The Red Shoes (1948)

User Rating:

8.2/10   

Directors:

Michael Powell
Emeric Pressburger

Writers:

Hans Christian Andersen (fairy tale)
Emeric Pressburger (original screenplay)
(more)

Release Date:

6 September 1948 (UK)

Genre:

Drama | Romance | Music

Tagline:

Dance she did, and dance she must - between her two loves

Plot:

Under the authoritarian rule of charismatic ballet impressario Boris Lermontov, his proteges realize the full promise of their talents...

Plot Keywords:

Ballet | Ballerina | Composer | Shoes | Red Shoes

Awards:

Won 2 Oscars. Another 1 win & 5 nominations

Cast

Marius Goring	...	Julian Craster
Jean Short	...	Terry
Gordon Littmann	...	Ike
Julia Lang	...	A Balletomane
Bill Shine	...	Her Mate
Léonide Massine	...	Ljubov (as Leonide Massine)
Anton Walbrook	...	Boris Lermontov
Austin Trevor	...	Professor Palmer
Esmond Knight	...	Livy
Eric Berry	...	Dimitri
Irene Browne	...	Lady Neston
Moira Shearer	...	Victoria Page
Ludmilla Tchérina	...	Boronskaja (as Ludmilla Tcherina)
Jerry Verno	...	Stage-Door Keeper
Robert Helpmann	...	Ivan Boleslawsky
Albert Bassermann	...	Ratov (as Albert Basserman)
Derek Elphinstone	...	Lord Oldham
Marie Rambert	...	Madame Rambert (as Madame Rambert)
Joy Rawlins	...	Gwladys - Vicky's friend
Marcel Poncin	...	M. Boudin
Michel Bazalgette	...	M. Rideaut
Yvonne Andre	...	Vicky's Dresser
Hay Petrie	...	Boisson
Alan Carter	...	Solo Dancer
Joan Harris	...	Solo Dancer
Joan Sheldon	...	Dancer
Paula Dunning	...	Dancer
Brian Ashbridge	...	Dancer
Denis Carey	...	Dancer
Lynne Dorval	...	Dancer
Helen Ffrance	...	Dancer
Robert Dorning	...	Dancer
Eddie Gaillard	...	Dancer
Paul Hammond	...	Dancer
Tommy Linden	...	Dancer
Trisha Linova	...	Dancer
Anna Marinova	...	Dancer
Guy Massey	...	Dancer
John Regan	...	Dancer
Peggy Sager	...	Dancer
Ruth Sendler	...	Dancer
Hilda Gaunt	...	Accompanist
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Neville Astor	...	Corps de Ballet (uncredited)
Edmond Audran	...	Corps de Ballet (uncredited)
Mark Baring	...	Corps de Ballet (uncredited)
Peter Bayliss	...	Evans - Lord Oldham's Chauffeur (uncredited)
Michael Bayston	...	Corps de Ballet (uncredited)
Leonard Boucher	...	Corps de Ballet (uncredited)
Anne Byatt	...	Corps de Ballet (uncredited)
Joy Camden	...	Corps de Ballet (uncredited)
Jack Carter	...	Corps de Ballet (uncredited)
Michelle de Lys	...	Lady in Vicky's dressing room before premiere (uncredited)
Peter Fisk	...	Corps de Ballet (uncredited)
Gladys Forrester	...	Corps de Ballet (uncredited)
Donato Forte	...	Corps de Ballet (uncredited)
Richard George	...	Doorman (uncredited)
Greta Grayson	...	Corps de Ballet (uncredited)
Audrey Harman	...	Corps de Ballet (uncredited)
Pamela Harrington	...	Corps de Ballet (uncredited)
Jean Hébey	...	Parisian taxi driver at Opera square (uncredited)
Suzanne Jemmett	...	Corps de Ballet (uncredited)
Barry Klare	...	Corps de Ballet (uncredited)
Joan Lehman	...	Corps de Ballet (uncredited)
Joyce Linden	...	Corps de Ballet (uncredited)
Charles Lisner	...	Corps de Ballet (uncredited)
Graham MacCormack	...	Corps de Ballet (uncredited)
Enid Martin	...	Corps de Ballet (uncredited)
Denise Merrum	...	Corps de Ballet (uncredited)
Helene Mladova	...	Corps de Ballet (uncredited)
Patricia Norman	...	Corps de Ballet (uncredited)
Yvonne Olena	...	Corps de Ballet (uncredited)
Collin Patrick	...	Corps de Ballet (uncredited)
Philippe Perrottet	...	Corps de Ballet (uncredited)
Emeric Pressburger	...	Man Waiting on Station Platform (uncredited)
Jackie Smithers	...	Corps de Ballet (uncredited)
Saxon Stobart	...	Corps de Ballet (uncredited)
Margaret Tate	...	Corps de Ballet (uncredited)
Meta Thomas	...	Corps de Ballet (uncredited)
John Tore	...	Corps de Ballet (uncredited)
Gladys Walton	...	Corps de Ballet (uncredited)
Elizabeth West	...	Lermontov's Secretary (uncredited)
George Woodbridge	...	Doorman - Covent Garden (uncredited)
Anne Woolliams	...	Corps de Ballet (uncredited)
Marnia Zarina	...	Corps de Ballet (uncredited)

