Word: losey
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Dates: during 1970-1979
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...adaptation of a classic domestic drama (A Doll's House) by one of the earliest analysts of the modern woman's dilemma (Henrik Ibsen). In the leading role of Nora, cast the most glamorous of Women's Lib heroines (Jane Fonda). Have it directed by Joseph Losey (The Go-Between), a sympathizer with the feminist cause. Shoot it on location in the Christmas-card setting of Røros, Norway, and bring in such supporting players as David Warner (Nora's husband, Torvald), Trevor Howard (Torvald's friend, Dr. Rank), Edward Fox (the blackmailer, Krogstad...
...stars are never satisfied. Addressing Director Losey, Jane declared solemnly: "We have serious objections to the script." These came mainly in the form of voluminous notes, written largely by Nancy. They demanded no fewer than 70 pages of changes in the 104-page script. As a result, Losey nearly lost Screenwriter David Mercer, who, according to one member of the company, was "utterly humiliated" by the ordeal...
...Losey did lose two precious weeks of rehearsal as well as his temper. Once, he ordered Delphine Seyrig off the set for interfering; on another occasion, he threw Nancy Ellen Dowd out of a script conference for the same reason. The entire project, in fact, nearly lost Losey, who would have quit had he not undertaken an extensive financial stake in the film...
...script changes were either attempts to improve on Ibsen (Jane wanted the line "the law is wrong" to become "the law should be changed"), or they were insertions of stagey speeches that had been cut for the sake of cinematic fluidity. Losey, who objected to the "platform tone" in which Fonda performed these insertions, recalls: "Ibsen says everything five times, so three times in the film was more than enough. Jane wanted it said all five times...
...reflect a true understanding of women, especially their relationship with one another as expressed in the scenes between Nora and Kristine. Jane devoted long hours to working out these scenes with Delphine. So much did the two women kiss and touch each other before the camera that Director Losey had to complain about the unwarranted intrusion of lesbianism into the story...