The Red Shoes (1948)

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:

A young ballet dancer is torn between the man she loves and her pursuit to become a prima ballerina.

Plot Keywords:

Ballet | Ballerina | Dancer | Composer | Shoe

Awards:

Won 2 Oscars. Another 2 wins & 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

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
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 (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
Ivor Beddoes	....	special painting (uncredited)
Les Bowie	....	matte artist (uncredited)
Judy Jordan	....	matte artist (uncredited)
Joseph Nathanson	....	special painting (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Christopher Challis	....	camera
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
Kenny Baker	....	music played by (as Ted Heath's Kenny Baker Swing Group)
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
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra	....	music played by

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 ) (as Leonide Massine)
Doreen North	....	continuity
J. Arthur Rank	....	presenter
John Seabourne Jr.	....	liaison editor
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 (as A Production of The Archers)
• 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)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1955) (USA) (TV) (first telecast) (severely edited)
• Paramount Home Video (1987) (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (1992) (UK) (VHS)
• Pickwick Video (1994) (UK) (VHS)
• Chapel Distribution (2009) (Australia) (theatrical) (re-release, new restored 35mm print)
• Filmtrade (2010) (Greece) (theatrical) (re-release)
• J. Arthur Rank Film (1949) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Park Circus (2009) (UK) (theatrical) (re-issue)
• Pathé Consortium Cinéma (1949) (France) (theatrical)
• Rank Film (194?) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Atlantic Film (2006) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Carlton Visual Entertainment (2001) (UK) (DVD)
• Continental Home Vídeo (200?) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Criterion Collection, The (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Divisa Home Video (2011) (Spain) (DVD)
• Epix Media (2005) (Germany) (DVD)
• F.J. Lucas (Brazil) (VHS)
• Filmax International (2009) (Spain) (DVD)
• Homescreen (2010) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• ITV DVD (2009) (UK) (DVD)
• Magna Pacific (2009) (Australia) (DVD)

Other Companies

• D&P Studios  made at: logo
• Royal Opera House, The  theatre (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)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

133 min | Japan:136 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English | French | Russian

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

Iceland:L | South Korea:12 | Sweden:Btl | West Germany:12 | UK:U (re-issue) (2009) | UK:U (re-issue) (1960) | Portugal:M/6 | Netherlands:AL (original rating) (1948) | Singapore:PG | 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:

Stewart Granger first suggested that Michael Powell & Emeric Pressburger look at Moira Shearer as the leading lady.

Goofs:

Miscellaneous: As Julian Craster walks to the theater, he is seen through an archway when a horse drawn cart passes. Stepping into the street he slips on what appears to be a fruit but doesn't fall, recovers and continues walking.

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:

Referenced in Hollywood Uncensored (1987)

Soundtrack:

Excerpt from 'La Boutique Fantastique'

A superb production, wonderful colour, but above all, superbly directed.

The performances are terrific (with only the odd unusual line delivery, partly due to english being many of the actors' second language, and partly due to the fact that all of the main dancing characters, are not professional actors at all, but dancers - including Moira Shearer, Australia's Robert Helpmann, Leonida Massine and Ludmilla Tcherina - which fact considering, they do marvellous jobs).

The story's passion for ballet and music comes across to the audience, and the story is compelling and fascinating, due to the way it is told. Moira Shearer, in a career-defining role, has a wonderful presence as the young dancer Victoria Page, who becomes a star of the Lermontov Ballet Company, and dances the lead in the ballet The Red Shoes. But Anton Walbrook is truly terrific as Lemontov. One particular moment i was very impressed with was when he begins to write a letter to Victoria, and there is a closeup of his face, and on his face we can read the emotions of his letter in a very subtle way. A marvellous scene. He has a germanic cold stare in this part which really brings it to life - the character of Lemontov is entirely in his eyes.

The score is fantastic, particularly the original ballet of the red shoes itself, composed for the film by Brian Easdale. The film has such a wonderful look partly due to the fact that its production designer was a painter, Hein Heckroth.

But the element which really makes this movie great is how superbly it is directed. With glorious use of colour, it is directed in a smooth, impeccable style in the manner of Renoir - except here each frame poses not as a painting, but as a moment from a ballet.

A wonderful film to watch.