Through the years there have been many cinematic adaptations, some have been good, and others have failed miserably.

     One such failure is the 1973 Jane Fonda and David Warner A Doll's House, based on Henrik Ibsen's 1879 play. Fonda has had more criticism, I feel, than any other actor or actress in the history of Hollywood. The failure and bad reputation of this film was, more or less, blamed on Fonda.

     She turned the film into a crusade, making it unappealing to the viewers. By overacting and underacting, she portrayed Nora as a stuck-up, bratty, little hag. The viewers are not interested in this type of a character because that is an everyday thing. People watch movies to escape reality and to live in a fantasy world (for at least one hour or more anyway) and not have political and stressful issues thrown at them. This film could have been better, despite Fonda's inability to act, if Warner had acted more interested in his character.

     Warner's acting ability could have used improvement in this film. He was too cold and uncaring. Warner did not portray the "Torvald" that Henry Ibsen intended. Viewers want movies to be romantically entertaining or else they will not watch them. As a viewer of this film, I felt that if Warner had just smiled or hugged her once, it could have made room for the imagination of the viewer.

     I would like to see an updated version of A Doll's House, starring Mel Gibson as Torvald Helmer and Michelle Pfeiffer as Nora, because Gibson does an incredible job of switching characters and could portray the true Torvald. Pfeiffer would do a good job of being Nora because I feel that Ibsen portrayed her as being blond and defenseless, and Pfeiffer could do just that.

     "Overall, I thought this movie was slow and boring. My advice for Jane Fonda is to stick to exercising and let her Nora grow up" (Jennifer Bean "Grow Up" Montage '96). This is the best wrap-up of A Doll's House. I do not think I would watch an updated version of this film (yes, even if it were Mel) just because Fonda and Warner ruined my interest for the film and play.