Product Details

• Actors: Jennifer Penney, Anthony Dowell
• Format: Classical, Color, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Kultur Video
• VHS Release Date: March 30, 2000
• Run Time: 130 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 076972096X
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #360,580 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

38 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Manon, May 3, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Manon / Penney, Dowell, Royal Ballet [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I have only the best things to say about the Royal Ballet and their production of Manon. This production was fantastic. The scenery and costumes were wonderful. The dancers were excellent. I thought that Jennifer Penny was a marvelous Manon, and in my opinion, I like Anthony Dowell better in the role of Des Grieux, than in any other ballet video that he has ever done.Monica Mason dances her role exquisitely and David Wall was a fantastic Lescaut.The whole ballet company was outstanding.Not only do they dance well, but they are also great actors and actresses. The choreography by Kenneth MacMillan is vibrant, dramatic, eciting and entertaining.The music, by Massenet, is lovely.The story of Manon also presents a wonderful moral message, that while love can bring out the best in people, money and riches can corrupt them, and that the fundemental important things in life, are not the gaining of money and riches, but how a person conducts themself in society (do they posess moral values). It took me a long time to build up the courage to buy this video, but after having seen it, I am so glad that I did. I have 12 ballet videos that I love and adore, but this video has to be the one that I love the most.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A modern ballet in the classical style, August 6, 2004

By 

J. M WILINSKY (teaneck, NJ United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Massenet - Manon / Penney, Dowell, Wall, Royal Ballet, Covent Garden (DVD)

This is a very beautiful and interesting ballet, consummately performed by the Royal Ballet. It has a very generous supply of both male and female solo variations, as well as pas de deux, trois, etc. There is even a pas de trois adagio of a lover's triangle, reminiscent of the one in "La Sylphide". There is also a good deal of humor in the choreography: In the opening solo male adagio, the dancer pushes a bystander out of the way in the middle of his variation! There is also a wonderful drunken dance solo. This is an excellent addition to any dvd ballet collection.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars JUST WHAT ONE EXPECTS FROM SIR KENNETH, May 26, 2010

By 

drkhimxz (Freehold, NJ, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Massenet - Manon / Penney, Dowell, Wall, Royal Ballet, Covent Garden (DVD)

Nothing much to add to the previous reviews. MacMillan provides a rich variety of drama, romance, action, comedy and tragedy presented in impeccable dance language. The Royal Ballet Ballet Company and all the people behind the scenes do a fine job in support of the choreographic conception. The Orchestra provides a strong foundation and the audience restrains its coughing to inaudibility. What more can one ask.
Highly recommended for everyone regardless of familiarity with ballet.