Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Telly addicts

Related: Film discussion forum.

Original poster

I am watching BALLET SHOES and it is HEAVENLY... do NOT miss it, you will cry and be sad forever

213 replies

Aitch · 24/12/2007 22:41

ooooooh, only 20 mins in and am excited beyond belief. Harriet Walters is masterly, Emilia Fox a pleasant surprise as usuallly i find her a posho show-off.

HAPPY CHRISTMAS!

OP posts:
gigglewitchyouamerrychristmas · 26/12/2007 23:51

so you a bit of a ballerina, expat? sounding very knowledgeable there...

expatinscotland · 26/12/2007 23:52

Ages 3-17.

Auditioned for and entered into Houston Ballet Academy age 8.

gigglewitchyouamerrychristmas · 26/12/2007 23:55

oooohhhhh

elkiedee · 26/12/2007 23:58

I've recorded hopefully but on TV Drive, I watched the second half with my sister who has taped it on video, and my mum. Have to find my copy of the book now. I did have The Painted Garden, wonder if that's still around the house somewhere. Might have to check my sister's room tomorrow as well!

For those who have missed it, they're also releasing it on DVD in January, hopefully it will be possible to borrow it!

elkiedee · 26/12/2007 23:59

There was lots that I don't remember at all from the book. And my mum seems to remember it better than me!

oxocube · 27/12/2007 08:43

Not so keen on the kind and respectable Theo as a lush . Also thought the love interest was weak but predictable I suppose, to cater for today's audience.

MyEye · 27/12/2007 10:11

yup, some liberties were taken with the book but most were inoffensive and some were even commendable, eg, in the book Petrova is very thin and scrawny... I liked that they cast a different-looking girl in this, very responsible considering the target audience (no, not middleaged mothers).

OrmIrian · 27/12/2007 10:45

I think I must be missing something. Is it one of those books that everyone else read as a child? Because that would explain why there is a such a huge heap of meringue on our TV screens. Sugary but substanceless.

Sorry. You can throw things at me if you like....

edam · 27/12/2007 10:46

Yes, it is one of those books every girl reads aged between six and eight and loves. You were clearly a very deprived child and we will all feel very sorry for you.

TherewasnoMOOMattheINn · 27/12/2007 10:48

Yes it was a fave when a child - agree was a bit sugary (defo more sugary than the book) but I LOVED having a lovely old wallow in nostalgia last night watching it. Am desperate to re-read now.

TherewasnoMOOMattheINn · 27/12/2007 10:49

In fact... think will buy a copy with dd1's xmas money today

OrmIrian · 27/12/2007 10:50

Ah well edam, I did ballet and hated every agonising minute of it so maybe I was inoculated permanently against ballet-related schmaltz. Mother wanted me to be graceful and have good deportment. Ballet teacher told me I was too tall and was about as graceful as a hippo. Gave up at age of about 8. Gratefully.

slayerette · 27/12/2007 10:53

Just joined the thread - very late! The Fossil sisters are talked about in Curtain Up which is about three siblings who are sent to London to live with their granny who sends them to stage school. The Fossil sisters give each child a scholarship and I think there's a little bit of info about what they're doing tho they don't appear in the book.

Wasn't that fond of the adaptation last night tbh - felt the invented storylines really detracted from the overall effect. Would have much preferred it to be faithful to the book like The Railway Children was.

Califraunkincense · 27/12/2007 11:34

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Califraunkincense · 27/12/2007 11:41

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Clary · 27/12/2007 11:45

Ah expat I thought that too about en pointe, so young.

I almost forgot about this but in the end just missed first 10 mins, Recorded it for DD who is 6 - why was it on so late? Surely a Christmas must for any stage-struck child?

But edam I think you have the age wrong there - it was my fave book when I was 11 and I would say a bit of a challenge to a good 8yo reader. There is no way DD could read it. May have to dig out my copy to rea dto her tho...

lucy5 · 27/12/2007 11:55

I was thoroughly disappointed by this but dd would have enjoyed it , had it been on at the right time. I thought it was smultzy [sp] rubbish.

SatsumaMoon · 27/12/2007 11:57

have recorded this for dd - also couldn't figure out why it was on so late - I could have let her stay up to watch it I suppose but then dh and Iike to have some peace and quiet in the evening!

Ozymandius · 27/12/2007 18:48

I thought it was lovely!
As for the ballet, the book was written in the 30s when 'baby ballerinas' were all the rage, and very young girls danced en pointe -Alicia Markova was 11 when Diaghilev created her first role for her and she joined the Ballet Russe on her 14th birthday as a full member of the company.
And I think it is reasonable to add slightly more adult themes to the story (ie love interest for Garnie and Theo) if it is to be shown at 8.30 as it is very much a children's book in which adults are totally peripheral and slightly sketchy. Poor Garnie is just a thin, greying martyr really - the backdrop to the girls' lives.
Mr Simpson is happily married in the book admittedly, but he is quite good as a love interest. I wasn't so sure about Theo as a dipsomananiac sex addict though!
Lesbian doctors totally accurate though.

WendyWeber · 27/12/2007 19:20

In the book Posy wasn't allowed en pointe until she reached whatever the set age was, though - the prog never mentioned it.

lucy5 · 27/12/2007 19:22

I just felt it was very rushed and the ending was shoddy. I haven't actually read the book so can't comment on the accuracy. I tuned in hoping to have a weep but didn't.

WendyWeber · 27/12/2007 19:34

They've remarketed The Circus is Coming as Circus Shoes!!! [faints]

Curtain Up is Theatre Shoes

There's also Tennis Shoes and Dancing Shoes and Party Shoes - I bet those have been retitled too (they're not ones I've read so I don't know what they should be) - there should be a law against this, if Noel had wanted to call them that she would have!!!

OK - have researched a bit now - Tennis Shoes is allowed . Dancing Shoes was Wintle's Wonders. Party Shoes features a character called Selina - anybody know that one?

FluffyMummy123 · 27/12/2007 19:36

Message withdrawn

WendyWeber · 27/12/2007 19:40

It got a pretty average review in the Telegraph too.

hoxtonchick · 27/12/2007 19:48

where is times review? can't work out their website at all.