling salesman
- refrigerator
- based on play
- wire recorder
- fountain pen
- man wears eyeglasses
- death in title
- teleplay adapted by author
- chevrolet
- theft
- actor recreates his stage role
+38 more Show fewer
- actress recreates her stage role
- aging
- capitalism
- begging for money
- insurance fraud
- worn out
- drummer
- employer employee relationship
- neighbor neighbor relationship
- prostitute
- apparition
- father son conflict
- dispute
- weariness
- chat up
- cash
- lack of money
- graveyard
- crying man
- tears
- restaurant
- memory
- kitchen
- husband wife relationship
- football
- flashback
- absent mindedness
- reflection
- kleptomaniac
- intimacy
- american football
- marriage
- windshield
- waiter
- tire
- self deprecation
- scheme
- road accident
Death of a Salesman Cast & Characters
Dustin Hoffman leads the cast as Willy Loman, with Kate Reid as Linda Loman and Jon Polito as Howard. Directed by Volker Schlöndorff; 12 actors are credited in all.
-
Director Volker Schlöndorff
-
Dustin Hoffman as Willy Loman -
Kate Reid as Linda Loman - Jon Polito as Howard
-
John Malkovich as Biff Loman
Also Starring in Death of a Salesman
· 8 more- Kathryn Rossetter Woman from Boston
- Louis Zorich Ben Loman
- Stephen Lang Harold 'Happy' Loman
- Charles Durning Charley
- David Chandler Bernard
- Tom Signorelli Stanley
- Linda Kozlowski Miss Forsythe
- Karen Needle Letta
More from Volker Schlöndorff
More films directed by Volker Schlöndorff, best-rated first: Strike, Diplomacy, The Tin Drum and The Ninth Day.
Death of a Salesman Plot Summary
What happens in Death of a Salesman from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 13 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 5-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Willy Loman returns home exhausted after a canceled business trip, his mind still clouded by fatigue and worry. His wife Linda Loman speaks with a calm, practical voice, suggesting that he talk to his boss, Howard Wagner, about moving his work base to their own city so he won’t have to endure constant travel. Willy’s mind immediately drifts to their son, Biff Loman, who is visiting, and he laments that Biff—despite a bright high-school promise as an athlete—never completed senior year math, never went to college, and therefore never hit the kind of success their family once envisioned.
Full summary
The whole story of Death of a Salesman, scene by scene
How Well Do You Know Death of a Salesman?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What is the name of Willy Loman's wife?
Cars in Death of a Salesman
2 cars on screen: the 1929 Essex Coupe and the 1940 Studebaker Champion.
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1929 Essex Coupe Important role -
1940 Studebaker Champion Important role
Death of a Salesman Also Known As
17 alternative titles, including “推銷員之死” and “Смерть коммивояжера”.
- Also known as
-
- 推銷員之死
- Смерть коммивояжера
- En handelsresandes död
- Tod eines Handlungsreisenden
- Morte di un commesso viaggiatore
- Mort d'un commis voyageur
- Muerte de un viajante
- Az ügynök halála
- 推销员之死
- Śmierć komiwojażera
- Satıcının Ölümü
- 세일즈맨의 죽음
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- Смъртта на търговския пътник
- Morte do Caixeiro Viajante
- Smrt obchodního cestujícího
- La mort d’un viatjant
- อวสานของ...เซลส์แมน
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Death of a Salesman FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of Death of a Salesman, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Death of a Salesman?
Death of a Salesman runs 2 hours 10 minutes (130 minutes).
When was Death of a Salesman released?
Death of a Salesman was released on August 16, 1985.
Who directed Death of a Salesman?
Death of a Salesman was directed by Volker Schlöndorff.
More films by Volker Schlöndorff Who is in the cast of Death of a Salesman?
Death of a Salesman stars Dustin Hoffman as Willy Loman, Kate Reid as Linda Loman and Jon Polito as Howard, among 12 credited actors.
Does Death of a Salesman have a post-credit scene?
No. Death of a Salesman has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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