Production Notes
- Harry Saltzman purchased the rights in 1969 from film director Charles Vidor's widow. Saltzman had originally promised to let Ken Russell direct the film, but due to a falling out, Saltzman hired Tony Richardson to direct the film which was canceled during pre-production. After the success of Herbert Ross's film The Turning Point, Saltzman approached Ross to direct; Ross was initially unenthusiastic.
- Tony Richardson, who had intended to direct the 1970 film, considered this 1980 film a "travesty".
- This was Herbert Ross' second film to focus on the world of ballet, following The Turning Point in 1977 where he had worked with Mikhail Baryshnikov and other members of the American Ballet Theatre. Baryshnikov turned down the role of Vaslav Nijinsky and returned to the American Ballet Theatre and was promoted to the role of Artistic Director.
- Nijinsky was Jeremy Irons' film debut and the second to last film produced by the famed Harry Saltzman (after he gave up his share of the James Bond rights).
- The Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra and the London Festival Ballet were featured in the dance sequences. David Hersey of the National Film Theatre in London designed the theatrical lighting in these scenes.
- The film grossed $1,047,454 in the United States
Read more about this topic: Nijinsky (film)
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