''Ballerina'' is a 1950 French

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. The drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular ...

directed by Ludwig Berger and starring

Violette Verdy Violette Verdy (born Nelly Armande Guillerm; 1 December 1933 – 8 February 2016) was a French ballerina, choreographer, teacher, and writer who worked as a dance company director with the Paris Opera Ballet in France and the Boston Ballet in the ...

Gabrielle Dorziat Gabrielle Dorziat (25 January 1880 – 30 November 1979) was a French stage and film actress. Dorziat was a fashion trend setter in Paris and helped popularize the designs of Coco Chanel. The Théâtre Gabrielle-Dorziat in Épernay, France is nam ...

and

Henri Guisol Henri Guisol (12 October 1904 – 11 May 1994) was a French film actor. He appeared in more than seventy films from 1931 to 1980. He enjoyed a career in French ''mystery fiction, who done its'' and film noir. Filmography References External ...

.Huckenpahler p.234 It was produced and distributed by the French branch of

Lux Film Lux Film was an Italian film distribution (and later production) company founded by Riccardo Gualino in 1934. Gualino was an anti-fascist businessman who had clashed with the regime of Mussolini in 1931 and had been forced into internal exile on ...

. The film's sets were designed by the

art director Art director is a title for a variety of similar job functions in theater, advertising, marketing, publishing, fashion, live-action and animated film and television, the Internet, and video games. It is the charge of a sole art director to supe ...

Robert Gys Robert Gys (1901–1977) was a French art director.O'Shaughnessy p.238 Selected filmography * '' Imperial Violets'' (1924) * '' The Phantom of the Moulin Rouge'' (1925) * ''Miss Europe'' (1930) * ''Dance Hall'' (1931) * '' The Dream'' (1931) * '' ...

. It was the final cinema film of the German director Berger, who moved into directing in television. Choreographed by

Yvonne Georgi Yvonne Georgi (29 October 1903 – 25 January 1975) was a German dancer, choreographer and ballet mistress. She was known for her comedic talents and her extraordinary jumping ability. In her roles as a dancer, choreographer, and ballet mistress ...

. It also known by the

alternative title An alternative title is a media sales device most prominently used in film distribution. Books and films are commonly released under a different title when they are screened or sold in a different country. This can vary from small change to the ...

''Dream Ballerina'' or ''Poor Little Ballerina''.

Synopsis

A young

ballerina A ballet dancer is a person who practices the art of classical ballet. Both females and males can practice ballet. They rely on years of extensive training and proper technique to become a part of a professional ballet company. Ballet dancer ...

makes her on the stage of the theatre in her local French town, but is distracted and performs poorly. That night she dreams a series of various scenarios about a young male tearaway who has shown an interest in her. The following night she gives a perfect second performance.

Summary

Feature-length fantasy in which a young ballet dancer (Violette Verdy) tries through ballet-dreams to decide between her fiancé, a stodgy jeweler, a mysterious adventurer who claims to love her, and her career as a dancer. Includes numerous ballet sequences, among them performances of an oriental ballet and several dream ballets. Verdy and Orloff lead the dancing cast. English version of a motion picture filmed at the Boulogne Studios in Paris, France. A Memnon Films production. Also shown in the U.S. under the titles: Dream Ballerina, and Poor Little Ballerina. Violette Verdy (Nicole), Gabrielle Dorziat (her aunt), Henri Guisol (the jeweler), Philippe Nicaud (Lou), Nicholas Orloff (Russian dancer), Romney Brent (the manager), Margo Lion (his wife), Jean Mercure (ballet master), Micheline Boudet (Marion), Sergeol (inspector), and others. French National Radio Orchestra (O.R.T.F.) conducted by Roger Désormière featuring the music of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Maurice Ravel.

Cast

as Nicole *

as Aunt *

as Jeweler *

Philippe Nicaud Philippe Nicaud (27 June 1926 – 19 April 2009) was a French actor and singer, was married to Christine Carère from 1957 till her death in 2008. Nicaud appeared in the episode "Jet Trail" of the 1966 American television espionage drama serie ...

as Loulou * Nicholas Orloff as Dancer *

Romney Brent Romney Brent (born Romulo Larralde; 26 January 1902 – 24 September 1976) was a Mexican actor, director and dramatist. Most of his career was on stage in North America, but in the 1930s he was frequently seen on the London stage, on television ...

as Director *

Jean Mercure Jean may refer to: People * Jean (female given name) * Jean (male given name) * Jean (surname) Fictional characters * Jean Grey, a Marvel Comics character * Jean Valjean, fictional character in novel ''Les Misérables'' and its adaptations * Jean ...

as Dancer * Micheline Boudet as Marie *

Margo Lion Margo Allison Lion (October 13, 1944 – January 24, 2020) was a producer for plays and musicals both on Broadway and off-Broadway, known for her role in producing the stage and screen hit ''Hairspray''. Combined, the works Lion produced won 20 ...

as l'épouse du directeur *

Pierre Sergeol Pierre Sergeol (November 22, 1902 – June 18, 1975) was a French film actor.https://www.unifrance.org/annuaires/personne/127325/pierre-sergeol He appeared in numerous films as a character actor in supporting roles. He often played professional fi ...

as l'inspecteur

References

Bibliography

* Huckenpahler, Victoria. ''Ballerina: A Biography of Violette Verdy''. Audience Arts, 1978.

External links

* 1950 drama films French drama films 1950 films 1950s French-language films Films directed by Ludwig Berger 1950s French films French-language drama films Films scored by Roger Désormière {{1950s-France-film-stub