Hedda Gabler

A series of simple sketches of Eleonora Duse. .

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Boasting some of the finest stars of both stage and screen, this collection of BBC productions includes 10 filmed adaptations of Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen's finest plays. The six-disc set includes two versions of "The Master Builder"--a 1958 version starring Donald Wolfit and Marie Ney, and a 1988 filming with Leo McKern and Miranda Richardson; "Brand" (1959), with Patrick McGoohan; "Hedda Gabler" (1963), starring Ingrid Bergman; Denholm Elliott and Rosemary Leach in "The Wild Duck" (1971); "The Lady from the Sea" (1974), with Elliott and Eileen Atkins; "An Enemy of the People" (1980), starring Robert Urquhart; Diana Rigg and Anthony Hopkins in "Little Eyolf" (1982); "Ghosts" (1987), with Kenneth Branagh and Judi Dench; and Juliet Stevenson and Trevor Eve in "A Doll's House" (1992). 16 hrs. total. Standard; Soundtrack: English; radio plays.

The Henrik Ibsen Collection is simply astoundingly comprehensive. This compilation of BBC adaptations of Ibsen's work--plays essential to the dawn of modern theater--features television versions of nine of Ibsen's major plays (with two different versions of The Master Builder, with the arrogant architect played in 1958 by Donald Wolfit, then in 1988 by Leo McKern), with an additional seven of Ibsen's plays (including some rarely performed early works) presented in radio versions, along with an intriguing play about Ibsen, A Meeting in Rome, concerning the Norwegian dramatist's relationship with the bitter Swedish playwright August Strindberg, author of Miss Julie. But the collection's true value lies not in its completeness; these productions are never less than sturdy and some are grippingly dynamic, thanks to skillful direction and powerhouse casts. The tightly edited 1962 version of Hedda Gabler stars a magnetic Ingrid Bergman as the volatile heroine, fantastically paired with Michael Redgrave (The Importance of Being Earnest) as her mediocre husband and Ralph Richardson (The Fallen Idol) as their predatory family friend, his eyes glittering with lust for Hedda. Juliet Stevenson (Truly Madly Deeply) perfectly captures both the flightiness and the earnest passion of the Victorian wife of A Doll's House (though the script could have stood some editing for television). The blazing eyes of Patrick McGoohan (The Prisoner) drive the title character of Brand, a clergyman who destroys his own life through inflexible rectitude. In Little Eyolf, Anthony Hopkins (The Silence of the Lambs) and Diana Rigg (The Avengers) claw at each other as they suffocate in their unhappy marriage. The most visually striking production is Ghosts, starring Judi Dench (Iris), Michael Gambon (The Singing Detective), and Kenneth Branagh (Shackleton); this creepy tale of incest, adultery, and disease oozes Gothic claustrophobia. In some respects, Ibsen hasn't aged well. Many of the particular repressions and injustices he attacked have fallen (though often replaced by subtler forms), making some of these plays seem strident and overwrought. But the modernized adaptation of An Enemy of the People easily shows how hypocrisy and greed never go away--no stars here, just the sheer force of people acting out their worst instincts. And only someone heartless could remain unmoved by The Wild Duck, with a simple but devastating performance by Jenny Agutter (Logan's Run) as a girl watching her family destroyed by an intruder's idealism. Though Ibsen died over a hundred years ago, his plays still pack a punch. --Bret Fetzer

Ingrid Bergman plays the title role in this powerful adaptation of the Henrik Ibsen play. Newly married, Hedda (Bergman) is impatient for her husband (Michael Redgrave) to secure a prestigious job to improve their circumstances. When a former lover of Hedda's comes back into her life, the security of the couple's future is thrown into doubt. Trevor Howard, Ralph Richardson also star. 75 min. Standard; Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital mono. Also includes the bonus feature "The Lady from the Sea" (1974).

