The Tales of Beatrix Potter facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Tales of Beatrix Potter |
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DVD cover
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| Directed by | Reginald Mills |
| Produced by | Richard Goodwin |
| Screenplay by | Richard Goodwin Christine Edzard |
| Starring | Royal Ballet dancers: Frederick Ashton Alexander Grant Michael Coleman Wayne Sleep Lesley Collier |
| Music by | John Lanchbery |
| Cinematography | Austin Dempster |
| Editing by | John Rushton |
| Studio | GW Films, EMI Elstree |
| Distributed by | MGM-EMI Film Distributors Ltd. |
| Release date(s) | 30 June 1971 |
| Running time | 90 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Budget | less than $600,000 or £256,000 |
The Tales of Beatrix Potter is a special film from 1971. It brings the beloved children's stories by English author and artist Beatrix Potter to life. But it's not just any film; it's a ballet film! This means the stories are told through dance, without any talking.
The film was directed by Reginald Mills. The amazing dances were created by Sir Frederick Ashton, who was also a famous dancer. He even played the role of Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle in the film! Dancers from The Royal Ballet performed all the roles. The beautiful music was put together by John Lanchbery. He used pieces from different operas and played them with the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House. Richard Goodwin produced the film, and his wife, Christine Edzard, helped him adapt the stories for the screen.
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About the Film's Creator
Reginald Mills, the director of The Tales of Beatrix Potter, is mostly known for his work as a film editor. This film is the only full-length movie he ever directed. He was famous for editing movies that included ballet, like the classic film The Red Shoes from 1948. His experience with dance films made him a great choice to direct this unique ballet movie.
Bringing Stories to Life
The film takes several of Beatrix Potter's most famous tales and turns them into a series of short ballets. Imagine seeing Peter Rabbit, Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle, and other characters dancing their stories! The dancers wear detailed animal costumes. These costumes help them look just like the characters from Beatrix Potter's original books. The film is a magical way to experience these classic tales. It shows how dance can tell a story without words.
Characters You'll See
In the film, you'll meet many of Beatrix Potter's charming animal characters. Each one has its own special dance and story. Some of the characters include:
- Peter Rabbit: The mischievous rabbit who loves to explore.
- Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle: The neat hedgehog who is a washerwoman.
- Jeremy Fisher: A frog who loves to fish.
- Tom Thumb and Hunca Munca: Two naughty mice.
- Pigling Bland: A pig who goes on an adventure.
Each character's personality is shown through their unique dance moves and the beautiful costumes they wear.
Music and Dance
The music for the film was specially arranged to fit the ballet. John Lanchbery chose music from different classical pieces. This created a score that perfectly matched the playful and sometimes dramatic moments in the stories. The choreography by Frederick Ashton is very clever. It makes the dancers move like animals while still performing elegant ballet steps. It's a wonderful example of how music and dance can work together to tell a story.
See also
In Spanish: The Tales of Beatrix Potter para niños
