Product Details

• Actors: Rudolph Nureyev, Lucette Aldous, Ray Powell, Francis Croese, Robert Helpmann
• Directors: Rudolph Nureyev, Robert Helpmann
• Format: Full Screen, Color, NTSC, Mono
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Kultur Video
• VHS Release Date: October 22, 1991
• Run Time: 110 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6301005554
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #192,712 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

This 1973 film treatment of the ballet classic Don Quixote has a spaciousness, a freedom of movement often missing when a staged ballet production is taped for television. It captures the art of Rudolf Nureyev at the height of his powers, both as a dancer and as a choreographer. With distinguished supporting performances by Robert Helpmann and Lucette Aldous, the production balances lyric and narrative elements, wit and pathos, satire and idealism, with virtuoso solo and ensemble dancing.

Nureyev, a perfectionist, had an enormous airplane hangar in Australia transformed into a studio for the 25 days he spent dancing and shooting this episode in the crazy life of Cervantes's mock-epic hero. The routine 19th-century score by Ludwig Minkus has been modestly upgraded by conductor John Lanchbery, contributing positively to the performance's energy. --Joe McLellan

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ballet for all!, December 30, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (Florida) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Nureyev's Don Quixote / Lanchbery, Nureyev, Helpmann, Aldous, Australian Ballet [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This complete version of the ballet by Minkus was supervised entirely by Nureyev, not only a great artist and dancer but also a man of excellent visual imagination. There are no weird camera angles, a fault that is common in film presentations done by filmmakers who are unfamiliar with the unique requirements of dance. It also presents Nureyev in an unusual role in which he is allowed to capitalize on his quick, bright sense of humor. THIS MOST EXCELLENT BALLET VIDEO IS LIVELY AND DELIGHTFUL, AN ESSENTIAL PART OF ANY BALLETOMANE'S VIDEO LIBRARY OR THE PERFECT INITIATORY PRODUCTION FOR THE BALLET NEOPHYTE.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Buy It!, May 22, 2002

By 

Scaramouche (Redlands, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Nureyev's Don Quixote / Lanchbery, Nureyev, Helpmann, Aldous, Australian Ballet (DVD)

This DVD is a spectacular restoration of one of the best ballet films of all time. It has a terrific performance by Nureyev, and features the great Lucette Aldous, a perfect match for Nureyev in charisma and technique. The DVD also has numerous bonus materials, including a "making of" documentary and side-by-side before-and-after scenes to illustrate the restoration. I also have the VHS and laser disk of this movie, and they are both dark and dirty looking compared to this beautiful DVD. It's really a great improvement and well worth purchasing.

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars nureyev's don quixote, November 17, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Nureyev's Don Quixote / Lanchbery, Nureyev, Helpmann, Aldous, Australian Ballet (DVD)

This totally remastered version of this ballet shows Nureyev at his most brilliant. The DVD itself has biographies on the artists but best of all it has "the making of" 20 minute special showing how the film was put conceived by two of the ballet worlds creative artists, Nureyev and Sir Robert Helpmann. Not to be missed for the true balletomane.