Hedda Gabler: Play and Comparison - Movie Review Example

Hedda Gabler: Play -Movie Comparison Hedda Gabler, the famous play in world literature, was written by the Norwegian playwright Henrick Ibsen in theyear 1890 and there have been several movie versions of the play ever since its theatre production. A comparative analysis of the play and the movie versions of the classic work by Ibsen, an analysis of the work between the stage and the screen, helps one in realizing the superiority of the work by Ibsen and in appreciating its aesthetic value. In the theatrical version of the play, the role of Hedda is commonly regarded as one of the most important female dramatic roles ever written in world literature.

There have been several film-adaptations for the great work by Ibsen and the quality of these productions generally varies. However, in a close analysis of the original play Hedda Gabler by Ibsen and the movie reproductions, it becomes obvious to the observer that the original play has been far superior in characterization, strategy and the effect on the audience. In fact, the film version of the original play has been out of focus at large and it is criticized for being blatantly misguided, spectacularly muddleheaded, and ultimately infuriating production.

Therefore, a comparative analysis of the play Hedda Gabler and its movie version emphasizes the original play by Ibsen is far superior to the movie version and it points to the superior craftsmanship of the Norwegian playwright. Hedda Gabler has been generally acknowledged as one of the most significant plays ever to have been written in world literature and its great success across the globe has been due to the sheer merit of Ibsen's mastery over art. From the silent film era of the early 1910s to the present day, this play has been adapted for screen numerous times and in several languages.

However, none of these film adaptations was able to supersede the success or the merit of the play by Ibsen and the movies have been criticized for several factors. Thus, the Roundabout's movie production of Hedda Gabler has been criticized for being blatantly misguided, spectacularly muddleheaded, and ultimately infuriating production. "Dragged screaming into fifties New England, it is turned out into cheap melodrama played out in some no man's land. Ibsen's 1890 play is one of his subtlest constructs, made up almost entirely of hints, suggestions, and implications [Here] every detail is pregnant with consequence: one could say that Hedda is Ibsen's most Flaubertian play.

" (Simon, 53) Therefore, there have been invigorating evidences about the superior quality of the play by Ibsen in comparison to its film versions. Unlike the suggestive character of the play, the movie director presents the actors emphasizing, underlining, telescoping, and clobbering, everything that should thrive on adumbration and insinuation. Similarly, the audience is treated like a bunch of retardates for whom things must be explained more than enacted, and then reiterated. "This may be patronizing to the audience; it is certainly an insult to Ibsen.

" (Simon, 53) Even the actors have contributed to the discourteous presentation of the Ibsen's play and the entire film version has presented the story as comic-strip vices rather than socially relevant topic. In conclusion, the film adaptations of the original play Hedda Gabler by Ibsen have not succeeded in surpassing the merit of the theatrical version, but the movie as well as its crew has contributed in destroying the true worth of Ibsen and his classic play. Work Cited Simon, John. "Classics into Clinkers.

" New York Magazine. Vol. 27. Iss. 28. 1994. P 53.