With Jim Sabatini

The Nutcracker Prince

Rated: G but may frighten some small children
Reviewed by: Frank and Chris
Release date: November 21, 1990	Released by: Warner Brothers

There are two animated stories in this new adaptation of E.T.A. Hoffman's classic story of Clara (the voice of Megan Follows), a young girl who imagines a relationship with a Christmas nutcracker who becomes a prince. The first is of Clara, her young brother and her small kitten on Christmas Eve as they celebrate the holiday and of her dream involving the nutcracker. The second is of the evil Mouse Queen and the spell she has placed on the young nephew of an elderly gentleman who is known as Uncle Drosselmeier.

Though the two stories come together, the quality of production are significantly apart. The Mouse Queen segment is harsh, silly and has many unpleasant characters. It is also of lesser technological quality than the main Story. The main story of Clara and The Nutcracker Prince is framed in music by Tchaikovsky and presents the joys of childhood at Christmas. The unpleasant segment almost ruins the production, but not quite the battle to defeat the mice and the restitution of Drosselmeier's nephew to life make it worth seeing.