La mort du cygne (1937) User Reviews

charmed

[fdsa · 8/10 · 13 November 2003]

a delicate film starring the massive paris opera and its populace with a screen full of ballerinas, pathos and slavenska. i learned about as much about the paris ballet as i did from tavernier's "tout près des étoiles" (2001), but loved it even more.

an archival print from warner bros. showed at the san francisco international film festival in 2000, so there's a subtitled print out there. find it. show it.

Influential yet Forgotten

[Ivanovsky · 9/10 · 21 May 2013]

Here's a completely and utterly forgotten gem, evidenced by the fact that it has 52 votes on IMDb and took me 2 years to track down. This is what people should mean when they claim something is underrated or overlooked. TCM apparently showed it for the first time in 15 years last year, and I missed it, which made me upset. Ultimately, however, I enjoyed the search, and didn't end up watching it until I'd already owned it for a month or two, and I'd have it no other way. I enjoy watching movies when I have a sudden burning desire to watch a specific film, not jut an "Okay, time to watch a movie now."

There are exterior shots reminiscent of Jean Vigo's À Propos de Nice at the beginning of the film-the close-ups of the statues, and interior shots reminiscent of the silent Phantom of the Opera (1925) (one of my favorite movies)-the close-ups of the creepy props backstage, as well as the overhead shots of the rats underneath the stage. It would be unsurprising if the scene with the dancer overlaid with a nature shot was an influence on Maya Deren, particularly A Study in Choreography for Camera.

The movie's themes deal with the fact that children don't understand adults, and neither in general do adults understand children, despite having been a child. Karine, played by Mia Slavenska, whose unfortunate case of chronic bitch face doesn't inhibit her acting, surprisingly acts like an adult in the well-written screenplay, despite the horror she has inflicted upon her. Not everyone does act like an adult in real life, but this seems to be grossly over represented in films, so here is a breath of fresh air, and with reasoning behind it. Ballet provides a strict discipline for becoming graceful, which overflows into interpersonal relations. Children will continue to do evil things they don't understand the full consequences of, but they can be made to understand and become a better adult with proper treatment. Put your kid in ballet.

Less sentimental than the source novel.

[fisherforrest · 8/10 · 11 June 2006]

"La Mort du Cygne" is the source novel for THE UNFINISHED DANCE, as well perhaps for other films with the title BALLERINA. I found this version more analytical and less sentimental than THE UNFINISHED DANCE. It has plenty of impact and certainly gives one a good look at the resources of the Opera de Paris. The later version does elicit more sympathy for the afflicted ballerina, and of course it has Margaret O'Brien, Karin Booth, and Cyd Charisse, three very charismatic ladies whom it is impossible not to love. Turner Classic Movies featured LA MORT DU CYGNE under the title BALLERINA back in October of 1996. Alas, they don't seem to have reprised it since, but keep an eye open. They may yet, and it is definitely worth a watch. My only cavil is that the camera work is mediocre.

Rat Souris

[dbdumonteil · 18 August 2011]

It's extraordinary such an obscure French movie can already have two reviews .

Jean -Benoit Levy is completely forgotten in his native France ,even his masterpiece "La Maternelle" which is ,like "La Mort Du Cygne" ,a collaboration with Marie Epstein who should be credited for the screenplay AND the directing.

"La Mort Du Cygne" is finally a cruel story,and the ending may seem immoral,considering "Le Petit Rat" (pupil of the opera ballet)Rose Souris (=mouse!)has broken a ballerina's career (for a dancer ,it is some kind of death).And the girl is a teenager ,no longer a little child .After her crime (she intentionally caused an accident on stage),her idol tells her that dance is not everything ; she is actually looking for love .

There are many ballets ,including a very beautiful one by the Petits Rats .

It is a subject which is very rare in the FRench cinema ;in the sixties,actress Odette Joyeux would make a nice miniseries called "L'Age Heureux" featuring pupils of the Opera De Paris ballet class.

Enchanting!!!

[kidboots · 9/10 · 23 December 2011]

In the early 1960s I can remember seeing a Walt Disney movie called "Ballerina" but I can't find out anything about it. I do know that Jenny Agutter played a little ballerina caught up in all the drama of the Royal Ballet. The movie was obviously a variation of the French original "Ballerina" (1937) and the theme about two rival ballerinas vying for the lead in "Swan Lake" is still fresh today ie the most recent "Black Swan" (2010).

