The colorful holiday classic is finally brought to the big screen, designed by famed children's story author and artist Maurice Sendak, and written for the first time to be as close as possible to the original story. A lavish, exciting and heart-warming celebration of dance, of music, and of life. Based on the Pacific Northwest Ballet's original production.

The chief attraction of this 1968 adaptation is Rudolf Nureyev, who had defected to the West in 1961. This is his adaptation of the work, and the dancing is very classical, the costumes sumptuous, and the orchestra sparkling. The production made ballerina Merle Park a star. At a Christmas party, Clara is presented with the elegant Nutcracker prince by her doting godfather, Herr Drosselmeyer. The Nutcracker is broken and Clara is devastated. That night,...

The chief attraction of this 1977 adaptation is the pairing of Baryshnikov and Kirkland. In consequence, the storyline has been altered to keep Clara and the Nutcracker prince as the focus of the tale. At a Christmas party, Clara is presented with the elegant Nutcracker prince by her doting godfather, Herr Drosselmeyer. A drunken male guest breaks it, and Clara is devastated. That night, Clara dreams about the Nutcracker prince: he comes to life,...

"Rupert Christiansen, a renowned dance critic and arts correspondent, presents a sweeping history of the Ballets russes and of Serge Diaghilev's dream of bringing Russian art and culture to the West"--

The colorful holiday classic is finally brought to the big screen, designed by famed children's story author and artist Maurice Sendak, and written for the first time to be as close as possible to the original story. A lavish, exciting and heart-warming celebration of dance, of music, and of life. Based upon the Pacific Northwest Ballet's original production.

In a testament to the Bolshoi legacy, this newly discovered film stars Nina Timofeyeva and Mikhail Lavrosky creating a special program of solos and pas de deuxs.