"Ballerina" (1937) is a masterpiece which shows rare film performances by some of the greatest ballet dancers. It is important in film history, because it was the first full length movie set in the world of ballet. This film deserves to be released on DVD.
"Ballerina" (1937) is a French movie, originally titled "La Mort du Cygne" (the death of the swan). The title was changed to "Ballerina" for the American showing, and English subtitles were added.
The movie is set in the Paris Opera House (Palais Garnier), which has the oldest ballet school and company in the world, and is very prestigious. Director Jean Benoit-Levy spent several months living at the Paris Opera House to study the ballet dancers, so that the film would be an authentic depiction of the world of ballet. The film is so realistic at showing the backstage world of the Paris Opera Ballet that it sometimes seems to be a documentary.
In the film, a 12-year-old dance student, Rose Souris (Janine Charrat), idolizes Miss Beaupre (Yvette Chauvire), the prima ballerina of the Paris Opera Ballet. Rose is upset when a rival Russian dancer, Nathalie Karine (Mia Slavenska), will star in the Swan Lake ballet. Rose arranges an accident for Karine. However, the accident severely injures Karine, and she can no longer dance. Although Karine's leg is broken, her passion for dance is not broken, and she becomes a ballet instructor. Rose is tormented by guilt, and hides in one of the many cellars beneath the Paris Opera House, searching for a river. (There actually is a subterranean stream, and a huge water tank, beneath the Paris Opera House.) However, there is a happy ending. Karine and Rose reconcile through their love of the art of dance, which is greater than their individual problems.
This extraordinary movie features rare film performances by famous ballet dancers. Yvette Chauvire was the prima ballerina of the Paris Opera Ballet. Mia Slavenska was the star of the Zagreb Opera Ballet in Croatia. Slavenska was also the star of the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo. The dances were choreographed by the legendary Serge Lifar, artistic director of the Paris Opera Ballet. Janine Charrat was a prodigy, who choreographed her first ballet when she was 14. Charrat became an acclaimed dancer and choreographer, and she performed worldwide for many years.
There are many exquisite ballets in this film. The dancing is graceful and elegant. In a poignant scene, the injured Karine has a dream where she dances beautifully in a garden.
This film authentically shows the backstage world of the Paris Opera Ballet in great detail. There are many scenes of dance classes, and students practicing at the barre. These scenes are reminiscent of the art of Edgar Degas, whose paintings depict ballet dancers in class or rehearsing.
The dancers are excellent at conveying strong emotions in this ballet drama. Karine's eyes, outlined with dark eyeshadow, have an intense and haunting gaze.
The black and white cinematography is dramatic and moody. Karine looks tragic yet regal in her long black dress, holding her cane. Karine's narrow black dress contrasts with the full white tutus of her students. This image is emotionally powerful.
There is a scene with a dancer wearing a large devil head mask. The devil character is a symbolic reference to the malicious act Rose commits, but later regrets.
"Ballerina" (1937) was remade as "The Unfinished Dance" (1947), which is also a wonderful film. However, "Ballerina" (1937) is more realistic in depicting the culture of ballet at the Paris Opera, and shows rare film performances by famous ballet dancers. This historic masterpiece should be released on DVD.
"Ballerina" (1937) is a French movie, originally titled "La Mort du Cygne" (the death of the swan). The title was changed to "Ballerina" for the American showing, and English subtitles were added.
The movie is set in the Paris Opera House (Palais Garnier), which has the oldest ballet school and company in the world, and is very prestigious. Director Jean Benoit-Levy spent several months living at the Paris Opera House to study the ballet dancers, so that the film would be an authentic depiction of the world of ballet. The film is so realistic at showing the backstage world of the Paris Opera Ballet that it sometimes seems to be a documentary.
In the film, a 12-year-old dance student, Rose Souris (Janine Charrat), idolizes Miss Beaupre (Yvette Chauvire), the prima ballerina of the Paris Opera Ballet. Rose is upset when a rival Russian dancer, Nathalie Karine (Mia Slavenska), will star in the Swan Lake ballet. Rose arranges an accident for Karine. However, the accident severely injures Karine, and she can no longer dance. Although Karine's leg is broken, her passion for dance is not broken, and she becomes a ballet instructor. Rose is tormented by guilt, and hides in one of the many cellars beneath the Paris Opera House, searching for a river. (There actually is a subterranean stream, and a huge water tank, beneath the Paris Opera House.) However, there is a happy ending. Karine and Rose reconcile through their love of the art of dance, which is greater than their individual problems.
This extraordinary movie features rare film performances by famous ballet dancers. Yvette Chauvire was the prima ballerina of the Paris Opera Ballet. Mia Slavenska was the star of the Zagreb Opera Ballet in Croatia. Slavenska was also the star of the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo. The dances were choreographed by the legendary Serge Lifar, artistic director of the Paris Opera Ballet. Janine Charrat was a prodigy, who choreographed her first ballet when she was 14. Charrat became an acclaimed dancer and choreographer, and she performed worldwide for many years.
There are many exquisite ballets in this film. The dancing is graceful and elegant. In a poignant scene, the injured Karine has a dream where she dances beautifully in a garden.
This film authentically shows the backstage world of the Paris Opera Ballet in great detail. There are many scenes of dance classes, and students practicing at the barre. These scenes are reminiscent of the art of Edgar Degas, whose paintings depict ballet dancers in class or rehearsing.
The dancers are excellent at conveying strong emotions in this ballet drama. Karine's eyes, outlined with dark eyeshadow, have an intense and haunting gaze.
The black and white cinematography is dramatic and moody. Karine looks tragic yet regal in her long black dress, holding her cane. Karine's narrow black dress contrasts with the full white tutus of her students. This image is emotionally powerful.
There is a scene with a dancer wearing a large devil head mask. The devil character is a symbolic reference to the malicious act Rose commits, but later regrets.
"Ballerina" (1937) was remade as "The Unfinished Dance" (1947), which is also a wonderful film. However, "Ballerina" (1937) is more realistic in depicting the culture of ballet at the Paris Opera, and shows rare film performances by famous ballet dancers. This historic masterpiece should be released on DVD.