Der Nussknacker (1986)

Der Nussknacker: Directed by Carroll Ballard. With Hugh Duncan Bigney Mitchell, Vanessa Sharp, Patricia Barker, Wade Walthall. The colorful holiday classic is finally brought to the big screen, designed by famed children’s story author and artist Maurice Sendak, and written for the first time to be as close as possible to the original story. A lavish, exciting and heart-warming celebration of dance, of music, and of life. Based upon the Pacific Northwest Ballet’s original production.

“I HAVE REVIEWED OVER 300 HOLIDAY FILMS u0026amp; SPECIALS. I HAVE NO AGENDA.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eEvery year there seems to be on variations on u0026quot;Christmas Classicsu0026quot; There is always new u0026quot;twistu0026quot; done to u0026quot;Itu0026#39;s a Wonderful Lifeu0026quot;, u0026quot;A Christmas Carolu0026quot;, u0026quot;Groundhog Dayu0026quot;, u0026quot;The Gift of the Magiu0026quot; and even variations on u0026quot;The Nutcrackeru0026quot;u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe Nutcracker has been done as u0026quot;A CARTOONu0026quot; u0026quot; A movie with no dancingu0026quot; u0026quot;A Semi-Musicalu0026quot; and even on u0026quot;On Iceu0026quot; This film however is not a twist it is just a beautiful filmed version of the famous ballet.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eNutcracker: The Motion Picture, like the Stowell-Sendak stage production on which it is based, is presented as Clarau0026#39;s coming-of- age story. It depicts Clarau0026#39;s inner conflict and confusion, as well as the beginning of her sexual awakening, as she approaches adolescence; similar themes occur in many of Sendaku0026#39;s books.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe film especially emphasizes the darker aspects of Hoffmannu0026#39;s original story and the significance of dreams and the imagination. The cinematography, by making considerable use of closeups and medium shots, attempts to bring viewers closer to the psychology of the main characters.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eFor the filmu0026#39;s soundtrack, Sir Charles Mackerras conducted the London Symphony Orchestra at the Watford Town Hall in London in a new recording of Tchaikovskyu0026#39;s score. The passage for chorus was performed by the Tiffin School Boysu0026#39; Choir. The soundtrack also includes the u0026quot;Duet of Daphnis and Chloeu0026quot; from Tchaikovskyu0026#39;s opera The Queen of Spades, performed by Cathryn Pope and Sarah Walker. Telarc released the complete soundtrack on compact disc, coinciding with the release of the filmu003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThis film however was not met with great reviews upon its initial release. They were okay at best. It was a huge box office bomb taking in less than $1 Million during its entire run. However since 1986 the film has developed a following and it is easy to understand why.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe soundtrack / orchestra is perfect. You will never hear the score sound better. The staging and costumes are wonderful. Its was directed with such craftsmanship that even if your NOT a huge ballet lover (Which I am not) you will be swept into the scope of this production. If you stumble across it on TV once you watch 10 seconds your hooked. That is what happened to me.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eOn home video however the film has never had a great release. The original VHS that was released by Paramount was only out for a short time and went out of print. It was later released by GOODTIMES home video and it was in the dreaded LP speed and lacked the stereo mix that the Paramount release had.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eEven today the film has never had a DVD release that was worth buying. When MGM finally released a DVD they used an old master that was most likely from the Paramount Home Video release some 25 years earlier. What worked for a VHS release doesnu0026#39;t work for a DVD. In fact its not even a Pressed DVD it is a MOD DVD which makes the picture even softer! Plus is was in the old 4×3 (Pan and Scan) format. Most films released on DVD are presented in the Widescreen Format if the movie was shot in that format. u0026quot;The Nutcrackeru0026quot; was shot that way but MGM was to cheap to re-master the film. So we get a DVD that is soft and at times un- focused. The stereo soundtrack however is very good. There is however room for improvement if there is a future blu-ray release.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eI doubt a blu-ray release will ever see the light of day. Even if MGM wants to release a blu-ray the film will most likely need to have a restoration. I hope it gets one.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eOn the bright side HD-NET a cable/satellite channel does have a respectable transfer of the film that they show. It is 16×9 and the sound mix is great and its also in stereo. Now why hasnu0026#39;t MGM used this transfer for a DVD is beyond me.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eNow back to the film itself. It is the best presentation that has ever been put on film! The only thing wrong is there is no u0026quot;Mother Ginger in this productionu0026quot;. The colors and costumes are as eye popping. The orchestra is one that will put others to shame.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eFor years Video Stores (if they had a copy) reported that this was a huge rental during the holidays!u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eA few years later Warner Brothers decided to make their version of the film! Just like other remakes the film industry thought they could do another film and do it better. So in 1993 they released a u0026quot;Bigger Budgetu0026quot; production.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThat version was not 1/2 as good. The only thing it had that the 1986 version didnu0026#39;t was Macaulay Culkin and Mother Ginger.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eCatch this 1986 Version! Its worth seeing.”