Swan Lake
Synopsis
Bruhn’s Swan Lake was a fascinating psychological drama that departed from traditional versions, which proved controversial and ground-breaking. He enhanced the role of Prince Siegfried, whom he occasionally performed, with more dancing and depth, saying he wished to tell the story of the Prince rather than the Swan Queen. He also changed the role of Von Rothbart, the evil sorcerer, to the Black Queen (initially played by Franca). His telling changed the story from a struggle between good and evil to focus on the Prince’s relationships with the women in his life – his mother, the Black Queen, the Swan Queen and the Black Swan – each representing a different form of control or influence. To emphasize the powerful emotion of the story, Bruhn reinstated the tragic ending, with the Prince driven to his death by the swans.
Top Cast
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Erik Bruhn
Prince
Lois Smith
Swan Queen/Black Swan
Celia Franca
Black Queen
Yves Cousineau
Tutor
Olga Makcheeva
Queen Mother
Joysanne Sidimus
Prince's Friend
Leeyan Granger
Leading Swan
Vanessa Harwood
Leading Swan
Elizabeth Keeble
Leading Swan
Charmaine Turner
Leading Swan
Hazaros Surmejan
Master of ceremonies
Daniel Seillier
Clown
Elaine Werner
Clown
Howard Marcus
Clown
Andrew Oxenham
Clown
Karen Bowes
Spanish dance
Barbara Sherval
Spanish dance
Glenn Gilmour
Spanish dance
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- —
- Original Title
- Swan Lake
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 18m
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Department Leadership Roster
Desmond Heeley
Costume Design
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Swan Lake.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Swan Lake
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Swan Lake about?
Bruhn’s Swan Lake was a fascinating psychological drama that departed from traditional versions, which proved controversial and ground-breaking. He enhanced the role of Prince Siegfried, whom he occasionally performed, with more dancing and depth, saying he wished to tell the story of the Prince rather than the Swan Queen. He also changed the role of Von Rothbart, the evil sorcerer, to the Black Queen (initially played by Franca). His telling changed the story from a struggle between good and evil to focus on the Prince’s relationships with the women in his life – his mother, the Black Queen, the Swan Queen and the Black Swan – each representing a different form of control or influence. To emphasize the powerful emotion of the story, Bruhn reinstated the tragic ending, with the Prince driven to his death by the swans.
Who directed Swan Lake?
Swan Lake was directed by Not specified.
Who stars in Swan Lake?
The principal cast of Swan Lake includes Erik Bruhn, Lois Smith, Celia Franca, Yves Cousineau, Olga Makcheeva.
When was Swan Lake released and how long is it?
Swan Lake was released in 1967 with a total runtime of 1h 18m.