NUTCRACKER

UK, 1982, 81 minutes, Colour.
Joan Collins, Carol White, Paul Nicholas.
Directed by Anwar Kawadri.

Nutcracker is British oddball trash. While there is a tongue in cheek entertaining paperback plot, the posturings become more and more self parody and the plot becomes more and more impossible, absurd, preposterous.

The film is advertised as a vehicle for Joan Collins after he success in American TV in Dynasty and in such films as The Stud and The Bitch. A reviewer remarked that she performed as if she were doing a television commercial for herself. She struts and insinuatingly slinks but is very careful not to reveal too much. She is the almost impossible manager of an international dance group, which, however, is a cover for international prostitution and drugs presided over by William Franklyn as a latter day '60s corrupt but suave British politician.

Paul Nicholas is an eager newspaperman on a hot story - a Russian ballerina defecting and joining Joan Collins' troupe. There are some moments of vigorous dancing of the aerobic style with a touch of ballet. Her modern version of the Nutcracker is brief and in this design. Finola Hughes, later to appear with John Travolta in Staying Alive, is the attractive defecting ballerina. There are some comments about British newspapers, British society, with the 15 certificate orgy party at the end. Russian politics also enter in. However, the ending with the ballerina reacting against the decadent west and taking the whole dance company back to Russia almost defies belief. Carol White, star of interesting films in the late '60s and '70s, has a drab and uncovering/uncovered role as Nicholas' lady friend.

All in all, a British rival to a low budget Harold Robbins American type feature.