The Bolero is a 1973 American short documentary film directed by Allan Miller^[2] and William Fertik.^[3] It won an Oscar at the 46th Academy Awards in 1974 for Best Short Subject.^[4]

Film content

The film captures the behind-the-scenes preparations of the musicians from the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra as they get ready to showcase Maurice Ravel's orchestral masterpiece, Boléro. Some musicians share their thoughts while adjusting their chairs and music stands. Conductor Zubin Mehta also provides insights, and the film conveys the atmosphere of the rehearsals. The pinnacle of the documentary is the breathtaking performance of Boléro by the talented musicians.

Cast

• Zubin Mehta as Himself, Conductor
• Ernest Fleishman as Himself, Executive Director L.A. Philharmonic
• Anne Diener Giles as Herself, Flute
• Michele Zukovsky as Herself, Clarinet
• Merritt Buxbaum as Himself, E. Flat Clarinet
• Alan Goodman as Himself, Bassoon
• Robert DiVall as Himself, Trumpet
• Franklin Stokes as Himself, Saxophone
• Henry Sigismonti as Himself, French Horn
• H. Dennis Smith as Himself, Trombone
• Miles Zentner as Himself, Piccolo
• Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra^[5][6]

Availability

The Bolero was released on DVD by First Run Features alongside In Search of Cezanne, another documentary short, this time about French pre-cubist artist Paul Cézanne, on May 22, 2007.^[7]