Nutcracker: The Motion Picture (VHS)

"Nutcracker-The Motion Picture" is the best movie version of "Nutcracker" ever made. Why did I buy more than one? When I saw two of these VHS tapes advertised for $.01 I couldn't resist purchasing both of them. I gave my original copy to my local library and they were glad to get it. This VHS is out of print at present and may never become available on DVD. If it were made available on DVD, You can bet I would get it on that format. It seems to me like a perfect movie for Blu-Ray. I believe it would sell, but then I am no marketing expert. It was performed by the Pacific Northwest Ballet with a very young Patricia Barker in the lead. It was filmed in 1986, and Patricia Barker has since retired from the stage. She can also be seen in "A Midsummer Night's Dream"......A Midsummer Night's Dream......which is another fabulous ballet.

It's too bad this wonderful Tchaikovsky ballet "The Nutcracker" had a "Christmas" theme. It's condemned to be performed only at the Christmas season, but it should be seen anytime of the year. To prove my point, look at the dates on all the reviews. They are all dated right around Christmas. The fact is I watch it whenever I want to see a good ballet. Of course, this is not a live ballet with audience participation, but because it is a movie, lots of magical things can happen. A doll house can have real live ballerinas and harlequins dancing in it's miniature rooms. Just wind up the key and everything comes alive. As she walks through the coat sleeve of a giant mouse Clara magically changes from a young girl into a beautiful Princess. Because it is a "dream" even more fantastic things can happen, for instance, Clara's Mother can become a beautiful Peacock (actually she is a Peahen), but again, this is a dream, so a Peahen can be adorned as splendidly as a Peacock, and can dance to the music of the Arabian Dance. A ferocious tiger can be restrained by ribbons and controlled by children as they dance to the Chinese Dance. Unfortunately there is no Sugar Plum Fairy, but Clara (Patricia Barker) dances the Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy. Patricia Barker can also be seen in the fabulous production of "A Midsummer Night's Dream" by the Pacific Northwest Ballet, either in HI-DEF DVD, Blu-ray, or Standard Def DVD....... A Midsummer Night's Dream [HD DVD].....It would be great if this Nutcracker was available in Blu-ray. The Pacific Northwest Ballet is a very talented Ballet Company, and every ballet I've seen by them has been fabulous. Since this is not available on DVD and is out of production, it is already becoming a collectors item.

Typically, I do not purchase anything that is only available on VHS. The quality is noticeably lower than that of DVDs and especially Blu-rays. But I had a tape of "The Nutcracker:The Motion Picture" when I was very young and recalled how enchanting it was. Unfortunately, the tape was misplaced and I had to search for a new copy. When I went to find it online, it was only available on VHS. Like I said, I am usually hesitant to buy anything that is only available on VHS, but in this case I had to make an exception. I ordered the video and waited for its arrival with anticipation. When it came, it was every bit the same as it had been before.

The opening scene with Drosellmeier creating Clara's toy castle still captivated me. The music is splendid and the imagery unforgettable. I used to have dreams of what I had seen in the Nutcracker. This iteration is a ballet but not in the usual sense. It is a motion picture with different angles and close-ups that are not usually a part of ballets. Furthermore, the sets are designed by Maurice Sendak (you know, the guy who did "Little Bear"). His exquisite depictions in every scene only add to the overall quality. What I find most exceptional about this film is the dancing. I am not a dancer, yet I can easily distinguish the sublime from the mediocre. I believe the dancing in this film is sublime due to the choreography and the dancers themselves.

It is difficult for me to detail everything that makes this film special. I will offer two more reasons why I enjoy this film. The first is that it has no words, but it does not need any. The dancers speak with their body language and facial expressions. Hey, I could sit and watch it in its entirety when I was four, although there were not any words. I think that says something about this film. It has enough magic to make a four-year-old sit and watch it, although the story is told through music. Pardon me as I must qualify my statement. I said that there are no words, but there are. An older Clara narrates the story in some scenes. I can remember her voice when I was younger. I can also remember not grasping what she was saying, which was not due to her enunciation in any way. It had to do with me being a four-year-old. I think it might be better for a child of that age to see a movie told through music. Such a movie speaks to a child in a way that normal movies cannot, for a child must learn to surmise meanings from more than words.

The last reason I believe this film to be one of excellence is that it sticks with you. As I stated earlier, I used to have dreams about this film. My dreams often took hold years after the last time I had seen the movie. There is something surreal about this film. The narrator speaks about every Christmas she can recall becoming a blur of mix and memory, and I think that is true for many. Christmases tend to blur after so many years. Nevertheless, I can remember watching "The Nutcracker:The Motion Picture" numerous times during Christmas and the rest of the year. It spoke to me in such a way that I could not wait until Christmas to watch it. I enjoyed it all year long.

In my view, the best Nutcracker version out there. A fantastic production. Filmed better than most ballet movies. Terrific dancer/actors. Pacific Northwest Ballet is one of the world's top dance companies.

I remember watching this is music class in grade school. I hated this movie with a passion made of watch it every year from 6-8th grade. then is high school my senior year we watched it in theater arts. I actually loved it! The music, the story that it tells. there isn't a bad thing i can think of. this is a must see movie. I personally transferred it from my VHS to a DVD. And watch it even more!

I LOVE THIS MOVIE!!!
This used to be on TV during the holidays when I was young, I was SO disappointed when they stopped airing it! I'm glad I've finally found one for sale!
It's a little different from some other Nutcrackers, having things like a peacock dance, but in my opinion it's one of the best renditions of a timeless Christmas classic! Certainly a MUST-SEE holiday movie!