AllMovie

Swan Lake is a filmed record of the Tchaikovsky ballet, brilliantly brought to life by Rudolph Nureyev and Dame Margot Fonteyn. Backed by the Vienna State Opera Ballet, the peerless dance duo perform with the enthusiasm and freshness of newcomers, but with the flawlessness that can only stem from genius. Unlike other ballet films, Swan Lake is purely cinematic in approach. Without ever detracting from the dancing, the camerawork is both fluid and innovative. Filmed in Munich, Swan Lake earned back every penny of its $1 million budget and then some.