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Nijinsky

  • 19801980
  • RR
  • 2h 9m
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
769
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
28,538
8,435
Alan Bates, Leslie Browne, and George De La Pena in Nijinsky (1980)
The story of Vaslav Nijinsky, who is widely believed to be one of the greatest ballet dancers of all time. Based on Romola Nijinsky's "Last Years Of Nijinski.
Play trailer1:05
2 Videos
26 Photos
BiographyDramaMusic
The story of Vaslav Nijinsky, who is widely believed to be one of the greatest ballet dancers of all time. Based on Romola Nijinsky's "Last Years Of Nijinski.The story of Vaslav Nijinsky, who is widely believed to be one of the greatest ballet dancers of all time. Based on Romola Nijinsky's "Last Years Of Nijinski.The story of Vaslav Nijinsky, who is widely believed to be one of the greatest ballet dancers of all time. Based on Romola Nijinsky's "Last Years Of Nijinski.
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
769
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
28,538
8,435
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Director
      • Herbert Ross
    • Writers
      • Hugh Wheeler(screenplay)
      • Romola Nijinsky(book "Nijinsky")
      • Vaslav Nijinsky(diary)
    • Stars
      • Alan Bates
      • George De La Pena
      • Leslie Browne
    Top credits
    • Director
      • Herbert Ross
    • Writers
      • Hugh Wheeler(screenplay)
      • Romola Nijinsky(book "Nijinsky")
      • Vaslav Nijinsky(diary)
    • Stars
      • Alan Bates
      • George De La Pena
      • Leslie Browne
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 8User reviews
    • 12Critic reviews

    Videos2

    Trailer
    Trailer 1:05
    Trailer
    Sneak Previews Season 2 Episode 23
    Video 28:52
    Sneak Previews Season 2 Episode 23

    Photos26

    1 sheet
    Nijinsky (1980)
    Nijinsky (1980)
    Alan Bates, Leslie Browne, and George De La Pena in Nijinsky (1980)
    George De La Pena in Nijinsky (1980)
    Alan Bates in Nijinsky (1980)
    Alan Bates in Nijinsky (1980)
    Jeremy Irons in Nijinsky (1980)
    Leslie Browne in Nijinsky (1980)
    George De La Pena in Nijinsky (1980)
    Nijinsky (1980)
    Alan Bates and George De La Pena in Nijinsky (1980)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Alan Bates
    Alan Bates
    • Sergei Diaghilev
    George De La Pena
    George De La Pena
    • Vaslav Nijinsky
    Leslie Browne
    Leslie Browne
    • Romola de Pulsky
    Alan Badel
    Alan Badel
    • Baron de Gunzburg
    Carla Fracci
    • Tamara Karsavina
    Colin Blakely
    Colin Blakely
    • Vassili
    Ronald Pickup
    Ronald Pickup
    • Igor Stravinsky
    Ronald Lacey
    Ronald Lacey
    • Leon Bakst
    Vernon Dobtcheff
    Vernon Dobtcheff
    • Sergei Grigoriev
    Jeremy Irons
    Jeremy Irons
    • Mikhail Fokine
    Frederick Jaeger
    Frederick Jaeger
    • Gabriel Astruc
    Anton Dolin
    • Maestro Cecchetti
    Janet Suzman
    Janet Suzman
    • Emilia Marcus
    Stephan Chase
    Stephan Chase
    • Adolph Bolm
    Hetty Baynes
    Hetty Baynes
    • Magda
    Siân Phillips
    Siân Phillips
    • Lady Ripon
    Charles Kay
    Charles Kay
    • Argentine Ambassador
    Tomaso Milian Jr.
    • Young Boy on Beach
    • (as Tomas Milian Jr)
    • Director
      • Herbert Ross
    • Writers
      • Hugh Wheeler(screenplay)
      • Romola Nijinsky(book "Nijinsky")
      • Vaslav Nijinsky(diary)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Executive Producer Harry Saltzman had wanted to make a movie about Nijinsky for many years, first attempting to produce a version in 1970 with partner Albert R. Broccoli. The movie was started, but was never finished, it being cancelled by Broccoli and Saltzman. It is known as Nijinsky: Unfinished Project (1970). It starred Rudolf Nureyev, was written by Edward Albee, and directed by Tony Richardson.
    • Connections
      Featured in Sneak Previews: Serial, The Changeling, My Brilliant Career, Foxes, Nijinsky (1980)
    • Soundtracks
      INVITATION TO THE DANCE
      from "Le Spectre de la Rose"

      Composed by Carl Maria von Weber

    User reviews8

    Review
    Top review
    6/10
    Brave attempt at a gay love story, but not brave enough to work!
    Whatever the facts may have been, the screenplay writers here have chosen to interpret the end of Nijinsky's dazzling career and his descent into madness, as being caused by the end of his romantic relationship with Diaghilev. An interesting premise - that what appeared to most people to be a simple case of a "dirty old man" exploiting a young man's ambition (or perhaps an ambitious young man exploiting an older man's lust), was in fact a genuine love affair. They weren't using each other, they genuinely loved each other.

    Sadly, in 1980, it appears the film-makers were not brave enough to explore this fully enough for the film to work. The characters talk about passion a lot, but we don't see it much. Indeed the only love scene between the two men involves a couple of little kisses with a handkerchief held to their lips! How wonderful it would have been to see these two men genuinely passionate with each other - physically and spiritually - and how they managed to turn that passion into great works of art. This way we could understand Nijinsky's devastation when Diaghilev rejects him. As it stands, it seems to come from nowhere.

    This is no fault of the actors. Both Alan Bates and George De La Pena do what they can, with the scenes that they have. What a shame the film wasn't made a few years later, when gay relationships could be explored on screen more completely. This could have been one hell of a film. As it is, the ballet reconstructions are excellent and the costumes superb. Performances are strong, with the possible exception of Leslie Browne, who is a little out of her depth here as the scheming rich girl chasing Nijinsky. She fared much better in Herbert Ross' earlier ballet film THE TURNING POINT.

    Herbert Ross was a terrific choice to direct the film, having been a professional ballet director and choreographer, and the film has a superb sense of period and great style. But the heart is missing. The racing heartbeats of two men, and two great artists, madly in love.
    helpful•26
    8
    • David-240
    • Aug 14, 2001

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 21, 1980 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Нижинский
    • Filming locations
      • London, England, UK
    • Production company
      • Hera Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $1,047,454
    • Gross worldwide
      • $1,047,454
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 9 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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    Alan Bates, Leslie Browne, and George De La Pena in Nijinsky (1980)
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