George Balanchine's The Nutcracker
by Emile Ardolino
from Warner Home Video
Tchaikovsky's timeless Yuletide ballet is presented in an all-new movie version with as much eloquence as one would find in a live stage production. Replete with gorgeous costumes and scenery, George Balanchine's production, adapted by Peter Martins, features the New York City Ballet with narration by Kevin Kline. From the moment the Nutcracker prince winds toymaker Drosselmeier's life-sized dolls, viewers are ushered into the captivating story of a little girl's Christmas Eve fantasy of beauty, magic, and sugarplums. While several versions of this beloved tale are available in video, this one is distinguished for the magnificent performances of a large cast of young ballet dancers from the School of American Ballet. While Culkin lends his star-studded name, that is all he lends in what is mostly a wooden performance (he often appears on the sidelines looking quite blasé and detached). More deserving accolades go to Jessica Lynn Cohen as Marie, whose genuineness never wanes and dance steps never falter. Bart Robinson Cook is wonderful as the playful Herr Drosselmeier, and Darci Kistler is the graceful Sugarplum Fairy. Mostly this film belongs to children--both on the stage and in the audience. What is lacking in spontaneous energy of live theater is made up for in a perfectly polished performance. The only thing missing is the well-earned applause. --Lynn Gibson
Angels and sugarplums. Candy canes and ice. A magic prince, a dreamy young girl, a mysterious old man and a Christmas tree that grows sky high. Enter the world of George Balanchine's The Nutcracker, featuring the New York City Ballet, and let this all-new movie version of a timeless Yuletide fantasy, narrated ny Academy Award(R) winner Kevin Kline, draw you under its spell. Starring Macaulay Caulkin, Darci Kistler and Bart Robinson Cook. Year: 1993 Director: Emile Ardolino Starring: Bart Robinson Cook, Macaulay Caulkin, Darci Kistler, Damian Woetzel
Trans-Siberian Orchestra - The Ghost Of Christmas Eve
by Hart Perry
from Lava
TOS's THE GHOST OF CHRISTMAS EVE - now available for the first time on VHS and DVD - is a unique fantasy trip through the magic of Christmas. Narrated by award-winning actor Ossie Davis, the production takes us on a journey of a runaway little girl's decision to return to her family after she enters a rundown theater for shelter and encounters an old caretaker who guides her on her journey. This magical story - which features appearances from Atlantic recording artists Jewel and Michael Crawford - was filmed entirely on location at the newly refurbished and historic Loews Jersey Theatre in Jersey City, New Jersey, and includes performances of such tracks as "O Come All Ye Faithful," "Good King Joy," "Christmas Canon," "Music Box Blues," "Promises To Keep," and "This Christmas Day,".
Track Listing:
O' Come All Ye Faithful/O Holy Night
Good King Joy
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing -- Featuring Jewel
Christmas Eve (Sarajevo 12/24)
Christmas Canon
O Holy Night -- Featuring Michael Crawford
Music Box Blues
Promises To Keep
This Christmas Day
First Snow
Sissel: Northern Lights
from Denon Records
Norwegian singer Sissel is joined by opera singer Jose Carreras for this glorious celebration of her music. The show was shot in Roros which is a sleepy Norwegian village and originally aired on PBS. Sissel rose to fame after singing the opening and closing anthems at the 1994 Winter Olympic Games in her native country and has built her career around her unusual marriage of folk pop and classical music.Format: DVD AUDIO Genre: MUSIC DVD/CONCERTS UPC: 795041766298 Manufacturer No: COZ17662
WHITE CHRISTMAS (DVD) (IRVING BERLINS)WS ENHANCED 16X9/DOLBY DIGI ENG 5.1
from Paramount
