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Seasonal Cartoon: The Nutcracker Suite -- Act I
13 years ago
General
The Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy, presented here as the Dance of the Dewdrop Fairies:
As many already know, Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Suite is a traditional Christmas ballet. Disney's Fantasia interpretation of the music, while not overtly Holiday-themed, shows the changing of the seasons from summer to fall and ultimately to winter in the final sequence. I intend to spotlight one act each day for the next several days.
A very old and treasured children's picture book of the Fantasia Nutcracker that once belonged to my dad (it was published in 1943) has this intro at the beginning of it:
Once on Christmas, a long time ago, a little girl named Marie received a wooden nutcracker carved in the shape of an ugly old man with a movable jaw. It was her favorite toy, and when she went to bed that night she put it under the Christmas tree with the rest of her gifts. At midnight, hearing strange sounds, she crept downstairs and found that all the toys had come alive.
Some mice, attracted by the smell of sweets, were eating the gingerbread men. The toys, led by the Nutcracker, were fighting them off. When Marie came down, the mouse king was attacking the Nutcracker. Marie quickly threw her slipper at the mouse, who dashed away. Immediately the Nutcracker was transformed into a handsome prince.
"Do not be startled, Marie," he said. "Your kindness has broken the spell which made me a nutcracker. As a reward, I will take you to Fairyland.
"It is the land of the flowers, the leaves, the brooks, and the little animals. They will show you a beautiful spectacle. You shall see who decorates the flowers and grass with dewdrops in the quiet hours before dawn; who paints the leaves gold and red each autumn; who sheathes the ponds and brooks with sparkling ice on the first cold days of winter. You shall see all the woodland folk at play, and shall hear the music of Nature."
In a twinkling, Marie found herself sitting beside the Nutcracker Prince in a deep wood. It was so dark that she could just make out the trees and the open terrace, which looked almost like a stage. From somewhere she heard the soft music of a little Overture, and she knew that the show was about to begin.
As many already know, Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Suite is a traditional Christmas ballet. Disney's Fantasia interpretation of the music, while not overtly Holiday-themed, shows the changing of the seasons from summer to fall and ultimately to winter in the final sequence. I intend to spotlight one act each day for the next several days.
A very old and treasured children's picture book of the Fantasia Nutcracker that once belonged to my dad (it was published in 1943) has this intro at the beginning of it:
Once on Christmas, a long time ago, a little girl named Marie received a wooden nutcracker carved in the shape of an ugly old man with a movable jaw. It was her favorite toy, and when she went to bed that night she put it under the Christmas tree with the rest of her gifts. At midnight, hearing strange sounds, she crept downstairs and found that all the toys had come alive.
Some mice, attracted by the smell of sweets, were eating the gingerbread men. The toys, led by the Nutcracker, were fighting them off. When Marie came down, the mouse king was attacking the Nutcracker. Marie quickly threw her slipper at the mouse, who dashed away. Immediately the Nutcracker was transformed into a handsome prince.
"Do not be startled, Marie," he said. "Your kindness has broken the spell which made me a nutcracker. As a reward, I will take you to Fairyland.
"It is the land of the flowers, the leaves, the brooks, and the little animals. They will show you a beautiful spectacle. You shall see who decorates the flowers and grass with dewdrops in the quiet hours before dawn; who paints the leaves gold and red each autumn; who sheathes the ponds and brooks with sparkling ice on the first cold days of winter. You shall see all the woodland folk at play, and shall hear the music of Nature."
In a twinkling, Marie found herself sitting beside the Nutcracker Prince in a deep wood. It was so dark that she could just make out the trees and the open terrace, which looked almost like a stage. From somewhere she heard the soft music of a little Overture, and she knew that the show was about to begin.
Also reminds me of the "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fatties" from a Confurence long past...