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Garlands film adaptation of the play; A Doll’s House

Garlands film adaptation of the play; A Doll’s House

The British 1973 movie adaptation of Ibsen’s play, which was directed by Patrick Garland, produced by Hillard Elkins, written by Christopher Hampton (based off of Ibsen’s play) and starred Claire Bloom and Anthony Hopkins, was as far as film adaptations go, rather good all things in all. I personally think even though I typically wouldn’t watch this film normally in my spare time, by the end of the film it tied together nicely. As far as accuracy goes comparing to the play I think it was very similar and didn’t stray far from the original script. The actual script of the film was very similar to the play itself, it also kept with the same language used in the original text. The setting itself in this film was very limited with a few main set locations most of which being in the home of Nora and Torvald📷 and Mr Krogstad’s shack. I am sure this is due to filming for this movie was done in Elstree Studios in the UK (Borehamwood, Hertfordshire), compared to Joseph Losey’s film adaption in the same year, which was filmed in a small Norwegian town, Røros. The other film adaptation was clearly in a more accurate location compared to Garlands one, as the original play was to be set in a small town in Norway, which Garlands adaptation was done in a studio. The setting Garland chose was not perfect, however the set design itself seemed to work rather well with the main stages being the drawing room and office/ study. It did definitely give more of a video recorded play though, which I personally think does make it rather accurate comparing to the play, however it didn’t feel like a film adaptation because of this. This choice made it more like they simply recorded a live play just without the noises of an audience. Other critiques agree with this idea like Robert C. Cumbow who also sees it as just a recorded play rather than an adaptation. In a more positive view, he did say that he liked the casting too which I agree with however, I don’t agree with all his points as he seems to also say how it has too much focus on modern day feminism rather than capitalism. This only really becomes apparent when you get to the end in, Nora’s speech does it that idea even become apparent (of course apart from moments that are just historically accurate about working women having to be widows). I though still see the elements of capitalism as the character Mr Krogstad shows the cruel side of capitalism, I think this adaptation showed both feminism and the evils of capitalism which are both important topics and both touched on in Ibsen’s play. he seems to suggest that as a bad thing as well, but I like others saw the touch of feminism as a good thing. I myself was definitely happy with Nora’s speech and how she leaves.

📷I think the costumes in this adaptation are pretty accurate and perfect for this play, I really like the casting and costume design, the costumes were not overly exaggerated and had a much more simplistic feel to them. Nora’s corset dress which she wore the majority of the film being black with white frills at the neck and a small black bow at the neck too, with small flowers as a pattern, her costume clean and pretty like a doll and something that would’ve been worn at the time typically. Along with Nora’s costume the children were all very neat with bows on also like doll’s, which ultimately helps tie into the ending speech by Nora on how she is a doll, and her children are her dolls she likes to dress up.

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The ending scene between Nora and Torvald as Nora’s secret is unveiled to Torvald resulting in loud dispute between them.

This scene is a perfect display of conflict in the play, especially later when it draws to Nora’s speech as it shows how different Torvald and Nora think. The begging of the conflict is aggression from Torvald towards Nora as he finds out she owes money to a man (Mr Krogstad) that out of desperation has threatened Torvald to keep his position in the bank Torvald is in charge of📷. This conflict scene really pushes through the themes of how cruel capitalism is as Mr Krogstad is blackmailing Torvald out of desperation to keep his minimum wage job just to scrape by to survive and take care of his two sons in his rundown apartment that is in a shack. It also ties in the theme of feminism too especially in Nora’s speech of her above all else she is a “human being just as much as [Torvald]”, at the mentions of her “sacred duties”, them being her “duties” to her husband, house, and children.

📷Focusing on the earlier conflict in the beginning of the last twenty minutes of the film where Torvald loses it at Nora for being a “stupid woman” by borrowing money from Mr Krogstad to save his life and in this process she forged her fathers signature since he dies. Torvalds rage is purely selfish however as it is his fear for his reputation, his rage spirals as he yells and hits objects around the drawing room and eventually even hits Nora, which Nora stays in silent shock through the entire ordeal as this is helping to further the conflict later. This interaction leads her to realise he is not the man she loves and how both she and him do not understand one and another. After the issue is supposably resolved by a letter from Krogstad after the verbal abuse Torvald hurled at Nora minutes ago changes to happiness only on Torvalds half. By the remaining ten minutes of the film Nora’s demeanour changes to cooler and harsher as her monologue in the film begins, she confesses she does not love Torvald anymore. Her monologue is more of a back and forth between the two but in this half she has the majority of the speech differing from earlier when it was just Torvald having the majority of speech while being aggressive in a fit of rage. This scene/ part in the film for me was rather satisfying to watch as Nora is showing herself as assertive and determined not changing her mind. I definitely see this half of the conflict as feminist especially as she challenges Torvalds idea of what her sacred duties were supposed to be as she believed her most sacred duty was to herself as she was a human not just a “wife” or just a “mother” or even a “doll” but a human. So, her resolve is to leave Torvald and learn of the world on her own, to be her own person. As she leaves she seems calm and happy with her choice, and I believe this conflict scene doesn’t stray far from the original script in Ibsen’s play and doesn’t seem like an aggressive conflict (only aggressive on Torvalds side) however the idea of them both not seeing or hearing each other is what leads to the ultimate end of her leaving. The ending creates a satisfying resolve to the dispute/ argument between the two characters.