The Nutcracker (1977/I) (TV)

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:

The television adaptation of the Baryshnikov production. |

Plot Keywords:

Baryshnikov | Dream | Christmas Present | Christmas | Ballet

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Primetime Emmys.

Cast

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

Directed by
Tony Charmoli

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Yanna Kroyt Brandt		narration

Produced by
Lois Bianchi	....	associate producer
Herman Krawitz	....	executive producer
Yanna Kroyt Brandt	....	producer

Cinematography by
Larry Boelens		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Max K. Curtis		(as Max Curtis)
Gary Princz

Production Design by
Boris Aronson

Costume Design by
Frank L. Thompson		(as Frank Thompson)

Makeup Department
Patrick Moreton	....	Miss Kirkland's hair designed by (as Patrick D. Moreton)

Production Management
Barrie Diehl	....	production manager

Art Department
Irving Milton Duke	....	assistant to Mr. Aronson
Lisa Jalowetz	....	assistant to Mr. Aronson
E.J. Taylor	....	puppets

Camera and Electrical Department
Jennifer Tipton	....	lighting designer (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Robert Boehm	....	wardrobe
May Ishimoto	....	wardrobe
Barbara Matera	....	costumes executed by
David Murin	....	assistant: to Mr. Thompson

Editorial Department
Max Curtis	....	editor: video tape
Gary Princz	....	editor: video tape

Music Department
Boys of Desborough School	....	chorus
Roger Durston	....	chorus master: Boys of Desborough School
National Philharmonic Orchestra	....	orchestra (as The National Philharmonic)
Andrew Raeburn	....	music producer
Steven Rosenthal	....	pianist
Kenneth Schermerhorn	....	conductor
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky	....	music by (as Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky)

Other crew
Mikhail Baryshnikov	....	choreographer
Mikhail Baryshnikov	....	production: ballet
Dick Beard	....	assistant: Mr. Charmoli (as Richard Beard)
Bettina Brooks	....	production assistant
Lucia Chase	....	director: The American Ballet Theatre
David Krawitz	....	assistant to producer
Remi Saunder	....	assistant to producer
Jurgen Schneider	....	assistant: Mr. Baryshnikov
Oliver Smith	....	director: The American Ballet Theatre
John R.J. Toland	....	assistant to producer
Vasili I. Vaynonen	....	choreographer: "Snowflake Waltz" (as Vasily Vainonen)

Production Companies

• Jodav Productions (as Jodav Productions, Inc.)

Distributors

• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1977) (USA) (TV)
• Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) (1980) (USA) (TV)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1984) (USA) (VHS)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• Kultur (2004) (USA) (DVD) (re-mastered edition)

Other Companies

• American Ballet Theatre (ABT)  ballet company
• Theatre Techniques  scenery execution
• National Ballet School of Canada  our thanks to
• National Education Association  recommended by
• Glen Warren Productions  facilities
• International Business Machines (IBM)  funding: (1980's PBS telecasts) (uncredited)
• International Business Machines (IBM)  sponsor: CBS telecasts (uncredited)

Runtime:

78 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

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

Filming Locations:

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Company:

Jodav Productions

Trivia:

Although the Dance of the Clowns is still intact, Baryshnikov omitted the character of the giant-skirted Mother Gigogne from it, and choreographed the dance for just four Court Buffoons.

Quotes:

[first lines]
[offscreen]
Narrator:It is Christmas Eve. In just a few hours, the clock will chime midnight - a time of magic, and of dreams.

Movie Connections:

References The Christmas Dream (1949)

Soundtrack:

The Nutcracker

Forget it

If you are only interested in ballet and not storyline or sets or costumes, then watch this version. Otherwise, it looks like a high-school production with crudely painted backdrops and lackluster costumes. There is no narration and you can't tell there is a story line, just people dancing around on a stage. Drosselmyer is an expressionless drone. The Spanish Hot Chocolate Performers are indistinguishable from the Arabian Coffee Performers who are indistinguishable from the Chinese Tea Performers who are indistinguishable from the Russian Candy Cane Performers who are indistinguishable from the Danish Marzipan Shepherdess Performers. For a great visual performance of this ballet, see Nutcracker: The Motion Picture.