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A.P, McCredie Layne Christensen
985-2131 (113) 985-2131 (118)

LESAN SGU COUC Ci weg ORABL US Sn Dy ike RES SULTS Dat SP a

STORIES

Curl up with one of these Christmas classics

SHE WEATHER outside is
frightful? Then here’s a
‘ scene delightful. Cruise
down to the video store, then ...

“let it pour, let it pour, let it pour.

By Kate Zimmerman
: Spotlight Feature

“With Christmas ’round the comer
‘it’s time to take a gander at a few of
the. classic seasonal selections avail-

able forfamily viewing. Some will |

seem obvious, but there may be one
or two on this list that have somehow
passed you by.- like:

; Scrooge: : Widely regarded as the:

“best of many film versions of Charles —

Dickens’ classic tale, this black-and-
white ‘1951. movie: (also listed as’A
Christmas’ Carol) stars Alastair Sim

in 2 tour de force performance as the -

“old miser.: ‘Sim’s transformation from
the ‘grim Ebeneezer to a benefactor
whe is is giddily grateful for a second ,
chance is altogether charming.

Holiday. Inn: The -1942. black-
and-white Irving Berlin musical
introduced :the song White

. Christmas functions like most musi-
cals ~~ the plot is simply an excuse to :
string together a whole lot of singin’
and: dancin.’ * When the. singin’s by’
Bing Crosby and the dancin’s by Fred

; Astaire, Who's going 10"

to steal Crosby" s ances
: (Virginia Dale):. before’ :
they tie the knot. Crosby

failure, | ‘decides to tum

his property into an inn
“which :is only open on holidays’ He
“finks up.-with an‘ ambitious . female’:
: (Marjorie Reynolds) and gets a visit

from his old partner, who promptly
falls for the new “girl” as well.
Romance, ‘pretty ‘sets, . sparkling
snow... what more could a couch
potato ask for?

White Christmas Three years
after the release of Holiday Inn,
another vehicle for Irving Berlin's
tunes was dug out of the same snow-
bank and directed by Robert Emmett
Dolan. -

This time, the movie was filmed
in colorful “Vistavision” but other-
“wise, the rural setting, the recruiting
‘of Bing Crosby and the storyline al all
give the viewer a pro- -

. found sense of deja-vu.

Here, sentiment runs

amok as Crosby, a retired

‘captain in the U.S. Army,

and Danny Kaye, a scol-
dier who saved his life,
conspire to save the dig--
nity of their former gen--

eral, who has unsuccess-

fully opened an inn in
Vermont. ‘Crosby and -
Kaye are _ entertainers

. who decide to move their

hit show to the hotel and

- while they’re at it, sturn-
ble across a pair of rather

entertaining _. sisters,
Ciooney and Vera-Ellen. Romance,
_ Pretty sets, sparkling “snow,. and
_ Vistavision.... make. sure
“to have a stack of hankies
nearby for the spectacular
tear-jerking ending...
Nutcracker:
Motion Picture: Kent
Stowell's. take. on the
‘Nutcracker story for the
“Pacific Northwest Ballct
‘is heavy with coming-of-
“age symbolism . which

the

may not appeal to some .

-viewers, Nevertheless,
this holiday chestnut is
infused with magic, due
in equai parts to the story-
line, winning _perfor-

-mances and. the set designs of

renowned children’s book illustrator

Maurice Sendak (Where the Wild _

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The adolescent ‘Clara (Vanessa :”

Sharp) is the object of her clockmak-
er Uncle: Drosselmeier's somewhat
uncomfortable attentions until she
helps the Nutcracker Prince defeat
the hideous Rat King. This triumph
allows her to step into the world of
adulthood (where the role is smooth-
ly taken over by the Dream Clara,

Patricia Barker) and the arms of the

Nutcracker Prince (Wake Waithell):
The scenery. is pretty, the dancing is

graceful and a good time is had by all.”

The Nutcracker: Choreographed
by Mikhail Baryshnikov
and starring “Misha”
and Gelsey Kirkland,
this
Ballet Theatre version of

the classic is the dance :
Tich,
intense plum pudding -
with”

equivalent of

compared

_ Stowell’s lovely, light
sugar-plum confection.

Where "" _° Pacific

Northwest |

Nutcracker __ playfully

emphasizes the drama in

the tale, Baryshnikov

j takes less interest in the

story and concentrates instead on the

choreography. The dancing is: truly-

wonderful. Kirkland is stunning — so
fragile, tender ‘and child-like as the
adolescent Clara, that it’s difficult to
remember that she was a 25-year-old

woman at the time she made this -

movie. Dance Magazine critic Tobi
Tobias ‘described Baryshnikov’s
Nueracker as“... the ecstatic vision of
perfection, surrounded by dark
threat...” As such, it is geared more to
older viewers and aficionados of
dance than Stowell’s, which will hold
more appeal for younger children.

Miracle an 34th Street: The 1947
black-and-white. movie directed by
William Perlberg is much less manip-
ulative than the glossy, desperately
feel-good 1994 remake currently
playing Vancouver theatres,

! See Video page 21

°1977 American:

. Ballet's.

Wednesday, December 21, 1994 - North Shore News — 19

a

meaUea

; ‘The Peak ‘Vancouver,
Sourth Annual

Festival of Lights
& Winterfest

December 10 - December 30, 1994
Jeason’s G Sreelings gs (BULA The Leak tof Vencouver!

‘Visit Vancouver’s Winter Wonderland and enjoy
+ Festive light displays _% Night time sleigh rides
* Choirs % Christmas carolling

% the Theatre In The Sky # Snow Sculpting and Christmas displays
Bring a non-perishable food item or unwrapped toy for the

North Shore Christmas Bureau and Food Bank and receive a
$5.00 discount on Grouse Mountain's Family Skyride ticket.

_ WED. tiger SUNDAY Bue.

For up to date information, calt 986-6262
Book pow fon P , ,

Watch the North Shore News for a map 0 ‘
the houses and businesses participating in the
Fourth Anaual Festival of Lights competion.

a Neptune
: FOOD Sms

2427 Marine Drive, W. Van.

926-8836 |