Product Details

• Actors: Frederick Ashton, Alexander Grant, Julie Wood, Ann Howard (III), Bob Mead
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, Widescreen, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: G (General Audience)
• Studio: Starz / Anchor Bay
• DVD Release Date: February 10, 2004
• Run Time: 90 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (38 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B0000844JM
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #30,244 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "The Tales of Beatrix Potter (with Dancers of The Royal Ballet)" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

52 of 53 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Royal Ballet Portrayal of a Childhood Favorite, April 15, 2002

By 

Cedric's Mom (San Diego, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Tales of Beatrix Potter (with Dancers of The Royal Ballet) [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Tales of Beatrix Potter with Dancers of the Royal Ballet (1971) is pure fun and innocence portrayed through top flight ballet dancing. Don't miss this production if you're a fan of ballet, Beatrix, and barnyard animals.

As the story opens, we see a young Beatrix Potter and the beautiful English countryside that was the inspiration for her family of adorable little creatures. Soon we see Beatrix's creations come to life in vignettes and costumes true to the original drawings.

The dancers appear to be dancing on an earthen stage (complete with clumps of grass, dirt, and hay), but pigs and mice on pointe were never this graceful. Watch the swine ham it up in a pigs' pas de deux, and see them escape their inevitable fate. Mr. Jeremy Fisher is one wonderfully flexible, high-jumping leapfrog. See mice go mad and perform a quick, clean petite allegro with the beautiful pointe work you'd expect from the Royal Ballet. Peter Rabbit comes in, dancing about very happily, having just raided the cabbage patch. He is witness to a picnic of rats, crashed by mice and Squirrel Nutkin and his buddies. This scene is nothing but fun and I can't imagine the dancers didn't have a blast performing it. There's even a food fight.

Don't be put off by the whimsical concept of this production. These are world-class ballet dancers performing Ashton's warm and witty, yet demanding choreography in top form.

I wish the editing had been better in spots and that the camera angles had been tighter, but I imagine it was necessary to maintain the proper perspective between the sizes of the characters and the sets. Great costumes and sets convincingly blend with footage of the real English landscape in all its green glory. Complete dancer credits at the end.

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Dancing animals in high spirits, August 31, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Tales of Beatrix Potter (with Dancers of The Royal Ballet) [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This is ballet movie elevated to art in every possible respect. The English writer Beatrix Potter has been a long time favorite in the nursery and the movie is really a masterpiece. Sir Frederic Ashton did the choreography - masterly - and appeared himself in the role of old Mrs. Tiggywinkle (the hedgehog) - he must have had some fun! Rostislav Douboujinsky did the masks - wonderful - John Lanchbery composed the music.The fandango danced by two mice on a table is a true highlight. Why some movies or books become classics is a very difficult question to answer. Maybe one answer could be that with a mediocre work you have seen it, and that is that, easily forgotten. With a masterpiece you still discover new things at the fiftysixth viewing. That is the way it is with "Tales". One cannot possibly find a single fault with this lovely production. It is filmed in the rolling green pastures of merry old England. And here we are in the North of England, Beatrix Potter's own home in the Lake District - today a National Trust property. Christine Edzard was responsible for the sets and costumes, beautiful to look at. There are very notable performances by Alexander Grant (Peter Rabbit), Brenda Last (Black Berkshire Pig) Michael Coleman (Jeremy Fisher, the frog) and the inimitable Whiskered Foxy Gentleman danced by Robert Mead. All the other characters are as delightful, Jemima Puddleduck flying in the sky, Johnny Townmouse, complete with bowler hat and furled umbrella. This film is a true delight for both adults and children. END

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A classic for all ages and forever timeless, August 17, 2006

By 

J. Levin (Las Vegas, NV) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Tales of Beatrix Potter (with Dancers of The Royal Ballet) (DVD)

Why this particular motion picture?
* If you would like your young children to become acquainted with a cultural event, that was designed for young children and adults of all ages.
* If you enjoyed the popular ballet " The Nutcracker", usually performed during Christmas holidays, then you would also be entranced with this ballet, "The Tales of Beatrix Potter."
************************************
Beatrix Potter: Was probably, the most popular writer and illustrator of children's books. Peter Rabbit, was a main character in a series of her children's books. Her Tales of Peter Rabbit, was first introduced in 1902. Peter and all the other animal characters in her stories, are depicted in human clothes. The Tales of Peter Rabbit books, have sold more than 150 million+ copies in 35 languages and still continues to do so.

Ballet: (A theatrical representation of a story performed to music and by dance.)

In 1970,the most prestigious ballet company in Great Britain, The Royal Ballet, under the direction of Sir Frederick Ashton, who was probably the greatest British choreographer of the 20th century. Sir Frederick Ashton, choreographed and created with his selected ballet dancers, a motion picture, depicting some of the marvelous characters of the "Tales of Peter Rabbit." His prestigious ballet dancers were dressed and made up to look just like the actual animal characters that were depicted in Beatrix Potter's "Tales Of Peter Rabbit". The great Sir Frederick Ashton, then age 67, also appeared in the motion picture, as one of the "Peter Rabbit" story characters. His performance evidently signifies his endorsement of this motion picture. The film was nominated for two British Academy Film Awards.
This 1970 outstanding motion picture is called, "The Tales of Beatrix Potter," with a magnificent original musical score, specially composed for this momentous motion picture. The distinguishing original music score presented no hesitation in acquiring the prestigious Royal Opera House Orchestra, to provide the musical accompaniment to this motion picture.

There were two factors that at first limited the attendance to this masterpiece motion picture.
First, it was considered a children's movie, secondly, it's was a ballet.
This is a VERY special movie, that very young people will be fascinated with, especially the costumed characters. If you desired your youngster to discover and become knowledgeable of theatrical performances of excellence, then this unique motion picture, will give any intelligent and impressionable child, the desire to appreciate future such performances of excellence.

Not surprisingly, many adults, who have seen this unique motion picture, are equally fascinated with the outstanding original musical score as well as the incredible marvelous transformation of the dancers in the most realistic animal likeness in their make-up.

Those that do have an interest in ballet, will be amazed of the almost impossible ballet techniques that were accomplished while in those most realistic and cumbersome of customs and makeup(masks).

There are no hidden messages in this motion picture, in fact, there is not a single word spoken in this motion picture. It is just a delightful visual experience to see and hear. Most, that have seen this visual and musical experience, are left with the most pleasurable of memories. It is only 90 minutes long.

Many who have seen this masterpiece, will keep this DVD forever, so that you can have it available for future generations of your family, it is timeless.

One very unusual comment, regarding a member of their family, who was affected with Alzheimer, found that their afflicted loved one, truly enjoyed viewing this motion picture. (Maybe, it had reminisce some very pleasurable past memories.)
JL August 12, 2006

PS: The ideal (low cost) holiday or birthday gift for a child, as well as an adult.JL