When reading Ibsen’s text of Hedda Gabler, the story seems to move rather smoothly. I get a clear picture of the characters and an understanding of what I think I’m supposed to be understanding. However, if not for reading the text first, I don’t think I would’ve been able to follow the film. Granted, one watching should understand the context but it just did not seem to jump out at me like the text. The text provides us with a relatively full picture of Hedda which I could just not find in the film. Hedda clearly has high standards, but the film lacks to point out how much of a factor Hedda is to Tesman. Tesman would go to great lengths to please Hedda, which we do see in the film; Hedda’s displeasure and what Tesman has done or is doing in an attempt to curb that displeasure. What is clear from the outset is Hedda’s ability to manipulate Tesman and even Aunt Julle.

What is also evident throughout the film is the more colloquial language being used. I’m not sure of the reasoning for that, but the language of Ibsen’s text reads more freely and allows the reader to concentrate on the story more so than interpreting the possible meaning of the text. Perhaps it was trying to emphasize the high class of the setting and to really paint a picture around Hedda. The free language of the text also frees up the ability for the reader to establish the relationships between the characters, while the more difficult conversation in the film either allows them more time to develop the characters before a relationship becomes clear or completely draws out the relationship for you.

I believe both forms serve their own purpose in the end. The text is meant to be up for interpretation so it can be altered and developed into what we see in this film. Films, on the other hand, are that writer’s or director’s personal adaptation of the selected text; something that will always be up for discussion in the world of films.

The opening of the play “Hedda Gabler” in both the film version and the written version were very similar. For the most part, the film kept much of the dialogue the same – borderline exact – as Henrik Ibsen had it. There were a few small parts that were omitted from the film version, like the part when Juliana Tesman (Aunt Julie) comments about the furniture having no slipcovers. Though it was a small part, it had affected how I first viewed Aunt Julie. In the written version, upon seeing the furniture had no covers, she had said to Berta (the maid) “What’s this now? Why have you taken all the slipcovers off the furniture?…Are they going to use this as their everyday living room?” Here she came across somewhat judgmental. There was an air of disapproval about her. Yet watching her in the film, I didn’t get any impression of that sort – instead she seemed extremely kind and caring and likeable, going out of her way to try and impress Hedda. Had I not seen how she acted in the film, there would have been a part of me that sympathized with Hedda because Aunt Julie had at first appeared critical of her.
Another way that the film was different was in how Hedda was portrayed. It wasn’t that she was portrayed any differently in the written version vs in the film – she still had the same arrogance, the same cold, unlikeable exterior. But in the film, it was a lot more embellished, which I think really helped add to how Ibsen wanted her character represented. For example, in the very beginning when Hedda wakes up and comes downstairs to where her husband and Aunt Julie are waiting, the written part describes her first encounter as her “entering from the left side of the inner room” and “extending her hand” to Aunt Julie. However, in the film version, we see Hedda come down the stairs, see Aunt Julie, and turn as if to walk away and completely avoid her. Aunt Julie catches sight of her, which is when she is almost forced to come in and greet her. Just the little things like that made Hedda’s true character become even more evident to me as the viewer, and added more dimension to her personality.

Hedda Gabler: Comparing the film to the text

I have always enjoyed watching the film versions of stories after reading them. In doing so, I find that it is quite common for directors to keep the same plot but tweak characters and the roles that they play throughout the film. After forming my own interpretations from reading the text,  it was interesting to see how certain characters were portrayed in the film version. After watching the film version of Hedda Gabler, I found certain character changes to have a significant effect on how I viewed the main character, Hedda throughout the story. The film did a better job at capturing her true emotions. It emphasized Hedda’s dishonesty towards men even more so than the text. Something that I did not fully grasp from the text was just how manipulative her personality was. Of course the text did describe her as cunning, but the film was able to truly shift my attention to this. In addition, while reading Hedda Gabler, I understood Hedda to be much younger than she seems in the film version. The text actually tells us that she is twenty-nine years old, whereas in the film she seems much older. From this information, I was more focused on her youth and beauty while reading. However, while watching the film I was more fixated on her influence as this dishonest and calculating character. Another significant change in the film version was the absence of Berta. Berta, the Tessman’s housemaid, was given a larger role in the text. In the film she seems to be much less significant. Overall I enjoyed watching the film after reading Hedda Gabler. It was interesting to see the alterations of the main character Berta, while forming new interpretations of the play as a whole.

