Hedda Gabler (1981) (TV)

User Rating:

6.5/10   

Director:

David Cunliffe

Writers:

Henrik Ibsen (play)
John Osborne (adaptation)

Release Date:

3 March 1981 (UK)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Hedda Gabler is a beautiful woman married to the solid and respectable academic George Tesman. Then an old flame, the dreamer Eilert Lovborg, turns up on the scene with tragic results.

Plot Keywords:

Manuscript | Loveless Marriage | Alcoholic | Aunt | Jealousy

Cast

Elizabeth Bell	...	Thea Elvsted
Philip Bond	...	Eilert Løvborg
Kathleen Byron	...	Juliana Tesman
Alan Dobie	...	Judge Brack
Denis Lill	...	George Tesman (as Dennis Lill)
Diana Rigg	...	Hedda Gabler
Rosalie Williams	...	Berthe

Runtime:

78 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Company:

Trident Television

Quotes:

Judge Brack: Every respectible home is going to be closed to Eilert Lovborg from now on. As a friend of the family I can't help saying that it would be well more than a little painful if this gentleman should find any haven here. If he should try to invade...
Hedda Gabler: [holding her hand up in complete understanding] Eh, triangle?
Judge Brack: Precisely. It would render me homeless.
Hedda Gabler: Ah, yes. A roost but no room.
Judge Brack: That's not what I've looked for, and I'll see to it that I get what I have.
Hedda Gabler: How dangerous you are when the last bits are made!
Judge Brack: Think so?
Hedda Gabler: I'm beginning to now. I'm only thankful you have no hold on me.
Judge Brack: Oh, just imagine what it could lead to!
Hedda Gabler: [laughs] Threatening sounds really don't go with your appearance at all!
[...]

Great adaptation

My Western literature teacher had us watch this movie for class, and I was quite impressed. The acting is excellent: Diana Rigg was a perfect Hedda and everyone else was great too. The set and camera-work work wonderfully for telling the story (the setting is crucial to "Hedda Gabler"-they allow the audience to be close up and personal with the characters. The costumes were also lovely-Rigg looks amazing in every scene. The only problem I can see is the Isben mentioned in his stage notes that George Tesman was supposed to be fair (as is Thea Elvsted)and Ejlert Løvborg was supposed to be dark (as is Hedda) to emphasize the difference between the two sets of characters. I recommend this to anyone who is a fan of the play.