Customer Reviews

The Tales of Beatrix Potter (with Dancers of The Royal Ballet)

5 star:		(31)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

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

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."
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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

Our 2.5 year old never really warmed up to Beatrix Potter's wonderful books until this video came along. Now Jeremy Fisher, Peter Rabbit,and Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle are all time favorites. A couple os spots may be a little scary (Fox pushing Jemima Puddleduck's head in th epot on the fire, The owl biting off Nutkin Squirrel's tail, and th etwo bad mice tearing up the doll house). It is done beautifully, and is a great family watch.

I give this 3 stars because it may indeed have some wonderful ballet that I could (or did not) appreciate as a kid. If I were to watch it now, I may have a different opinion.

I am 100% serious about this.
I don't know how young I was when my mother rented this for me. It terrified me. I had recurring nightmares involving the creepy heads. So much so that I still remember it, some 25 years later.

If your child is sensative to strangers in costumes with expressionless heads, like the Easter Bunny, Chuck E. Cheese (such as I was) please take this into consideration.

Several of the previous reviewers captured the essentials well so I'll just add a couple of points. I too saw this at the theatre when it was first released (I was 11 or 12) and was delighted and deeply impressed. The music, choreography, costumes, masks and outstanding dancing all fuse together perfectly and with a light touch, capturing the charm of Beatrix Potter's stories. The music is brillent: based to a large degree on traditional English tunes/dance themes and employing a musical idiom simultanously boisterous and refined, it perfectly reflects the high spirits and (often silly) dramas of the country animal characters. My three year old daughter is delighted by this video and asks to see it over and over again. It does not matter that some of the stories are not perfectly clear; she understands the essence of each and is captivated. As she watches it frequently, I have seen it many times recently and its appeal endures. I give this film highest, highest marks.

This is A first rate ballet by a first rate choreographer and a first rate production! Sir Frederick Ashton actually dances in this himself: he is the hedgehog seen as the first character. It is very rare to see this great choreographer dance. The dancing, which includes pointe, male technique, and (animal!) character, is at times extremely interseting and demanding. The music is a composite of classical ballet themes(such as Paquita), traditional, and original works. Although this is definitely intended to be lighthearted, it is a very valuable addition to the modern ballet repertoire. Buy it!

This movie was my first introduction to ballet when I saw it in a theater (as an adult) nearly three decades ago. I have since seen the royal ballet twice in person, so great was the impression it made on me. I searched for years for a video of it, it made my heart sing so. Now I have a very avid budding ballerina daughter and a nature loving son so I consider it a neccessity *and* a priviledge to own it. No child, ballet dancer or not, should be without it. We also own the charming animated Beatrix Potter stories, but this live action ballet tape is in a class by itself.

I had seen this ballet on TV when I was a child. At the age of 18 I attended the Royal Ballet School, now I am a teacher. I always wanted to see it again. When I found it on Amazon I was "jete-ing" for joy. I have shared it with my ballet students. It was especially great to see Sir Frederick Ashton as Tiggy Winkle. I attended his memorial service in London. He was a fine man. Everyone should watch and enjoy Ms. Potters stories told by the dancers.

Presenting a musical, live-action interpretation of classic fables, performed by dancers of the England Royal Ballet Company in full animal costume, The Tales Of Beatrix Potter is an enchanting, live-action, full color, 90-minute DVD which is recommended for viewing by all ages. Featuring widescreen presentation, The Tales Of Beatrix Potter is a lively delight and a true treasure to share with whole family and a crowning contribution to any community library DVD collection.