The Bolshoi Ballet (1957)

Director:

Paul Czinner

Writer:

Paul Czinner (writer)

Release Date:

October 1957 (UK)

Genre:

Musical

Plot:

Plot Keywords:

Ballet | Dancer | Dance | Performance | Stage

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar.

Cast

Galina Ulanova	...	Giselle / Swan
Raisa Struchkova		(as Raissa Struchkova)
Nikolai Fedeychev		(as Nikolai Fadeyechev)

Runtime:

100 min

Country:

UK

Language:

None

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:S | Sweden:Btl

Company:

Paul Czinner Production

Soundtrack:

Spanish Dance

This film records irreplaceable performances by Ulanova.

Arne Andersen (or someone at IMDb Pro Home) has confused Czinner's film with another film. Czinner's film records performances by Galina Ulanova and the Bolshoi Ballet in England in 1956. Ulanova's Giselle is the greatest ever recorded, and this film is precious. Czinner filmed with multiple cameras one act of "Giselle" each night at Covent Garden after the regular performance. Ulanova was considered the greatest Giselle of her time, and this film shows why. She was at the end of her performing career, but her dancing is brilliant (though mostly not virtuosic) and heartbreaking. For the American release, part of "Giselle" was cut; this should be restored before the original footage is lost. But this film is of inestimable value.