The Nutcracker (1993)

User Rating:

5.2/10   

Director:

Emile Ardolino

Writer (WGA):

Susan Cooper (narration)

Release Date:

24 November 1993 (USA)

Genre:

Family | Fantasy | Music

Tagline:

The joy of the New York City Ballet in an exciting family holiday motion picture.

Plot:

On Christmas Eve, a little girl named Marie (Cohen) falls asleep after a party at her home and dreams...

Plot Keywords:

Lifting Person In Air | Classical Music | Ballet | Independent Film | Character Name In Title

Cast

Darci Kistler	...	The Sugarplum Fairy
Damian Woetzel	...	The Sugarplum Fairy's Cavalier
Bart Robinson Cook	...	Drosselmeier
Kyra Nichols	...	Dewdrop (in "Waltz of the Flowers")
Jessica Lynn Cohen	...	Marie
Macaulay Culkin	...	The Nutcracker / The Prince / Drosselmeier's Nephew
Wendy Whelan	...	Coffee (in "Arabian Dance")
Margaret Tracey	...	Marzipan (in "Dance of the Reed Flutes")
Gen Horiuchi	...	Tea (in "Chinese Dance")
Tom Gold	...	Candy Cane - in 'Trepak'
Lourdes López	...	Hot Chocolate (in "Spanish Dance")
Nilas Martins	...	Hot Chocolate (in "Spanish Dance")
William Otto	...	Mother Ginger (in "Dance of the Clowns")
Peter Reznick	...	Fritz
Karin von Aroldingen	...	Grandparent

Also Known As:

George Balanchine's The Nutcracker (USA) (complete title)

Runtime:

92 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:L | Spain:T | UK:U | USA:G | Singapore:PG | Argentina:Atp

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Krasnow Productions

Trivia:

Narration recorded by 'Kevin Kline (I)' was a last-minute addition that was heavily protested by Macaulay Culkin's father, Kit Culkin, who vowed that his son would do no publicity for the movie until the narration was dropped. Reluctantly, producer Arnon Milchan dropped the narration to appease the Culkins. Kit Culkin then returned with a list of other demands which so incensed Milchan that he reinstated Kline's narration, losing the use of the Culkins' publicity.

Movie Connections:

References "Playhouse 90: The Nutcracker (#3.12)" (1958)

Soundtrack:

The Nutcracker

...

This movie is a perfect portrayal of The Nutcracker; the dancing is wonderful, the scenery in the background was excellent, and I LOVED THAT FLOATING BED.

Oh, and the costumes... I particularly loved Marzipan's, the tutu was adorable. The special effects were very well done (e.g. the tree, the bed, etc.), and I quite enjoyed the rats. I love how they didn't make them scary, but cute and huggable. Except for the king, I suppose.

If you're a thoroughly masculine person, you won't enjoy this, but this is a very good movie that's good for all ages - just not all levels of testosterone.

But I have a few complaints.

Firstly, why did they have to put the Sugar Plum Fairy's partner in those terrible tights? It would barely make a difference if he was butt naked! And secondly.. why on EARTH did they have to make Culkin's outfit PINK?