The Red Shoes (1948)
General
The Powell and Pressburger classic is widely considered to be one of the greatest films ever made. The winner of two Academy Awards in 1948, for Hein Heckroth's Art and Set Direction, and Brian Easedale's music score, THE RED SHOES is the story of young ballerina Vicky Page (Moira Shearer), who becomes torn between her love for composer Julian Craster (Marius Goring) and artistic devotion to her profession, dominated by the impresario Lermontov (Anton Walbrook).Australia's internationally revered Robert Helpmann who also dances the role of "The Boy" choreographed the climactic "The Red Shoes" ballet based on the fable by Hans Christian Anderson. The part of The Shoemaker is danced by Leonide Massine.
| Status: | QuickPick |
|---|---|
| Run time: | 134mins |
| Origin: | UNITED KINGDOM |
| Aspect Ratio: | 1.33:1 Fullscreen |
| Run Time: | 134mins |
|---|---|
| File Size (Approx): | 1.2 GB |
Just dance
by Simon Miraudo, 21/08/2012 9:41:00 AM
Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger's retelling of the Hans Christian Andersen fairytale The Red Shoes is widely regarded as one of the great movies. Martin Scorsese has been famously hailed as the feature's biggest fan, and, far less impressively, it holds the distinction of being my second favourite film of all time. Moira Shearer plays Vicky Page, an idealistic dancer with dreams of joining a prestigious ballet company headed by the brusque Boris Lermontov (Anton Walbrook). She becomes his prima ballerina, and he builds for her a bold showcase: The Red Shoes. Vicky's supreme talents see her flirt with stardom, but an affair with composer Julian Craster (Marius Goring) threatens to distract her from achieving true greatness. The seething Lermentov forces the young lovers to choose bet...
Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger's retelling of the Hans Christian Andersen fairytale The Red Shoes is widely regarded as one of the great movies. Martin Scorsese has been famously hailed as the feature's biggest fan, and, far less impressively, it holds the distinction of being my second favourite film of all time.
Moira Shearer plays Vicky Page, an idealistic dancer with dreams of joining a prestigious ballet company headed by the brusque Boris Lermontov (Anton Walbrook). She becomes his prima ballerina, and he builds for her a bold showcase: The Red Shoes. Vicky's supreme talents see her flirt with stardom, but an affair with composer Julian Craster (Marius Goring) threatens to distract her from achieving true greatness. The seething Lermentov forces the young lovers to choose between their relationship and his company. They choose love. If only it were that simple.
The centrepiece of The Red Shoes is the 17-minute sequence in which we get to see the title ballet executed, and ultimately expanded beyond the limitations of the stage. Putting to shame the 'Gotta Dance' scene from Singin' in the Rain, it took six weeks to shoot and requires a lifetime to fully grasp. Choreographed by Australian Robert Helpmann and captured in shiver-inducing technicolour by cinematographer Jack Cardiff, the best way to describe its power and beauty is thusly: there are no words. As a film critic, I can't really get away with that too often. This feels like a worthy deployment.
The Archers' funny, profoundly sad script is brought to life with fleet-footed ease, building to a tragic climax that produced an audible gasp on my first viewing. Walbrook and Goring may give more magnetic performances in The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp and A Matter of Life and Death, respectively, but when caught in a love triangle with the luminous Shearer, this trio is incomparable. The Red Shoes is indeed romantic, but the love story at its core is between artists and their art. To quote Lermentov: "The music is all that matters."
Sight and Sound's recent listing of the Top 250 Films saw The Red Shoes placed at 117; beneath Powell and Pressburger's Life and Death (90) and Colonel Blimp (93), tied with A Canterbury Tale, and above Black Narcissus (154). That only two of their pictures cracked the Top 100 would be justification enough for a recount; that The Red Shoes wasn't part of the Top 10 would be justification for a storming of the Sight and Sound barracks.
5/5
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Member Reviews (9)
9 Member
Reviews
freo
says
overacted and overated
Karen
says
Beautiful dance classic. A must-see for all budding dancers and their nostalgic mums. Moira Shearer is breath-taking.
Arthur S.
says
The 17 minute ballet sequence is amazingly surreal and full of way out art-direction (as one would expect from Powell
John N.
says
Two stories unfold at the same time. The first is about a young composer, Julian Crastor (Marius Goring), who attends the ballet and hears something he has composed being played by the orchestra. He goes with his complaint to the impresario, Boris Lermontov (Anton Walbrook), who promptly gives him the job of orchestral coach after hearing him play his themes on the piano. The second is about a young, relatively unknown ballerina, Vicky Page (Moira Shearer), a dancer with the Ballet Rambert, who is introduced to Lermontov by the conniving Lady Neston, and who accepts her into his ballet company after an audition. There is also a third story. Lermontov's principal ballerina takes time out to get married, which infuriates the impresario, but which greatly improves Vicky's career prospects. This first hour is mainly taken up with the melodrama and intrigue that go on backstage, and some of the acting may seem a bit over-the-top. But these are theatre people with volatile personalities. Vicky at least remains cool knowing how precarious her position is. When the ballet of The Red Shoes is finally performed, it is 17 minutes of pure delight. The three principal dancers, Moira Shearer, Robert Helpmann and Leonide Massine are a class act. Choreographed by Robert Helpmann, the editing is brilliantly done, achieving a continuous narrative with each scene dissolving imperceptibly into the next. With the music performed by the Royal Philharmonic conducted by Sir Thomas Beecham, this production is as good as any performed at Covent Garden.
girlster
says
I'm not really a fan of ballet, however, the lead Moira Shearer was magnificent! I found this so very much "tally ho old chap" and had trouble accepting it for real. Of course everyone back in the "good ol days" treated each other with respect which todays youth could learn from. I watched the docos/interviews after and actually found that more interesting that the film. Can appreciate how it would have been an uplifting film back in post-war years.
Adriaan van Jaarsveldt
says
People will tell you that you don’t have to appreciate ballet to enjoy watching The Red Shoes. These are people who love the ballet and are on the scout for new recruits to their passion. If the movie is meant to work as a serious piece of drama it fails miserably. The characters, particularly the ridiculous Lermontov, a camp old queen with delusions of grandeur. Any real ballet star would beat the crap out of him. Most (all) of the characters are paper-thin caricatures. The most unintentionally amusing is Ivan played by the Australian, Sir Robert Helpmann, who must surely be the gayest man who ever lived. If you do not enjoy ballet you should stay well clear of this movie. In fact, I’d go further and say that even if you love Ballet you should approach it with caution. It may put you off for life.
Greg M.
says
never watched it as i got it for a friend of my daughter,but she liked it.
Brenda B.
says
Not to be missed if you are a ballet fan.
Ann-Marie Nielsen-Wilkey
says
Lovely old movie,enjoyed it very much