The Nutcracker (1977) (TV)

User Rating:

8.3/10   

Director:

Tony Charmoli

Writer:

Yanna Kroyt Brandt (narration)

Release Date:

16 December 1977 (USA)

Genre:

Fantasy | Music | Romance

Tagline:

This Friday, [December 16, 1977] join Mikhail Baryshnikov in the realm of toy soldiers, dancing snowflakes and sheer magical entertainment. (poster for original telecast)

Plot Keywords:

Baryshnikov | Magic | Ballet | Christmas | Christmas Eve

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Primetime Emmys.

Cast

Mikhail Baryshnikov	...	Nutcracker / Prince
Gelsey Kirkland	...	Clara
Alexander Minz	...	Drosselmeyer
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Victor Barbee	...	Waltz Soloist - 'Waltz of the Flowers'
Warren Conover	...	Fritz (Clara's Brother) / Shepherd Dancer
George De La Pena	...	The Moor / Russian Dancer
Nanette Glushak	...	Waltz Soloist - in 'Waltz of the Flowers'
Rodney Gustafson	...	Court Buffoon
Áurea Hammerli	...	Shepherd Dancer
Cynthia Harvey	...	Snowflake Lead Girl
Roman L. Jasinski	...	Russian Dancer (as Roman Jasinski)
Marie Johansson	...	Waltz Soloist - in 'Waltz of the Flowers'
Charles Maple	...	Court Buffoon
Jolinda Menendez	...	Snowflake Lead Girl / Spanish Dancer
Hilda Morales	...	Chinese Dancer
Eric Nesbitt	...	Court Buffoon
Gregory Osborne	...	Harlequin / Court Buffoon
Marcos Paredes	...	The Mouse King / Drunken Christmas Party Guest
Kirk Peterson	...	Chinese Dancer
Norman Rose	...	Narrator (voice)
Richard Schafer	...	Waltz Soloist - 'Waltz of the Flowers'
Clark Tippet	...	Spanish Dancer
Sallie Wilson	...	Mrs. Stahlbaum
Rebecca Wright	...	Doll
Gayle Young	...	Mr. Stahlbaum

Runtime:

78 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo (recent telecasts) | Mono | Stereo (DVD Release)

Filming Locations:

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Company:

American Ballet Theatre (ABT)

Trivia:

This was originally a stage production, but rather than taping or filming it in a theatre with a live audience, Baryshnikov chose to have the sets enlarged and tape it in a television studio with no audience.

Quotes:

Narrator: [offscreen] Tonight is a special Christmas Eve for Clara. She is about to receive the gift of a dream.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "The Robert MacNeil Report: (2007-07-17)" (2007)

Soundtrack:

The Nutcracker

The best-danced production widely available

While other film and video productions of the Tchiakovsky classic emphasize pageantry, amazing sets, and holiday warmth, the American Ballet Theater's `Nutcracker' concentrates on strong dancing and intricate choreography. There is consequently much to adore in this production. Gelsey Kirkland, at the prime of her career, and before her drug addiction and battle with anorexia tragically destroyed her dancing talent, plays Clara as a young girl who matures over the course of the ballet. As such, Baryshnikov's version is less a story of a young girl's Christmas dream, and more a coming-of-age tale.

The party scene of `The Nutcracker' is usually a showcase for the children's classes of a ballet company. The Balanchine version, for example, does not really employ any serious dancing until the Waltz of the Snowflakes; most of the first act features children mulling about with their presents. Baryshnikov chose instead to concentrate on adult dancers, turning the Drosselmayer gift sequences in particular into amazingly intricate, well-danced pieces. The Moorish dance stands out as one of the finest, most exciting dances ever to be caught on film.

Unfortunately, this production does have a few weaknesses. The dancers reportedly complained that the television set where it was filmed was too cramped, and that the soundtrack was too slow. Indeed, the sound throughout is awful; there are many more vibrant recordings of the music that could have been used. These dancers are professionals used to working with a live orchestra, and they seem confined by the canned music. The sets are unspectacular and washed-out, making this version perhaps the least exciting for young children; both the NYC Ballet and the Sendak version are more visually stimulating.

Still, for fans of serious dance, this version must be seen. It is still a thrill to watch Baryshnikov and Kirkland perform.