The colorful holiday classic is finally brought to the big screen, designed by famed childrens story author and artist maurice sendak, and written for the first time to be as close as possible to. The nutcracker and the mouse king he was surprised that it bore little relation to what hed seen previously on stage. You can see the illusrations of the book in the following youtube video. The original story of the nutcracker and the mouse king is a curious tale that could only have come from a german romanticist in the 1800s. Let us be your instant christmas escape into a world of majesty and wonder, a world filled with wooden soldiers and sugarplum fairies. The colorful holiday classic is finally brought to the big screen, designed by famed childrens story author and artist maurice sendak, and written for the first time to be as close as possible to the original story. The nutcracker by maurice sendak enchanted booklet. He joined with the eminent translator ralph manheim to produce this illustrated edition of hoffmanns wonderful tale, destined to become a classic for all. A lavish, exciting and heartwarming celebration of dance, of music, and of life. The nutcracker crawls in the sleeve after the fleeing mouse and clara follows him. Ballard is a great director who adapts his skills to the material.
The images really flow, and the maurice sendak designs are at once graceful and funny and slightly malevolent giving the material the edge it needs to avoid candyland preciousness. Your browser does not currently recognize any of the video formats available. Maurice sendak designed brilliant sets and costumes for the. Lot detail maurice sendak autograph letter signed upon a card featuring his nutcracker artwork.
If youve never joined us, dont miss your last chance to see tiny toy soldiers and snowflakes that dance if you loved it before, its time to come back for this wondrous nutcracker by stowell. Wonderfully reimagined through the eyes of maurice sendak, the nutcracker is the perfect tradition for any young childs christmas. It depicts claras inner conflict and confusion, as well as the beginning of her sexual awakening, as she approaches adolescence. December 29, 2011 his latest book bumbleardy is a deeply imaginative tale about an orphaned pig who longs for a birthday party. So the pair agreed to abandon the predictable nutcracker and set out to find a fresh version that would do honor to hoffmann and the ballets composer. Hoffmanns original 1816 tale the nutcracker and the mouse. I finally saw it live in the final week of its retirement and got a backstage t. But what i loved most about the movie is what some of the critics. The motion picture, like the stowell sendak stage production on which it is based, is presented as claras comingofage story.
Pacific northwest ballets the nutcracker, sets by maurice sendak. Maurice sendak designed brilliant sets and costumes for the pacific northwest ballets christmas production of nutcracker and created even more magnificent pictures especially for this book. Sendak, stowell and the history of pnbs unique nutcracker. However, the disc is part of foxmgms manufactureondemand studio classics series. This is easily the best adaptation of the nutcracker ive seen, on stage or film. Maurice sendaks weird and wonderful nutcracker brain pickings maurice sendak illustration from the nutcracker by e. Hoffmann in 1816, has fascinated and inspired artists, composers, and audiences for almost two hundred years. Hoffmann, later watered down for the famous ballet.
In 1979, one kent stowell, choreographer for the pacific northwest ballet, contacted illustrator maurice sendak about collaborating on a new ballet production of the nutcracker. North seattles nutcracker lawn pays homage to sendak version of. Sendak was the son of polish immigrants and received his formal art training at the art students league of new york. In the 1980s maurice sendak, author of a number of childrens stories with a darkness that much more closely approximates. Maurice sendak, in full maurice bernard sendak, born june 10, 1928, brooklyn, new york, u. This is not just a hackneyed version of the nutcracker dressed up by the magnificent illustrations of maurice sendak. Since maurice sendak died earlier this year ive been digging through his back catalogue. Hoffmans the nutcracker and the mouse king, stowell and sendak delved deeply into the original story and. One of the ten best illustrated childrens books of the year. With paul boyd, joyce cuoco, tero julku, anna vita. The nutcracker and the mouse king is wellloved by many as the inspiration for tchaikovskys famous ballet, performed as a christmas spectacle the world over. Based upon the pacific northwest ballets original production. But not once as a child do i recall reading the story, written by eta hoffmann in 1816.
