I saw this for the first time tonight, mainly because I read recently that it was one of the few films in which the marvellous Judith Anderson had the leading role. A weird yet utterly compelling combination of film noir and ballet courtesy of bargain basement studio Republic, who were responsible for other such genre-mashup classics as Johnny Guitar.
It goes without saying that Anderson is superb as the protective head of a ballet company who is worried that her chief dancer may be a dangerously unhinged killer. Real-life dancers Kirov and Essen were obviously cast for their ability to dance, which they both do exquisitely, but they also both give life to some astoundingly erotically charged dialogue and both look beautiful. If you close your eyes and listen to Kirov speak you'd swear it was Jack Nicholson. The climax to the film is haunting and strangely touching. This is a film I will definitely return to.
It goes without saying that Anderson is superb as the protective head of a ballet company who is worried that her chief dancer may be a dangerously unhinged killer. Real-life dancers Kirov and Essen were obviously cast for their ability to dance, which they both do exquisitely, but they also both give life to some astoundingly erotically charged dialogue and both look beautiful. If you close your eyes and listen to Kirov speak you'd swear it was Jack Nicholson. The climax to the film is haunting and strangely touching. This is a film I will definitely return to.