The music is from Chopin and Gonoud and Serge Lifar, who started out as a protégé of Diagheliv, does the choreography which is exquisite, especially for the children's dance "The Dance of the Bees". With the magnificent Paris Opera House forming a background the story is about little Rose (Jeanine Charrat) who simply worships premier ballerina Mademoiselle Beaupre (Yvette Chauvire) but when she is replaced by the more dazzling dancer Karine (Mia Slovenska) for the lead in "Swan Lake" misunderstandings occur. For a start Karine laughs at a joke between the prop boys and it just happens to fall in the middle of Beaupre's solo so, of course, she thinks Karine is laughing at her. Beaupre resigns so Rose decides to sabotage Karine's debut - "she laughed at Mademoiselle so everyone will laugh at her!!! But the audience doesn't laugh because she falls through a trap door and breaks her leg - "worse than death to a dancer".

Slovenska was a stunning innovative dancer and there is a beautiful interpretive dance she performs in her dreams but now, as Karine, she has to resign herself to teaching and she finds in Rose, a fresh talent to mold into a dazzling dancer. This is a dark, psychological drama of guilt and Rose is driven almost mad by it and has to confide in her friends her terrible secret.

The irony is she finds her true mentor is Katrine - Beaupre, after dancing the lead in "Swan Lake", loses her dedication and gets caught up in a social whirl. She eventually leaves to be married. Of course Rose's secret doesn't remain one for long but even though Katrine finds out through an anonymous letter, after a confrontation, she puts it all behind her in an effort to get Rose ready for her examination. Rose is convinced she will be going to prison and runs away under the Paris Opera Thearte, hoping to find the river her friend told her about (shades of "Phantom of the Opera") but in reality no one in authority knows.

I found it a wonderful, enchanting movie with Jeanine Charrat, as Rose, carrying the whole film with her sensitive performance. Actually she was to become a professional dancer as well and only made a few films but she could have been a successful actress if she had wanted to. Yvette Chauvire, like her character, seemed to fade from the scene but Mia Slovenska was a young Yugoslavian ballerina who went to the U.S. to promote "Ballerina" and decided to stay.

A masterpiece about the world of ballet

[Purple-daisy · 10/10 · 29 January 2013]

"Ballerina" (1937) is a masterpiece which shows rare film performances by some of the greatest ballet dancers. It is important in film history, because it was the first full length movie set in the world of ballet. This film deserves to be released on DVD.

"Ballerina" (1937) is a French movie, originally titled "La Mort du Cygne" (the death of the swan). The title was changed to "Ballerina" for the American showing, and English subtitles were added.

The movie is set in the Paris Opera House (Palais Garnier), which has the oldest ballet school and company in the world, and is very prestigious. Director Jean Benoit-Levy spent several months living at the Paris Opera House to study the ballet dancers, so that the film would be an authentic depiction of the world of ballet. The film is so realistic at showing the backstage world of the Paris Opera Ballet that it sometimes seems to be a documentary.

In the film, a 12-year-old dance student, Rose Souris (Janine Charrat), idolizes Miss Beaupre (Yvette Chauvire), the prima ballerina of the Paris Opera Ballet. Rose is upset when a rival Russian dancer, Nathalie Karine (Mia Slavenska), will star in the Swan Lake ballet. Rose arranges an accident for Karine. However, the accident severely injures Karine, and she can no longer dance. Although Karine's leg is broken, her passion for dance is not broken, and she becomes a ballet instructor. Rose is tormented by guilt, and hides in one of the many cellars beneath the Paris Opera House, searching for a river. (There actually is a subterranean stream, and a huge water tank, beneath the Paris Opera House.) However, there is a happy ending. Karine and Rose reconcile through their love of the art of dance, which is greater than their individual problems.

