The Ring

A stop-motion adaptation of the ballet Sleeping Beauty, released onVHS by the BBC, together with three other adaptations, under the name 'Musical Tales' in 1988.

Clara is given a nutcracker in the form of a toy soldier for Christmas. That night she sees the nutcracker in battle with the terrible Seven-headed Mouse King. The nutcracker turns into a young Prince and takes Clara to the Kingdom of Sweets.

With music by Delibes, Frantz the photographer is trapped by the terrible Dr. Coppelius who intends to use him in his experiments to bring to life the clockwork doll Coppélia.

A statue of 'The Happy Prince' (happy because he had devoted his life to pleasure behind his palace walls) looks out with horror at the destitution of his citizens. He persuades a little swallow to abandon his winter trip to Egypt and be his messenger, a job which entails stripping the statue of its precious jewels and gold to help feed the poor. Winter sets in, the once sparkling statue now looks grey and crumbling.