The Red Shoes (TV 1983)

The story of a little girl name Karen who was very poor and was given a pair of red shoes made of cloth to keep her feet warm in the winter. When her mother dies, she's adopted by a rich ... See full summary »

Directors:

John Clark Donahue, John Driver

Writers:

Hans Christian Andersen (story), John B. Davidson,

Stars:

Rana Haugen, Stephen Boe, Molly Atwood

1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Rana Haugen	...	Karen Sorenson
Stephen Boe	...	Hans Christian Andersen
Molly Atwood	...	Mrs. Ingrid Sorenson
Sonja Kostich	...	Karen #1 / Confirmation Class
Sarah Napier	...	Mother / Dancers at the Ball
Julee Cruise	...	Old Rag Face
Wendy Lehr	...	Old Lady
Maria Iverson	...	Helga / Church Congregation / Masquerade Ball Dancers
Gabrielle Zuckerman	...	Karen #2 (as Gaby Zuckerman)
Tom Dunn	...	Coachman
Sylvia Bolton	...	Queen
Jo Jo Askegard	...	Princess / Confirmation Class / Vain Girls and Parson's Children
Myron Johnson	...	Shoemaker
Carl Beck	...	Soldier
George Muschamp	...	Preacher

Storyline

The story of a little girl name Karen who was very poor and was given a pair of red shoes made of cloth to keep her feet warm in the winter. When her mother dies, she's adopted by a rich older woman who burns the shoes, saying they're ugly. Karen grows up pretty and happy with the old woman, but one day she sees a princess wearing beautiful red shoes and wants a pair just like them. When it comes time for Karen to be confirmed, she's to have a new pair of shoes. The pair she wants are red leather shoes that were maid for a count's daughter, but were too small. Karen buys them without the old woman knowing and wears them to her confirmation and gets in trouble for it. When the old woman falls ill, instead of taking care of her Karen goes to a ball and dances, but finds she can't stop dancing.

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Plot Keywords:

red shoes | dance | confirmation | color in title | surrealism | 

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Genres:

Drama | Family | Fantasy

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Details

Country:

USA

Filming Locations:

Children's Theatre - 2400 3rd Avenue S, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

The Children's Theater Company & School of Minneapolis, Televison Theatre Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

79 min

Did You Know?

Connections

Version of The Red Shoes (1948)

User Reviews

Anyone else see this as a kid?

It's been a long time since I have seen this movie, so if the summary is jumbled that's why. From what I gather, this girl desperately wants a pair of red shoes she saw on a rich girl's feet. But alas! She lives with her miserly grandmother. She runs away with the help of some red-headed man but she pays dearly for her decision. She must dance the rest of her life, cold, alone, and no one to help her but the red-headed man who seems to get a little too much enjoyment at her discomfort.

This movie frightened me a lot as a kid, but it was quite addicting. I think I watched probably three times a week. I never quite understood it, though I might now, but it's been a long time since I have seen it. The man with the red hair though, I think he's the one that made me afraid of clowns for the rest of my life, very creepy.