Directed by
Michael Powell
Emeric Pressburger

Writing credits
Hans Christian Andersen		(fairy tale)
Emeric Pressburger		(original screenplay)
Keith Winter		(additional dialogue)
Michael Powell		(written by) and
Emeric Pressburger		(written by)

Produced by
George R. Busby	....	assistant producer
Michael Powell	....	producer
Emeric Pressburger	....	producer

Original Music by
Brian Easdale		(music composed by)

Cinematography by
Jack Cardiff		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Reginald Mills

Production Design by
Hein Heckroth

Art Direction by
Arthur Lawson

Costume Design by
Hein Heckroth		(uncredited)

Makeup Department
George Blackler	....	makeup artist (uncredited)
Eric Carter	....	makeup artist (uncredited)
Ernest Gasser	....	makeup artist (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Sydney Streeter	....	assistant director (as Sydney S. Streeter)
J.M. Gibson	....	third assistant director (uncredited)
Laurie Knight	....	third assistant director (uncredited)
Kenneth K. Rick	....	second assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Ivor Beddoes	....	special painting
Joseph Nathanson	....	special painting (as Józef Natanson)
Alfred Roberts	....	scenic artist
Bernard Goodwin	....	draughtsman (uncredited)
G. Heavens	....	draughtsman (uncredited)
Don Picton	....	draughtsman (uncredited)
V. Shaw	....	draughtsman (uncredited)
Elven Webb	....	assistant art director (uncredited)
V.B. Wilkins	....	draughtsman (uncredited)
Alan Withy	....	draughtsman (uncredited)

Sound Department
Gordon K. McCallum	....	dubbing sound (as Gordon MacCullum)
Charles Poulton	....	sound
Al Burton	....	boom operator (uncredited)
Peter Davies	....	first assistant dubbing mixer (uncredited)
Desmond Dew	....	sound recordist (uncredited)
Leonard Trumm	....	dubbing editor (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
George Gunn	....	composite photography: Technicolor (as F. George Gunn)
E. Hague	....	composite photography: Technicolor
Les Bowie	....	matte art assistant (uncredited)
W. Percy Day	....	matte artist (uncredited)
Peter Ellenshaw	....	assistant matte artist (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Christopher Challis	....	camera operator
George Cannon	....	still photographer (uncredited)
Bob Kindred	....	clapper loader (uncredited)
Cornel Lucas	....	special still photographer (uncredited)
George Minassian	....	focus puller (uncredited)
John Morgan	....	clapper loader (uncredited)
Alistair Phillips	....	assistant still photographer (uncredited)
Bill Wall	....	chief electrician (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Carven	....	dresses: Mlle. Tcherina (as Carven of Paris)
Dorothy Edwards	....	wardrobe
Jacques Fath	....	dresses: Miss Shearer (as Jacques Fath of Paris)
Mattli	....	dresses: Miss Shearer (as Mattli of London)
Dorothy Edwards	....	dresses: Miss Tcherina (uncredited)
Elsie Withers	....	head of wardrobe (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Noreen Ackland	....	assistant editor (uncredited)
Anne V. Coates	....	second editor (uncredited)
Tony Haynes	....	second assistant editor (uncredited)
Laurie Knight	....	second assistant editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Thomas Beecham	....	conductor: The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, The Ballet of The Red Shoes (as Sir Thomas Beecham, Bart.)
Ted Drake	....	music recorder
Brian Easdale	....	conductor
Brian Easdale	....	music arranger

Other crew
Joan Bridge	....	associate colour control
Alan Carter	....	assistant maitre de ballet: The Ballet of The Red Shoes
Joan Harris	....	assistant maitresse de ballet: The Ballet of The Red Shoes
Robert Helpmann	....	choreographer: The Ballet of The Red Shoes
Natalie Kalmus	....	colour control
Léonide Massine	....	the part of the Shoemaker created and danced by: The Ballet of the Red Shoes (as Leonide Massine)
Doreen North	....	continuity
J. Arthur Rank	....	presenter
John Seabourne Jr.	....	liaison editor (as John Seabourne Jnr.)
Joanna Busby	....	assistant continuity (uncredited)
Gwladys Jenks	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Vivienne Knight	....	publicist (uncredited)
Marjorie Mein	....	production secretary (uncredited)
Terence Morgan II	....	mask maker: monsters (uncredited)
Comer Peter	....	production assistant (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Archers, The
• Independent Producers (uncredited)