This extraordinary movie features rare film performances by famous ballet dancers. Yvette Chauvire was the prima ballerina of the Paris Opera Ballet. Mia Slavenska was the star of the Zagreb Opera Ballet in Croatia. Slavenska was also the star of the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo. The dances were choreographed by the legendary Serge Lifar, artistic director of the Paris Opera Ballet. Janine Charrat was a prodigy, who choreographed her first ballet when she was 14. Charrat became an acclaimed dancer and choreographer, and she performed worldwide for many years.

There are many exquisite ballets in this film. The dancing is graceful and elegant. In a poignant scene, the injured Karine has a dream where she dances beautifully in a garden.

This film authentically shows the backstage world of the Paris Opera Ballet in great detail. There are many scenes of dance classes, and students practicing at the barre. These scenes are reminiscent of the art of Edgar Degas, whose paintings depict ballet dancers in class or rehearsing.

The dancers are excellent at conveying strong emotions in this ballet drama. Karine's eyes, outlined with dark eyeshadow, have an intense and haunting gaze.

The black and white cinematography is dramatic and moody. Karine looks tragic yet regal in her long black dress, holding her cane. Karine's narrow black dress contrasts with the full white tutus of her students. This image is emotionally powerful.

There is a scene with a dancer wearing a large devil head mask. The devil character is a symbolic reference to the malicious act Rose commits, but later regrets.

"Ballerina" (1937) was remade as "The Unfinished Dance" (1947), which is also a wonderful film. However, "Ballerina" (1937) is more realistic in depicting the culture of ballet at the Paris Opera, and shows rare film performances by famous ballet dancers. This historic masterpiece should be released on DVD.

Treachery and tragedy

[jimjo1216 · 30 October 2012]

Young dance student Rose Souris (Jeanine Charrat) idolizes the company's prima ballerina, Mlle. Beaupré (the beautiful Yvette Chauviré), even asking her to become her "godmother" (a sort of mentor). She immediately resents La Karine (Mia Slavenska), an outsider whose arrival threatens Mlle. Beaupré's place as the first lady of the ballet. After witnessing a perceived slight against Mlle. Beaupré, Rose Souris decides to sabotage the big debut of her idol's rival. The actions of young Rose Souris result in a career-ending injury to Karine, but ensure Mlle. Beaupré's star billing.

The tragic irony is that Karine is as passionate about dance as young Rose Souris, while Mlle. Beaupré's devotion soon wanes and she leaves the ballet to get married. Because of Rose Souris, Karine can never dance again, a fate worse than death. And Mlle. Beaupré, whose career was saved by Rose Souris, quits the ballet and forgets about her little protégé.

Devastated by her injury, Karine is inspired by an incidental meeting with young Rose Souris to take a position as a dance instructor. She sees a bit of herself in Rose Souris and decides to mold her into the great dancer she herself could never be. She takes Rose Souris under her wing and gives her the choice parts in the ballet academy's productions. Karine is the "godmother" Rose Souris needed all along.

Things take a turn when the truth comes out and Karine realizes that her favorite pupil was responsible for the "accident" that cut short her career. Rose Souris is racked with guilt as she preps for her dance examination, but when it's her time on the stage, with a chance to advance to the next level, Karine is standing in the wings encouraging her and giving her silent tips.

In the film, Rose Souris does a wicked thing to benefit her idol, not realizing that her enemy would turn out to be her greatest mentor and friend. She's backed the wrong horse, as it were, and robbed a great talent of her bright future. Rose Souris is weighed down by her guilt every time she sees Karine limp across the room. She fears that her relationship with Karine is ruined when the truth comes out, but Karine is able to overcome her anger and forgive Rose Souris, supporting her dream of becoming a great dancer.

The movie's got a nice message of forgiveness and a nice twist regarding the girl's true "godmother" and whose dancing career was really worth saving.

The dancing is great (although I'm no expert) and the principals are all professional ballerinas. Yvette Chauviré is particularly photogenic and it's a shame she and Mia Slavenska didn't appear in more movies. The American release ("Ballerina") is subtitled in English, although it seems like some lines don't get translated. There are some jumpy cuts that may be the result of trimming the film for international release. (IMDb gives a running time of 100 minutes for the French release, 85 minutes for the American version.) The story is told from the young girls' perspective. Rose Souris and her dancer friends really capture that innocence of youth. The characters are engaging and the juvenile performers do a great job.