In one of the great dramatic roles in all of theater, the always magnificent Ingrid Bergman seethes with frustrated ambition. Hedda Gabler is a woman who, for financial security, has married an earnest and dutiful academic who lacks the passion and imagination that drive Hedda. When Eilert Lovborg (Trevor Howard, The Third Man), a former lover, returns to their city, she discovers that a new woman has rescued him from his alcoholism and given him the strength to write a brilliant book. Consumed with jealousy, Hedda seizes an opportunity to ruin Lovborg's life--and by doing so, places herself in the power of the glib and predatory Judge Brack (Ralph Richardson, The Fallen Idol), who longs to have his way with her. This 1963 British television version of Henrik Ibsen's Hedda Gabler is skillfully condensed into a taut 75 minutes, fantastically played by the superb cast (which also includes Michael Redgrave, The Importance of Being Earnest). Bergman and Richardson, in particular, draw out every drop of hidden resentment and lust. Accompanying Hedda Gabler is a 1974 adaptation of Ibsen's The Lady from the Sea, in which a mysterious man from the past threatens the marriage of an older doctor (Denholm Elliott, Raiders of the Lost Ark) and a younger woman (Eileen Atkins, Cold Comfort Farm). This solid production feels a bit stagey and the script could have been better edited for television, but it does capture the metaphysical chill of the stranger's presence and the drama of the young woman's craving for personal freedom. --Bret Fetzer

A woman ahead of her time, or a manipulative shrew? Diana Rigg delivers a powerful performance as Henrik Ibsen's celebrated heroine, who rails against the restrictions imposed upon her by 19th-century mores. Hedda's loveless marriage is further complicated when a former lover (Philip Bond) reappears and tragic consequences appear inevitable. Dennis Lill, Elizabeth Bell also star in this British drama. 78 min. Standard; Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital stereo.

The story of a 19th century woman who feels trapped in her marriage and overwhelmed by her own powerlessness, this 1981 television adaptation of Henrik Ibsen's play focuses on the interpersonal relationships of the newly married Hedda Gabler (Diana Rigg). Hedda returns from a lavish, extended honeymoon feeling out-of-sorts and yearning for stimulation. Instead, she encounters a dull life of ailing relatives, few social encounters, and day-to-day life in a house she never particularly liked with a husband whom she finds rather boring. The promise of excitement lures as Hedda, ex-heart-throb Eilert Lovborg (Philip Bond), school acquaintance Thea Elvsted (Elizabeth Bell), and local Judge Brack (Alan Dobie) are thrown together and begin to interact in an increasingly complicated and very personal manner. All is kept secret from Hedda's husband George Desmond (Denis Lill) and Hedda is initially exuberant and energized as a result of her new relationships, but she quickly comes to realize that she is not nearly as in control of the situation as she had imagined and, in the end, her sense of despair at her own powerlessness profoundly affects her future and the futures of those closest to her. Presented in four acts, this British production features talented actors and an effective combination of period costuming, sparse music, and simple photography. --Tami Horiuchi

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This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery.

Taken from the highly acclaimed Oxford Ibsen, this collection of Ibsen's plays includes A Doll's House, Ghosts, Hedda Gabler, and The Master Builder.About the Series: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the broadest spectrum of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, voluminous notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.

Four Major Plays: Volume I A Doll House The Wild Duck Hedda Gabler The Master Builder Among the greatest and best known of Ibsen’s works, these four plays brilliantly exemplify his landmark contributions to the theater: his realistic dialogue, probing of social problems, and depiction of characters’ inner lives as well as their actions. Rich in symbolism and often autobiographical, each of these dramas deals convincingly and provocatively with such universal themes as greed, fear, and sexual hostility, and confronts the eternal conflict between reality and illusion. These Rolf Fjelde translations have been widely acclaimed as the definitive versions of the major works of the father of modern theater. Translated and with a Foreword by Rolf Fjelde and a New Afterword by Joan Templeton

Presents an abridged version of Ibsen's play, Hedda Gabler, the story of a woman's tormented search for self-fulfillment in a world dominated by men. Directed by Philip Hedley; also stars Brian Protheroe, Rhys McConnerchie, Sam Kelly. Introduced by Irene Worth, translation by Christopher Hampton.

Photo Puzzle, PLAY/IBSEN/HEDDA GABLER. A series of simple sketches of Eleonora Duse. . Chosen by Mary Evans. 10x14 Photo Puzzle with 252 pieces. Packed in black cardboard box of dimensions 5 5/8 x 7 5/8 x 1 1/5. Puzzle image 5x7 affixed to box top. Puzzle pieces printed on RA4 paper at 300 dpi. This item is shipped from our American lab.