This semi-remake of Holiday Inn (the first movie in which Irving Berlin's perennial, Oscar-winning holiday anthem was featured) doesn't have much of a story, but what it does have is choice: Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney, an all-Irving Berlin song score, classy direction by Hollywood vet Michael Curtiz (Casablanca, The Adventures of Robin Hood), VistaVision (the very first feature ever shot in that widescreen format), and ultrafestive Technicolor! Crosby and Kaye are song-and-dance men who hook up, romantically and professionally, with a "sister" act (Clooney and Vera-Ellen) to put on a Big Show to benefit the struggling ski-resort lodge run by the beloved old retired general (Dean Jagger) of their WWII Army outfit. Crosby is cool, Clooney is warm, Kaye is goofy, and Vera-Ellen is leggy. Songs include: "Sisters" (Crosby and Kaye do their own drag version, too), "Snow," "We'll Follow the Old Man," "Mandy," "Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep," and more. Christmas would be unthinkable without White Christmas. --Jim Emerson
Andre Rieu - Christmas Around the World
from Denon Records
Track Listings: Star of BethlehemThe AngelTulip SongDendenra RyuFrom Heaven High I Come To You/Tomorrow's The Day Children/Angels We HaveHeard On HighRing Out Little Bell/O Come All Ye FaithfulDeck The Halls With Boughs Of HollySlumber My DarlingSilent Night Holy NightWe Wish You A Merry ChristmasWhite ChristmasJingle BellsO Holy Night (Minuit Chretien/Cantique de Noel)Sah ein Knab ein Roslein stehenPetersburger SchlittenfahrtRudolph the Red-nosed ReindeerWinter WonderlandGesu BambinoSleigh RideAve MariaSakuraEvening PrayerHallelujahFormat: DVD AUDIO Genre: MUSIC DVD/CONCERTS UPC: 795041762092 Manufacturer No: COZ17620
Going My Way/Holiday Inn
by Mark Sandrich
from Universal Studios
Going My Way
This irresistible Oscar winner from writer-director Leo McCarey (An Affair to Remember) stars Bing Crosby as a low-key, crooning priest who joins the parish of a no-nonsense but sweet old Irish man of the cloth (Barry Fitzgerald). While Bing turns local toughs into a choir, the elder priest worries over the church building fund and whether he'll get a chance to see his old mother back in Ireland before she dies. One would have to have a heart of stone not to be won over by this charmer, with a lovely ending guaranteed to make you bawl for a week. --Tom Keogh
Holiday Inn
This perennial, Christmas-season favorite from 1942 teamed Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire as entertainers (and rival suitors of Marjorie Reynolds) running an inn that is only open on holidays. It's a great excuse for lots of singing and dancing, seamlessly wrapped in a catchy story, and Astaire's frequent director Mark Sandrich (Top Hat, Shall We Dance) doesn't let us down. The Irving Berlin numbers (each one connected to a different holiday) are winners, with Crosby's warm performance of "White Christmas" a movie touchstone. --Tom Keogh
Bob Hope - Hope for the Holidays
by Sid Smith (III)
from R2 Entertainment
Remember when TV holiday specials were an event the entire family would watch together? For the first-time-ever on DVD, this delightful look back at Bob Hope's Christmas specials allow viewers to relive the classic comedic and musical moments Hope shared with his wife Dolores and a host of celebrity friends. Fully authorized by Hope Enterprises, "Hope for the Holidays" celebrates the universal themes of family, fun and holiday spirit.
Originally broadcast on NBC from the 1950s through the 1990s, Hope's Christmas special was an annual tradition for families across America for over 40 years. This landmark collection contains classic musical duets and comedy sketches Hope performed with special celebrity guests including Lucille Ball, Bing Crosby, Red Skelton, Joey Lawrence, The Judds, Jack Benny, Dolly Parton, John Wayne and many others. Additionally, the DVD features rare holiday bloopers from Hope's personal collection as well as a bonus "Silver Bells" collection, featuring full performance duets with Gale Storm, the beautiful Shirley Jones, a young Marie Osmond, Olivia Newton-John in the 70's and country superstar, Reba McEntire.
The Three Tenors Christmas
by Jose Carreras
from Sony
No Description Available
No Track Information Available
Media Type: DVD
Artist: CARRERAS/DOMINGO/PAVAROTTI
Title: THREE TENORS CHRISTMAS
Street Release Date: 11/07/2000
Genre: XMAS VIDEO
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