Rating: 
Summary: Looking for the Soundtrack
Review: Tales of Beatrix Potter with Dancers of the Royal Ballet (1971) is pure fun and innocence portrayed through top flight ballet dancing. Don't miss this production if you're a fan of ballet, Beatrix, and barnyard animals.As the story opens, we see a young Beatrix Potter and the beautiful English countryside that was the inspiration for her family of adorable little creatures. Soon we see Beatrix's creations come to life in vignettes and costumes true to the original drawings. The dancers appear to be dancing on an earthen stage (complete with clumps of grass, dirt, and hay), but pigs and mice on pointe were never this graceful. Watch the swine ham it up in a pigs' pas de deux, and see them escape their inevitable fate. Mr. Jeremy Fisher is one wonderfully flexible, high-jumping leapfrog. See mice go mad and perform a quick, clean petite allegro with the beautiful pointe work you'd expect from the Royal Ballet. Peter Rabbit comes in, dancing about very happily, having just raided the cabbage patch. He is witness to a picnic of rats, crashed by mice and Squirrel Nutkin and his buddies. This scene is nothing but fun and I can't imagine the dancers didn't have a blast performing it. There's even a food fight. Don't be put off by the whimsical concept of this production. These are world-class ballet dancers performing Ashton's warm and witty, yet demanding choreography in top form. I wish the editing had been better in spots and that the camera angles had been tighter, but I imagine it was necessary to maintain the proper perspective between the sizes of the characters and the sets. Great costumes and sets convincingly blend with footage of the real English landscape in all its green glory. Complete dancer credits at the end.
Rating: 
Summary: Wonderful Royal Ballet Portrayal of a Childhood Favorite
Review: Tales of Beatrix Potter with Dancers of the Royal Ballet (1971) is pure fun and innocence portrayed through top flight ballet dancing. Don't miss this production if you're a fan of ballet, Beatrix, and barnyard animals. As the story opens, we see a young Beatrix Potter and the beautiful English countryside that was the inspiration for her family of adorable little creatures. Soon we see Beatrix's creations come to life in vignettes and costumes true to the original drawings. The dancers appear to be dancing on an earthen stage (complete with clumps of grass, dirt, and hay), but pigs and mice on pointe were never this graceful. Watch the swine ham it up in a pigs' pas de deux, and see them escape their inevitable fate. Mr. Jeremy Fisher is one wonderfully flexible, high-jumping leapfrog. See mice go mad and perform a quick, clean petite allegro with the beautiful pointe work you'd expect from the Royal Ballet. Peter Rabbit comes in, dancing about very happily, having just raided the cabbage patch. He is witness to a picnic of rats, crashed by mice and Squirrel Nutkin and his buddies. This scene is nothing but fun and I can't imagine the dancers didn't have a blast performing it. There's even a food fight. Don't be put off by the whimsical concept of this production. These are world-class ballet dancers performing Ashton's warm and witty, yet demanding choreography in top form. I wish the editing had been better in spots and that the camera angles had been tighter, but I imagine it was necessary to maintain the proper perspective between the sizes of the characters and the sets. Great costumes and sets convincingly blend with footage of the real English landscape in all its green glory. Complete dancer credits at the end.
Rating:
Summary: Best kids video ever!
Review: There seems to be some confusion among the reviewers of this tape. This is a BALLET version of some of Beatrix Potter's tales, NOT an animated version true to Potter's watercolors. That is another video altogether. This video has been a favorite of my two boys since they were VERY young. The dance is magnificent, the music gorgeous, and the English scenery can't be beat. A great alternative for families avoiding Disney videos.
Rating:
Summary: This is not just for kids!
Review: This is A first rate ballet by a first rate choreographer and a first rate production! Sir Frederick Ashton actually dances in this himself: he is the hedgehog seen as the first character. It is very rare to see this great choreographer dance. The dancing, which includes pointe, male technique, and (animal!) character, is at times extremely interseting and demanding. The music is a composite of classical ballet themes(such as Paquita), traditional, and original works. Although this is definitely intended to be lighthearted, it is a very valuable addition to the modern ballet repertoire. Buy it!
Rating:
Summary: Dancing animals in high spirits
Review: This is ballet movie elevated to art in every possible respect. The English writer Beatrix Potter has been a long time favorite in the nursery and the movie is really a masterpiece. Sir Frederic Ashton did the choreography - masterly - and appeared himself in the role of old Mrs. Tiggywinkle (the hedgehog) - he must have had some fun! Rostislav Douboujinsky did the masks - wonderful - John Lanchbery composed the music.The fandango danced by two mice on a table is a true highlight. Why some movies or books become classics is a very difficult question to answer. Maybe one answer could be that with a mediocre work you have seen it, and that is that, easily forgotten. With a masterpiece you still discover new things at the fiftysixth viewing. That is the way it is with "Tales". One cannot possibly find a single fault with this lovely production. It is filmed in the rolling green pastures of merry old England. And here we are in the North of England, Beatrix Potter's own home in the Lake District - today a National Trust property. Christine Edzard was responsible for the sets and costumes, beautiful to look at. There are very notable performances by Alexander Grant (Peter Rabbit), Brenda Last (Black Berkshire Pig) Michael Coleman (Jeremy Fisher, the frog) and the inimitable Whiskered Foxy Gentleman danced by Robert Mead. All the other characters are as delightful, Jemima Puddleduck flying in the sky, Johnny Townmouse, complete with bowler hat and furled umbrella. This film is a true delight for both adults and children. END
Rating:
Summary: Ballet for the imagination
Review: This movie was my first introduction to ballet when I saw it in a theater (as an adult) nearly three decades ago. I have since seen the royal ballet twice in person, so great was the impression it made on me. I searched for years for a video of it, it made my heart sing so. Now I have a very avid budding ballerina daughter and a nature loving son so I consider it a neccessity *and* a priviledge to own it. No child, ballet dancer or not, should be without it. We also own the charming animated Beatrix Potter stories, but this live action ballet tape is in a class by itself.
Rating:
Summary: A Ballet for Kids...and for Discerning Adults
Review: Two words for this filming of the ballet by Frederick Ashton of stories by Beatrix Potter: Clever...charming. If you have small kids who aren't yet spoiled by Computer Generated Overkill, I think they'll be entranced. And any grownups who still have a bit of innocence left I think will be, too.
The dancers from the Royal Ballet are all costumed as the characters. The female creatures all are plump and wear pastel gowns with the waist around the bust and white dust bonnets on their heads. The male creatures all are chubby and wear frock coats, knickers and knee socks. The dancers also wear full head masks to look like the squirrels and pigs and mice and ducks. I couldn't spot an eye port anywhere. The characters are all there (and spare me the sophisticated smirks): Mrs. Tigglewinkle, Peter Rabbit, Squirrel Nutkin, Jemima Puddleduck, Pigling Bland, The Cunning Fox, Mrs. Tittlemouse, and the others.
The music is first-rate, with plenty of waltzes and melody. The choreography is oustanding, funny and true to the characters. And the production values are excellent. This is an example of what professionals can accomplish when they're at the top of their game.
The DVD transfer is very good. And for once I wish there were extras. It would have been fascinating to learn about the development of the look of the piece and the costumes and head masks. It also would have been good to hear from some of the dancers of what it took to dance their roles in those costumes.
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