Nutcracker 1986 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. One can, after all, count on the instincts of a genius. After 3 tiresome weeks pissing over the ballet nutcracker. With wolfgang volz, rufus beck, hannes jaenicke, florence joy. The nutcracker and the mouse king background gradesaver. No matter what youre looking for or where you are in the world, our global marketplace of sellers can help you find unique and affordable options. The secret history of one of the worlds most celebrated nutcracker. The best, worst and weirdest versions of the nutcracker. The motion picture, like the stowellsendak stage production on. Hoffmanns original story, nutcracker and mouse king, is darker and. In seattle, maurice sendaks wild nutcracker reaches its final act for more than 30 years, the pacific northwest ballets nutcracker has used sets and costumes designed by the author of where. Maurice sendak, best known as the author and illustrator of where the wild things are, also created the sets for a 1983 production of the holiday ballet the nutcracker. The best, worst and weirdest versions of the nutcracker syfy wire. It has retained its freshness because it appeals to the sense of wonder we all share.
When midnight comes, clara finds herself trapped in the middle of a battle between the mice and her toys being lead by the confused nutcracker. Sendaks vision premiered with the pacific northwest ballet in 1983. This is a very well done nutcracker put on by the pacific northwest ballet in the 1980s. On the contrary, this book beautifully printed and bound features the original story written by e. Choreographed by kent stowell and designed by celebrated childrens author maurice sendak. As punishment for his good deed, the mouse queen managed to transform hans into a nutcracker prince of the dolls before her death. Pnb prepares to raise the curtain on a bold new nutcracker. Maurice sendaks illustrations from the nutcracker photos we know its a bit early to be thinking about christmas thanksgiving hasnt even passed yet. The legacy of the mouse king and the history of nutcracker. Maurice sendaks weird and wondrous illustrations for the nutcracker it is rare and genuine and does justice to the private world of children.
Hoffmanns classic story, 1816 the nutcracker and the mouse king one year later, in 1984, the book version, was published. In 1983 maurice sendak designed the set for the pacific northwestern ballets production of nutcracker. Maurice sendak and the nutcracker what i got 2 say. Maurice sendaks weird and wonderful nutcracker brain pickings from maurice sendaks illustrations for nutcracker. A hoffmann, 1984 nothing in the world is more exciting than a moment of sudden discovery or invention, and many more people are capable of experiencing such moments than is sometimes thought. This beautifully hardbound edition makes a great addition to any child, or adults library. With sets and costumes designed by renowned illustrator maurice sendak where the wild things are, and choreography by pnb founding artistic director kent stowellpacific northwest ballets. A conversation with maurice sendak the giant of childrens literature talks with jennifer ludden about his craft and his early influences.
The ballet was based on a french retelling of the story, and hoffmanns german original is rarely translated in its entirety. A short version of the nutcracker story, using, as much as i could, the illustrations by maurice sendak. Etsy is the home to thousands of handmade, vintage, and oneofakind products and gifts related to your search. So, it was quite exciting when a few weeks ago i received a copy of nutcracker, hoffmanns original story translated by ralph manheim with illustrations by maurice sendak. Adult at the party mouse captain dervish beatrice bassett. The the nutcracker and the mouse king community note includes chapterbychapter summary and analysis, character list, theme list, historical context, author biography and quizzes written by community members like you. Seattles maurice sendak nutcracker takes a controversial last bow. Come on in and sit by the fire, enjoy the tree, make yourself a hot cup of cocoa and enjoy the classic tale of the nutcracker. Hoffmans classic story, the nutcracker and the mouseking is the tale of a spoiled prince who lives in a magnificent palace with his magician uncle, drosselmeier.
So stowell and russell approached the late childrens book author and illustrator maurice sendak and invited him to. The brilliant result of close collaboration between pnb founding artistic director and choreographer kent stowell and renowned childrens book author and illustrator maurice sendak, nutcracker premiered to national acclaim in december 1983. The original story of the nutcracker and the mouse king is a curious tale that could only have come. The dancers of the pacific northwest ballet who have never seen a film. At long last, nutcracker, the motion picture, carroll ballards film of the pacific northwest ballets maurice sendak designed production is available on an official region one dvd from mgm, the films current owner. The chinese dance in the artist maurice sendak and the choreographer kent stowells production of the nutcracker, which is presented each season by the pacific northwest ballet in seattle. Sendak designed the set for the pacific northwestern ballets production of nutcracker. Hoffmans the nutcracker and the mouse king, stowell and sendak delved deeply into the original story and infused the ballet with a. Made into a movie by the director carroll ballard, with choreography by kent stowell and an incredible set and costumes by maurice sendak, it is well worth the vhs tape to view. Its a surprisingly dark blending of fantasy and reality that manages to somehow be sweetly innocent and scary as all hell. Maurice sendak worked on a version of the nutcracker for the pacific.
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