Distributors

• General Film Distributors (GFD) (1948) (UK) (theatrical) (released through)
• Eagle-Lion Films (1948) (USA) (theatrical)
• Universal Pictures (1951) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• J. Arthur Rank Film Distributors (1960) (UK) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Paramount Home Video (1987) (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (1992) (UK) (VHS)
• Pickwick Video (1994) (UK) (VHS)
• Atlantic Film (2006) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Carlton Visual Entertainment (2001) (UK) (DVD)
• Continental Home Vídeo (200?) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Criterion Collection, The (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Epix Media (2005) (Germany) (DVD)
• F.J. Lucas (Brazil) (VHS)
• Filmax International (2009) (Spain) (DVD)
• ITV DVD (2009) (UK) (DVD)
• Magna Pacific (2009) (Australia) (DVD)
• Park Circus (2009) (UK) (theatrical) (re-issue)

Other Companies

• D&P Studios  logo
• Royal Opera House, The  theater (uncredited)
• Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, The  music played by (as The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra)
• Ted Heath's Kenny Baker Swing Group  music played by (as Ted Heaths Kenny Baker Swing Group)

Runtime:

133 min | Japan:136 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English | French

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

Iceland:L | South Korea:12 | Australia:G | Finland:S | UK:U | Spain:T | Ireland:G

Filming Locations:

Royal Opera House, Bow Street, Covent Garden, London, England, UK

Company:

Archers, The

Trivia:

Jack Cardiff deliberately manipulated camera speed during the Red Shoes ballet to create the effect of dancers almost hovering in mid-air at the peak of their jumps.

Goofs:

Continuity: The length of Julian's cigarette changes dramatically (gets longer and then gets much shorter than he could smoke it down to in the short time between shots) while he's playing the piano for Vicky in Lermontov's office.

Quotes:

[first lines]
[holding doors closed]
Doorman: They're going mad, sir. It's the students.
[From outside]
Julian Craster: Down with tyrants!
Manager, Covent Garden: All right, let them in.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Cineastes en acció (2005)

Soundtrack:

Excerpt from 'Coppelia'

One of the best films of all time

I am biased because I have loved this film ever since I was four years old. Some films, as you grow and age, lose their magic and you forget what made you love it as a child. This film has only strengthened my love and appreciation of it as I have grown older. I am not one to narrate a storyline, as this film is great for more than, and even despite, it's story.

The beautiful colour photography of the locations, including London, Paris and Monte Carlo, will take you back to a fictional glamorous 1940's where everyone wore chic clothes and were perfectly mannered and groomed and make you wish you could visit there sometime.

The music is a highlight for me. Brian Easdale has written such a detailed and nuanced lyrical score that does not overpower any moment in the film. There are moments where the music so perfectly conveys a character's very thought, even though they are not saying a word and their face betrays not a hint of emotion.

The story is a familiar one, particularly today, of ambition and the balance between career and personal life, between a creative passion and a human one. And of course, yes there is the ballet element. I have no interest in ballet and I love the film. It does play up the prima ballerinas and haughty choreographer stereotypes, but as they are played by real ballet dancers, I think it makes it all the funnier. Robert Helpmann and Leonide Massine are particularly hilarious and over the top, so full of pathos and themselves.

Anton Walbrook is the star of this film, playing a Diaghilev type character and absolutely dominates any scene he is in. He is not bombastic in a showy, hammy way. It is a more silent but deadly charismatic performance. It is a pity he did not receive an award for it. He is stern, uncompromising, cold and passionate and absolutely deadly. He is a gentleman tough guy.

Moira Shearer and Marius Goring, unfortunately do not fare so well in comparison, but they are perfectly adequate in their roles and have some touching and funny moments. It is not altogether their fault, the characters are a little bland, especially in comparison to all the other larger than life characters they are paired with. Shearer really comes good as soon as she starts dancing.

Which brings me to the fifteen minute ballet in the middle of the film. It is beautiful (and brief). The dancing is fabulous, it looks beautiful and the music is amazing. No one should fast forward this masterpiece of filmed ballet. It is cinematic, not (as filmed ballet usually is) procenium stage bound. It is a modern ballet, choreographed by Robert Helpmann and Leonide Massine and is a story, perhaps even a mirror, within and of the film.

The Red Shoes combines every one of it's elements into a perfect whole. Some elements are a bit lacking, the story is very simple and given another context a bit soap opera like, but combined with the visuals, the music, the characters and the human comedy-tragedy, it is a beautiful complete film and one that will keep improving with age.

10/10