Romeo and Juliet [1969, Hammond] - Spring Waters (excerpt)
Film Identifier: F.2011-05-0041
Run Time
0h 14m 9s
0h 14m 9s
Format
16mm
16mm
Color
Color
Color
Sound
Silent
Silent
Date Produced
1969
1969
Abstract
Ruth Page's version of "Romeo and Juliet" is set to Tchaikovsky's original score for it, with designs by André Delfau. It was premiered in Niles, Michigan in January of 1969.
This film represents excerpts of "Romeo and Juliet" recorded during a dress rehearsal from the Hammond, Indiana stop on Ruth Page's International Ballet's (final) tour in 1969. Also present on the film is an excerpt of a rehearsal (in practice clothes) for the ballet "Spring Waters."
Ruth Page's version of "Romeo and Juliet" is set to Tchaikovsky's original score for it, with designs by André Delfau. It was premiered in Niles, Michigan in January of 1969.
This film represents excerpts of "Romeo and Juliet" recorded during a dress rehearsal from the Hammond, Indiana stop on Ruth Page's International Ballet's (final) tour in 1969. Also present on the film is an excerpt of a rehearsal (in practice clothes) for the ballet "Spring Waters."
Description
The film opens with a low-light, seemingly onstage shot of male dancers. One appears to be Romeo, putting on a mask in preparation for the Capulet ball. After a few cuts, Juliet and Tybalt introduce themselves to one another (in more light) and begin to dance together. Romeo, masked, appears and cuts in to dance with her as well; the film cuts forward to their dance. A suspicious Tybalt soon returns and unmasks Romeo, revealing him as a Montague and inciting a fight. Soon, Romeo's friend Mercutio enters and fights on his behalf.
The film then cuts to a low-light solo by Romeo, followed by Juliet being ushered away from him, the two reaching toward each other as she is pulled away. A friend then joins him, before the film cuts back to the fight between Tybalt and Mercutio, among guards, in more light. As Tybalt attempts to slay Mercutio, Romeo reappears to come to his friend's rescue--too late. Enraged, he comes after Tybalt.
The film then cuts to a pas de deux between Romeo and Juliet, including several lifts. The film then cuts forward to Juliet's death: two Capulet guards carry her stiff body over their heads and lay her down on a table. Romeo, cloaked, enters to mourn for her. Just as he prepares to join her in death, the film cuts again.
It returns to a pas de deux between Romeo and Juliet, though they stop midway through and the dancer playing Juliet seems to nod at a correction coming from behind the camera. They then resume. While the two lovers are dancing, Romeo suddenly collapses. Juliet, beside herself, uses his dagger to kill herself, collapsing on top fo him.
It is at this point that the film cuts to an excerpt from "Spring Waters," which entails a couple dancing a pas de deux. The film ends mid-rehearsal.
The film opens with a low-light, seemingly onstage shot of male dancers. One appears to be Romeo, putting on a mask in preparation for the Capulet ball. After a few cuts, Juliet and Tybalt introduce themselves to one another (in more light) and begin to dance together. Romeo, masked, appears and cuts in to dance with her as well; the film cuts forward to their dance. A suspicious Tybalt soon returns and unmasks Romeo, revealing him as a Montague and inciting a fight. Soon, Romeo's friend Mercutio enters and fights on his behalf.
The film then cuts to a low-light solo by Romeo, followed by Juliet being ushered away from him, the two reaching toward each other as she is pulled away. A friend then joins him, before the film cuts back to the fight between Tybalt and Mercutio, among guards, in more light. As Tybalt attempts to slay Mercutio, Romeo reappears to come to his friend's rescue--too late. Enraged, he comes after Tybalt.
The film then cuts to a pas de deux between Romeo and Juliet, including several lifts. The film then cuts forward to Juliet's death: two Capulet guards carry her stiff body over their heads and lay her down on a table. Romeo, cloaked, enters to mourn for her. Just as he prepares to join her in death, the film cuts again.
It returns to a pas de deux between Romeo and Juliet, though they stop midway through and the dancer playing Juliet seems to nod at a correction coming from behind the camera. They then resume. While the two lovers are dancing, Romeo suddenly collapses. Juliet, beside herself, uses his dagger to kill herself, collapsing on top fo him.
It is at this point that the film cuts to an excerpt from "Spring Waters," which entails a couple dancing a pas de deux. The film ends mid-rehearsal.
Additional Credits
Page, Ruth (is choreographer)
Genre
Form
Subject
Related Place
Hammond (production location of)