Whenever a novel, play, or story is adapted to film, the outcome is always different. The picture product could be better or worse, with the entirety of the text being translated well. As I watched the film version, George Tesman came off as a very cheerful, loving man who wants to please both his Aunt Tesman and wife Hedda. He praised to Aunt Tesman about Hedda that she has become even more beautiful and filled out, an odd topic to mention to a family member. The film version does help visualize the play, allowing us to see the motions that Hedda goes through. Her hand gestures, facial expressions, and tone allow us to see that she is a self-centered and irritable woman. She is surrounded by Tesman’s family and friends, people who she can call “strangers.” The people that interact with Hedda seem to be on their toes. This is because of her status and elegance that is seen in both the play and film. Bertha shows this with her concern as to whether or not she’ll be able to satisfy her.
When Hedda made the comment about Aunt Tesman’s hat thinking it was Bertha’s, “Look, she’s left her old hat lying there on the chair” (788) in the play, the film version showed Aunt Bertha more hurt about the comment than the play. In the play, I interpreted Aunt Bertha not being so much bothered by Hedda’s assumption and tries to play off the misunderstanding politely, while in the film, her facial expressions tell a different story.  She had tried to impress Hedda, not wanting her to feel ashamed, only for her plan to fail.
Being that this was filmed in 1963, the overall setting of the living room was not reproduced well into film. In setting the scene, “The sun shines in through the glass door,” this however was not noticeable because the film is in black and white, making the scene look bleak, unlike a beautiful, sunny morning.

In the play for Hedda Gabler there is very little room for interpretation with so much being written as far as describing how the set looks and the movements of the characters. With so much detail in the play of how the character is so supposed to move and what he is suppose to say it is quite easy to get an image of how the character where to look and act if it were to be adapted in to film. When watching the film small details that do not follow the text can be spotted such as changes in the lay out of the set. These are very small changes that does not seem to take away from the story, but there are some acting choices that when reading the play you envisioned a certain way but was acted differently that sometimes strengthens the idea you have a particular character. For example the relationship between Tesman and his aunt Miss Juliane Tesman when reading it in the beginning I interpreted their first official reunion to be one in which Tesman was not so happy, because he in the text it gives the directions of Tesman “shaking his aunts hands” which gives out in impression of being cold and informal but in the movie he greets her with open arms and a kiss hello. With this small change of direction for me it changed the entire relationship between the two to be one of genuine love instead of this confused vision that i had of him being concerned for his aunt and not to thrilled with her being there. Another action change that although subtle gives a bigger impact than words is when the first meeting between Aunt Tesman and Hedda with Tesman present in the text both Tesman and his aunt are speaking about Hedda and how fortunate he feels about his marriage and he see Hedda coming from afar and acknowledges her presence. While in the film when Hedda is coming down the stairs and she sees Tesman and his aunt she attempts to walk in a different direction but is seen by Aunt Julie and is obligated to make conversation with them. This change in direction here strengthens the image of dislike or discomfort that Hedda has towards Aunt Julie and it shoes how a small change in direction can enhance the text.

A picture paints a thousand words.  The film really helps me to better understand the play. due to the unfamiliar historical Victorian culture background and the 19-century language which caused lot difficulties for me to understand the whole play.   The author, Henrik Ibsen, loves writing female as the main character in his play.  This film directed by Alex Segal with Ingrid Bergman’s excellent performance indeed build an impression in my mind. Ingrid’s performance demonstrates complete understanding and ownership of the role of Hedda Gabler, so completely that it almost seems that Ibsen had her in mind for this role.  Before watch the film, just by reading the story, I see Hedda Gabler is like a spoiled rich family-grown young lady with a strong arrogant and affected attitude to everyone who are not as rich as she is.  However, from the film, Ingrid Bergman portrays Hedda Gabler as a sensitive, hopeless, and desperate woman. There are several changes that the film made changes to the original text. First, in the film, when Ms. Berta appears, she is burning fire at the fire place, on another side, in the text there is nothing mention about fire.  This change to me is that the film makes trying to put a foreshadowing to the audience. Fire is a very common used element in literature can represent anger, passion, love, pain or death.  Especially this fire is in the beginning of the film which will definitely catch the audience’s attention to predict the future of the play.  Another big change to me that the film made from the text is, when Hedda Gabler holds a rectangle box appears from the bedroom, she tried to walk away as soon as she sees Ms. Tesman in the living room with her husband.  This part the book has no mention too.  However, I love this change of the film, although just a movement by Hedda Gabler, it is a very detailed piece of showing Hedda’s isolation from the family.  Plus, she walks directly to her General father’s photo.

The film version of Hedda Gabler does a great job recreating Ibsen’s text. Such a good job in fact, that the film was nearly exactly how I had imagined the story in my head. Between the two, there are a few differences that struck me. Immediately, I was surprised that the actors playing Mr. Tesman and Hedda seem significantly older than what is mentioned in the text. On page 783, we learn that George Tesman is thirty three years old, and on page 786 we learn that Hedda Gabler is twenty nine years old. If I had to guess, I would say that the actors are approximately ten years older than the characters that they are portraying. As far as the content of the film goes, there are a few insignificant text edits, like in the text when George Tesman asks Hedda to call his aunt Auntie, but in the film he only asks her to be more affectionate towards his aunt. Her response is the same in both. The only big difference that stands out to me is my perception of how Hedda treats George Tessman’s aunt, as well as how she seems to feel when George Tessman is telling his aunt how he believes that Hedda has “filled out nicely”. In the text, I get the impression that Hedda is incredibly rude to George Tesman’s aunt to the point where I feel resent towards Hedda because of the way she treats family. In the film version,  while Hedda is not the best host, I do not feel resent towards her because we can see her smile towards George Tesman’s aunt. She also does not order the aunt to close the curtains, George does it. The film version of Hedda is much more apologetic when she mistakes the hat to be the maid’s. In the film, I can sense Hedda’s insecurity when George Tesman and his aunt are admiring her. This is not present for me in the text.

