Comparing a television version of "An Inspector Calls" with the book.

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        The production that I viewed of "An Inspector Calls" was a television version. I occasionally feel that television versions sometimes kill the intentions, to entertain and to stimulate the audience.

When I read "An Inspector Calls" I had a version in my head to help me imagine the play in the way that I hope J.B. Priestley would have wanted it to be. But when I watched the television version I felt it didn’t actually give the play justice.

            At the beginning of the play, J.B. Priestley gives a very detailed amount of stage settings, lighting and character descriptions. I felt that these were so detailed as Priestley wanted the mood of the first scene to linger throughout the whole play. For example "The general effect is substantial and heavily comfortable, but not cosy and home like." I felt that this was actually taken in to account, as the extremely large table was the central point of the beginning. The size of the table showed that although the characters were a family, they weren’t close.

                At the very beginning of the production we were being led through some very grand doors, to show a ‘perfect´ family enjoying a family celebration. I liked this technique it made me intrigued to find out what was going on within the family atmosphere. In the production I felt the wealth of the family was portrayed extremely well. The set was very traditional to the early 20th century. The colours and costumes were good ways of showing the wealth of the characters. You could see from the maid clearing the table to the cigars and port that this family were very wealthy.

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Throughout the play the characters were portrayed to be pleased with themselves, just as in the stage direction at the beginning. Being so happy and ‘pleased with themselves´ made a good cover for the deceit they had each caused. .

          Arthur Birling (Nigel Davenport) is a very proud man who is keen to show off his wealth. In the performance I thought his accent was abit over done. His gestures showed that he was a very proud man. In the performance it was shown that he was very happy with his daughter Sheila and his ...

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