MARGOT FONTEYN (TV)
Summary
This arts documentary profiles the life and career of former prima ballerina Margot Fonteyn. Narrated by Fonteyn and featuring interviews with several of her colleagues and footage of her past performances, the program includes the following highlights: Fonteyn's first dance lessons at the age of four; her move to Shanghai, China, with her parents at the age of eight, where she attended the English Cathedral School and studied with dance teacher Audrey King; her return to London at the age of fourteen to dance at the Sadler's Wells Theatre; her initial meeting with her future husband, Tito Arias, while in Cambridge, England; her marriage to Arias in 1955 in Panama; her first appearances at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, London, and the Metropolitan Opera House in New York; the events that led to her deportation from Panama; her Russian tour and her reaction upon learning of Russian ballet star Rudolf Nureyev's defection; and her collaboration with Nureyev. Fonteyn also discusses her admiration for ballerina Anna Pavlova, who is shown dancing in a clip from a 1921 production of "The Fairy Doll." A clip of Fonteyn as a student, dancing to Sir Frederick Ashton's choreography for the first time, is followed by Ashton's comments about their first encounter and subsequent relationship. Other clips feature Fonteyn performing in both "Giselle" and "Facade" in 1937, and partnered with Rudolf Nureyev in a 1962 performance of "Giselle." Also included is an excerpt from one of Fonteyn's home videos, recorded aboard Aristotle Onassis's yacht, with guests Maria Callas and Sir Winston Churchill. Those interviewed include Dame Ninette de Valois, a British director/choreographer of ballet, who discusses how she first "discovered" Fonteyn at the Sadler's Wells Theatre; Robert Helpmann, Fonteyn's dance partner for many years, who discusses their relationship; and Fonteyn's former dance teacher Audrey King, who reminisces about Fonteyn as a young student. This part concludes with black-and-white candid photographs of Fonteyn and Nureyev together. Next, Fonteyn tearfully recalls the events of 1964, when her husband, Tito Arias, became paralyzed as the result of an assassination attempt in Panama. Ida Bromley, who cared for Arias in a rehabilitation center, talks about his will to live and Fonteyn's moral support. Among the clips shown is one from Fonteyn's 1966 performance in "Romeo and Juliet," which had special meaning for Fonteyn because Arias was able to attend the performance in a wheelchair. Other highlights include a clip from a 1966 production of "Swan Lake" featuring Fonteyn, and a clip from a 1979 gala held in honor of Fonteyn's retirement at the age of sixty, where she gave a solo performance of "Salut d'Amour," choreographed especially for the occasion by Sir Frederick Ashton. Fonteyn discusses her acceptance of a position as chancellor of Dunham University in England upon retiring as a dancer. The program concludes with scenes of Fonteyn and Arias on their farm in Panama.
(The captions "End of Part 1" and "Part 2," separated by a brief pause, appear midway through the tape.)
(This program aired in various European countries.)
Details
- NETWORK: Channel 4 (United Kingdom)
- DATE: May 14, 1989 Sunday
- RUNNING TIME: 1:28:12
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T90:0019
- GENRE: Dance; Arts documentaries
- SUBJECT HEADING: Ballet; Biography; Choreography; Dance; International Collection - United Kingdom; Panama; Sadler's Wells Theatre
- SERIES RUN: Channel 4 (United Kingdom) - TV, 1989
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Clive Syddall … Executive Producer
- John Tooley … Executive Producer
- Patricia Foy … Producer, Director
- Mischa Scorer … Producer
- Truck Branss … Director
- Margaret Dale … Director
- Nigel Hess … Music (Misc. Credits), Music Director
- Philip Gammon … Instrumentalist, Pianist
- Margot Fonteyn … Special Guest
- Ida Bromley … Guest
- De Valois, Ninette … Guest
- Robert Helpmann … Guest
- Audrey King … Guest
- Tito Arias
- Frederick Ashton
- Maria Callas
- Winston Churchill
- Rudolf Nureyev
- Aristotle Onassis
- Anna Pavlova