Movie spotlight
The Wild Duck
The play opens in the study at Hakon Werle's house during a dinner party for the return of Werle's son, Gregers, from the Hoidal mines. Gregers has not come home for fifteen years. Old Ekdal appears before two servants, begging to be let into the office. Ekdal was an army officer and partner to Werle until a forestry scandal sent him to prison over some scandal. He now works as one of Werle's copyists.
Insights
Plot Summary
Based on Henrik Ibsen's play, this drama follows Gregers Werle, who returns to his hometown and discovers his father's shady business dealings. He then attempts to expose the truth to his childhood friend Hjalmar Ekdal, whose life and family are built on a foundation of lies, ultimately leading to tragic consequences.
Critical Reception
The 1963 adaptation of 'The Wild Duck' received moderate attention, appreciated for its faithfulness to Ibsen's complex characters and themes. While not a major critical darling, it was recognized for its solid performances and atmospheric portrayal of the source material's psychological depth.
What Reviewers Say
Praised for its adherence to Ibsen's challenging narrative.
Performances are considered competent, capturing the play's somber tone.
Some found the pacing to be slow, typical of many literary adaptations of the era.
Google audience: Information on specific audience reception from Google users for this 1963 film is not readily available.
Fun Fact
This adaptation is one of several screen versions of Henrik Ibsen's classic play, which was first published in 1884.
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