The Nutcracker :
The Untold Story
2008 Work In Progess
Lyrics by Tim Rice
Music by Pyotr Tchaikovsky
Original Music by Eduard Artmiev


"The music is by Tchaikovsky, who is
great to work with because he
never rings up and complains."

-- Tim Rice commenting on writing
the Nutcracker songs, November 2007



Updating A Classic Tale

For twenty years, Russian writer/director Andrei Konchalovsky had been fascinated with "The Nutcracker" tale of a nutcracker doll which comes to life to reveal an enchanted world to its human owner, and had wanted to adapt it for a feature film. At the time, he had written a script, but it was never produced. Around 2005, Andrei Konchalovsky again took up the quest to film The Nutcracker, this time with the aid of producer Paul Lowin who organised the financing. Happily, the technology available in the 21st century is more in keeping with the ideas Andrei Konchalovsky has for bringing The Nutcracker story to life. With the aid of Chris Solimine, Andrei Konchalovsky wrote the screenplay for The Nutcracker which centers around a girl named Mary joining forces with the Nutcracker and his friends to help him regain his kingdom from the evil Rat King. In the final months of 2006, Tim Rice was brought on board to undertake the crucial and challenging task of setting lyrics to Tchaikovsky's beloved score.

The Nutcracker is produced by Paul Lowin and Mortiz Borman is the executive producer. It is a live-action and CGI film, with most of the live-action sequences being shot in Hungary at Stern Film Studios in Pomaz with additional on-location shooting in Szentendre. The tax incentives in Hungary make filming there particularly attractive to foreign studios. Although The Nutcracker was scheduled to start filming in Budapest in the beginning of April 2007, this date was changed to 16 July 2007 with shooting to continue into October 2007. Unfortunately, one of the children initially cast in the film had to leave the project due to school commitments because of the change in the shooting schedule.

On 21 May 2007, the film was officially announced. With an estimated budget of $65 million (making it one of the most expensive Independent films ever produced), it would star Elle Fanning as Mary, Nathan Lane as the uncle who gives the nutcracker doll to Mary, and John Turturro as the evil Rat King. Also announced was that Tim Rice would be writing eight songs for the film to pre-existing "The Nutcracker" and other music by Tchaikovsky.

The Nutcracker cast also includes Frances de la Tour as the nanny Fraulein Eva, Richard E. Grant as Mary's father, Yuilya Vysotskaya as the Snow Princess and Charlie Rowe in the title role as the prince. The film is choreographed by Stuart Hopps who also makes a cameo appearance. The sets are designed by Kevin Phipps with costumes by Louise Stjearnsward. Nicholas Brooks is the visual effects supervisor.

Tim Rice completed the eight songs for The Nutcracker mainly during August and September 2007. In October, Tim travelled to Hungary to watch The Nutcracker being filmed.

Filming of The Nutcracker in Hungary wrapped up after 15 weeks on 29 October 2007. The initial $65 million budget has been exceeded, and with the inclusion of post-production costs is expected to run to $90 million.

The film is to be released in the winter of 2008. A 3D IMAX version is being considered. Target Entertainment represents the international licensing rights (except in Japan) for The Nutcracker, and Odyssey Entertainment is in charge of the international sales and distribution of the film.

The Nutcracker pages were last updated 7.12.07

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