It is quite a sight to see. Ryder is a perfect Abigail, in whom lust and vengeance form a potent weapon. Though shunned by the more intelligent members of the community, her Abigail appeals to the desperate and fearful. You can see her transition from a simple girl who only wants a married man to a powerful controlling entity, and it is something to see. Day-Lewis' John Proctor, whose wife is the ultimate target, is the man who will do nothing until it is too late.
Every thought process is clear.
Every action taken makes sense. As the head of the judicial trinity, Paul Scofield is, to put it in one word, magnificent. His Judge Danforth, with weathered face and deep voice, resonates authority and control, even when he knows he is wrong. You can enjoy it just as a spectacle of a town gone wild.