This lovely. I'm fascinated by films of the pre-code era, especially two color Technicolor. The dancers shown here, in actuality are more akin to what one would have seen in a big musical on Broadway at the time - it's uniquely American i.e. rather like a combination of Russian Ballet and The Rockets.
It's funny when you don't know all the real history behind a ballet. The Swan which is supposed to include the dance of the dying swan was actually a very short ballet. I believe sort of a take on Swan Lake. The dying swan was choreographed for Anna Pavlova who for the first time (in Russia anyway) actually got on point. Most dances were half toe, that's why when we look at this for the first time it looks crude compared to what we are used to seeing. Pavlova did the "Dying Swan" 4000 times
@jimp2200 - oh my oh my. Your knowledge of the history of the artform you seem to serve is sad. My dear, this IS ballet, long before dancers became preoccupied with gymnastics. The greatest dancers that have ever lived were once dancing just like this, & mind you, they were DANCING. Watch Ulanova, Vyacheslova, etc. Immerse yourself in the history of ballet, & you will see that the dancers of yesteryear were far more interesting than many of the rhythmic gymnasts en pointe we have today.
Quite amazing looking back at this video and thinking its been 80 years since it was made and all those pretty young girls are probably all dead for a long time now.
I confirm that this IS from "The Rogue Song", the ballet music is by Dimitri Tiomkin, the film released in March 1930 - refer review in "Photoplay" that month. The film had been shooting for several months - this may have been shot as early as the last weeks of 1929! This ballet sequence corresponds with a 'still' on page 42 of Clive Hirschhorn's "The Hollywood Musical", Octopus Books, London, 1981. On its recent DVD release this was INCORRECTLY identified as part of "Gold Diggers Of Broadway".
Great Sound on Film fidelity for this time, w/breathtaking color photography. Sad that most of this Tibbett film is lost. He really made a splash in the 1930's w/a beautiful operatic baritone/Bass voice
and movie star Leading Man looks. Dance sequences were Choreographed by Albertina Rasch.
I believe that this is the only known surviving Two-Color Technicolor segment of the lost film "The Rouge Song," other than the Laurel and Hardy bit where they encounter the bear.
I think it's quite good, even dreamlike--the distance of time gives it a very special, poignant patina. Other clips featuring Albertina Rasch dancers are equally intriguing. I'm very glad they're available for viewing.
For MGM from this period, the fidelity of the sound is very good. Too bad they were not as concerned about film preservation as other studios were (not including Fox, they weren't very concerned either) Goldwyn was the most astute about film preservation considering the condition of his Cantor films.
Well, I wasnt criticising the choice of video, and I hadnt realised that it was so early. But if this is what audiences in the USA thought was 'ballet' in the 1920s and 1930s, it shows what a long way we've come since then.
O I love that background lookes like something out of a disney movie like Snow White, and Love the flowy flapper style feather costumes soo flowing and soft.
Absolutely Gorgeous. It is such a crime that many of these extravagant color musicals are lost forever. I've read that a reel has also surfaced of Lawrence Tibbett singing one of his love songs to Catherine Dale Owen. I think it is "The White Dove" number.
This lovely. I'm fascinated by films of the pre-code era, especially two color Technicolor. The dancers shown here, in actuality are more akin to what one would have seen in a big musical on Broadway at the time - it's uniquely American i.e. rather like a combination of Russian Ballet and The Rockets.
3investigators 1 week ago
It's funny when you don't know all the real history behind a ballet. The Swan which is supposed to include the dance of the dying swan was actually a very short ballet. I believe sort of a take on Swan Lake. The dying swan was choreographed for Anna Pavlova who for the first time (in Russia anyway) actually got on point. Most dances were half toe, that's why when we look at this for the first time it looks crude compared to what we are used to seeing. Pavlova did the "Dying Swan" 4000 times
darlaandme47 2 months ago
Ballet in America was very poor until the 1950's. In fact critics couldn't write about it because they had no clue as to what they were watching.
MrApollo45 4 months ago
@jimp2200 - oh my oh my. Your knowledge of the history of the artform you seem to serve is sad. My dear, this IS ballet, long before dancers became preoccupied with gymnastics. The greatest dancers that have ever lived were once dancing just like this, & mind you, they were DANCING. Watch Ulanova, Vyacheslova, etc. Immerse yourself in the history of ballet, & you will see that the dancers of yesteryear were far more interesting than many of the rhythmic gymnasts en pointe we have today.
mrlopez2681 7 months ago
This is HILARIOUS!
BalletBabyBoy 7 months ago
Quite amazing looking back at this video and thinking its been 80 years since it was made and all those pretty young girls are probably all dead for a long time now.
VallyJohn 1 year ago
I confirm that this IS from "The Rogue Song", the ballet music is by Dimitri Tiomkin, the film released in March 1930 - refer review in "Photoplay" that month. The film had been shooting for several months - this may have been shot as early as the last weeks of 1929! This ballet sequence corresponds with a 'still' on page 42 of Clive Hirschhorn's "The Hollywood Musical", Octopus Books, London, 1981. On its recent DVD release this was INCORRECTLY identified as part of "Gold Diggers Of Broadway".
AusRadioHistorian 2 years ago
Great Sound on Film fidelity for this time, w/breathtaking color photography. Sad that most of this Tibbett film is lost. He really made a splash in the 1930's w/a beautiful operatic baritone/Bass voice
and movie star Leading Man looks. Dance sequences were Choreographed by Albertina Rasch.
78timothy 2 years ago
I believe that this is the only known surviving Two-Color Technicolor segment of the lost film "The Rouge Song," other than the Laurel and Hardy bit where they encounter the bear.
maxbest2 2 years ago
I think it's quite good, even dreamlike--the distance of time gives it a very special, poignant patina. Other clips featuring Albertina Rasch dancers are equally intriguing. I'm very glad they're available for viewing.
westeggz 3 years ago
It's pretty. Who cares if it isn't perfect? It's still nice to look at.
GoldenSilents 3 years ago
who was this choreographed by?
441peep441 3 years ago
Albertina Rasch
perfectjazz78 3 years ago
For MGM from this period, the fidelity of the sound is very good. Too bad they were not as concerned about film preservation as other studios were (not including Fox, they weren't very concerned either) Goldwyn was the most astute about film preservation considering the condition of his Cantor films.
78timothy 3 years ago
Well, I wasnt criticising the choice of video, and I hadnt realised that it was so early. But if this is what audiences in the USA thought was 'ballet' in the 1920s and 1930s, it shows what a long way we've come since then.
Jim.
jimp2200 3 years ago
O I love that background lookes like something out of a disney movie like Snow White, and Love the flowy flapper style feather costumes soo flowing and soft.
manga12 4 years ago 2
Absolutely Gorgeous. It is such a crime that many of these extravagant color musicals are lost forever. I've read that a reel has also surfaced of Lawrence Tibbett singing one of his love songs to Catherine Dale Owen. I think it is "The White Dove" number.
disco79 4 years ago
From "The Rogue Song". Beautiful color,if not much more.
albanybeardguy 4 years ago
Beautiful!!
AdorableFlapper36 4 years ago