Nutcracker - Romeo and Juliet
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Ruth Page's version of the popular ballet "The Nutcracker" was premiered at McCormick Place's Arie Crown Theater in Chicago, on December 26, 1965. After this, it was presented at the Chicago Civic Opera House in 1967 & 1968; it was then presented at McCormick every holiday season from 1971 through 1997. The ballet uses Tchaikovsky's original score for the story by E.T.A. Hoffman; it was produced by Edward G. Lee, with costumes by Rolf Gérard and scenery by Sam Leve.; Ruth Page's version of "Romeo and Juliet" is set to Tchaikovsky's original score for it, with designs by André Delfau. It was premiered in Niles, Michigan in January of 1969.; This film represents excerpts of the ballets, including two different casts for "Romeo and Juliet," recorded during performances. They are apparently part of a proposal for a potential television airing on NBC alongside a version of "Variations on Euclid" (as suggested by canister notes).
Credits
Ruth Page (choreographer); Dolores Lipinski (performer); Kirsten Simone (performer); Charlene Gehm (performer); Dennis Poole (performer); Patricia Klekovic (performer); Kenneth Johnson (performer)
Complete catalog record
Cfa collection: Ruth Page Collection
Notes: The film opens with a close proximity shot of a couple dancing the grand pas de deux from "The Nutcracker" on a stage. After their pas de deux proper, the film cuts to the man's mini-solo, during which he performs numerous jumps that take him vertically out of frame. It then cuts to the woman's corresponding mini-solo, followed by a snippet of his grand allegro and their return to each other.; The film then cuts to a brief piece of fouettes footage by Dolores Lipinski, before cutting again to two male dancers and then a female soloist in a flowing white dress (perhaps Juliet?). She is soon joined by a male pas de deux partner (Tybalt?), and then another (masked) one (perhaps Romeo?). After this is brief footage of an apparent fight (between Romeo and Tybalt?), with the latter pushing Juliet away from the former. Then another fighter (Mercutio?) enters and violently opposes Tybalt, eventually dying by Tybalt's hand. In revenge, Romeo kills Tybalt.; The film then cuts back to Juliet momentarily, before cutting again to a differently lit pas de deux between Romeo and Juliet. Tybalt enters this version for a fight as well, but the film cuts forward to a Romeo and Juliet pas de deux in low light, and then one in better light. Romeo eventually kisses her goodbye, leaving Juliet to dance giddily alone for a few moments before the film ends.
Subjects: Dance; Performances
Language: English
Cfa elements: Reversal Positives, 200 feet
Cfa records: https://collections.chicagofilmarchives.org/Detail/objects/8654
Notes: The film opens with a close proximity shot of a couple dancing the grand pas de deux from "The Nutcracker" on a stage. After their pas de deux proper, the film cuts to the man's mini-solo, during which he performs numerous jumps that take him vertically out of frame. It then cuts to the woman's corresponding mini-solo, followed by a snippet of his grand allegro and their return to each other.; The film then cuts to a brief piece of fouettes footage by Dolores Lipinski, before cutting again to two male dancers and then a female soloist in a flowing white dress (perhaps Juliet?). She is soon joined by a male pas de deux partner (Tybalt?), and then another (masked) one (perhaps Romeo?). After this is brief footage of an apparent fight (between Romeo and Tybalt?), with the latter pushing Juliet away from the former. Then another fighter (Mercutio?) enters and violently opposes Tybalt, eventually dying by Tybalt's hand. In revenge, Romeo kills Tybalt.; The film then cuts back to Juliet momentarily, before cutting again to a differently lit pas de deux between Romeo and Juliet. Tybalt enters this version for a fight as well, but the film cuts forward to a Romeo and Juliet pas de deux in low light, and then one in better light. Romeo eventually kisses her goodbye, leaving Juliet to dance giddily alone for a few moments before the film ends.
Subjects: Dance; Performances
Language: English
Cfa elements: Reversal Positives, 200 feet
Cfa records: https://collections.chicagofilmarchives.org/Detail/objects/8654
Sources
- Chicago Film Archives · record ↗ — title, length, format, color, sound, genre, description, credits, catalog record, video
Record added 2026-11-08 21:25:11