There are many differences between the original play Hedda Gabler by Henrik Ibsen and the screen adaptation. Just the scene itself is described differently in the play than shown in the movie. The drawing room furniture is shown to be arranged in a different manner than described in the play. The room is supposed to be large and spacious, but seems more condensed together in the film, plus the piano was not shown either, which takes out the part where Hedda has a problem with the piano. Everything in the movie is also quite sped up, assuming just to fit the plot into the allotted time. However, some parts from the play were taken out of the film, such as when Tessman was walking his aunt out the door, there was a line taken out of Hedda’s dialogue, but instead her husband just tells Hedda to be nicer to the aunt. The characters are better portrayed in the written play because the words are able to describe the characters more thoroughly. Hedda’s personality and attitude towards the other characters are better shown in the play than the film, especially her attitude toward Aunt Juliana. The discomfort and constant disregard toward her is not really shown in the film compared to the play. Hedda is shown as a more negative character in the text, but this cannot truly be seen in the film adaptation. She lacks any kind of proper affection or care for anyone in the family, including her husband, which is better shown in the movie, compared to the play. Overall, the film is a good representation of the play in many aspects.

When comparing the text of Hedda Gabler to the film, the most noticeable differences were seen through character development. I read the textual version first in order to develop my own, uninfluenced visuals of the text. The written version dives in depth to describe Hedda and the type of character that she is. Any situation that happens during the opening scene of this text shows how Hedda feels and how the scenarios relate to her. The text gave me a strong sense that Hedda is a stuck up and rather disrespectful person. One example of her personality was given to us by the introduction of her old friend, Mrs. Elvsted. She shares of how Hedda used to tease her by pulling her hair and things alike. Hedda however completely disregarded her friend and changes the topic. Another example of Hedda being outright disinterested and disrespectful is when Tesman wants to present Jurgen’s old slippers to her. As made obvious by the text, Hedda is an upper class woman that Tesman is eager to please. He tries to use the slippers to entice her, however, he fails miserablh when she pays no mind to the slippers. She even interrupts him to inform Aunt Julie that the hat she is wearing is ugly. She continues to insult her by saying she thought the hat belonged to the maid. Furthermore, the text painted a very vivid image of Hedda and her relationship with the rest of the characters.

On the other hand, I felt that the text did not dive as deeply when describing the character Hedda. In the film version, a lot of the dialogue and textual evidence that tells the audience who Hedda is was missing. Instead, the actions the characters took told us about her personality instead of words. For example, you can see that aunt Julie was offended by Hedda’s comments not through what she says but by how she acts. In the film, she offers a minimal verbal response and scolds Hedda. We see through her appearance that the ladies are displeased with each other. Resultantly, in terms of character development the film and text both have a lot to offer, however they present it in different ways. While the texts shows a lot of examples to paint a picture, the film uses visuals to fill gaps in the dialogue.

When I first saw that this assignment required comparing and contrasting a written text of “Hedda Gabler” to a film version, I was immediately intrigued. Many times throughout my life I have read some book where a film was created depicting it soon after, and my excitement for the film would ultimately end in disappointment after seeing the way the director decided to interpret the text. This was not the case however with the play of “Hedda Gabler”, and Alex Segal’s interpretation of Henrik Ibsen’s original text in his film. The most essential part of comparing the film and the text is to see how the major/dynamic characters are depicted in the text compared to the film. In this regard, there is consistency with the main characters from the play to the film. Hedda Gabler is a narcissist who clearly shows distaste for anyone she believes is not as good as her. The only difference is that in the film the audience is able to see her body language and facial expressions which adds even more to the thoughts we have of her while reading the text. It is clear that Ibsen and Segal both intended to make sure the audience knew of the type of person Hedda is. One subtle difference from the film may be Aunt Julie’s relationship with Hedda and George. It is clear that Aunt Julie and Hedda don’t have a good relationship in the text, but the point is drawn even clearer in the film where we see George begging Hedda to be kinder to his dear aunt. With George we see how close he and his Aunt Julie really are, their relationship is so genuine and sincere. Another key in the film is the diminishing role the minor characters were given. Maid Berte who we see in the text having a big role with George and Aunt Jules, is not given the same role in the film. Overall I was pleasantly surprised with how the film depicted the text through the first two acts of this play.