The Red Shoes (1948)

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

Directors:

Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger

Writers:

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

Stars:

Anton Walbrook, Marius Goring, Moira Shearer

Won 2 Oscars. Another 4 wins & 7 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Anton Walbrook	...	Boris Lermontov
Marius Goring	...	Julian Craster
Moira Shearer	...	Victoria Page
Robert Helpmann	...	Ivan Boleslawsky
Albert Bassermann	...	Sergei Ratov (as Albert Basserman)
Léonide Massine	...	Grischa Ljubov (as Leonide Massine)
Esmond Knight	...	Livy
Austin Trevor	...	Professor Palmer
Irene Browne	...	Lady Neston
Hay Petrie	...	Boisson
Eric Berry	...	Dimitri
Derek Elphinstone	...	Lord Oldham
Ludmilla Tchérina	...	Irina Boronskaja (as Ludmilla Tcherina)
Marie Rambert	...	Madame Rambert (as Madame Rambert)
Michel Bazalgette	...	M. Rideaut

Storyline

Under the authoritarian rule of charismatic ballet impressario Boris Lermontov, his proteges realize the full promise of their talents, but at a price: utter devotion to their art and complete loyalty to Lermontov himself. Under his near-obsessive guidance, young ballerina Victoria Page is poised for superstardom, but earns Lermontov's scorn when she falls in love with Julian Craster, composer of "The Red Shoes," the ballet Lermontov is staging to showcase her talents. Vicky leaves the company and marries Craster, but still finds herself torn between Lermontov's demands and those of her heart.

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Plot Keywords:

ballet | ballerina | dancer | dance | composer | 

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Taglines:

A Dancing, Singing, Swinging Love Tale

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Genres:

Drama | Music | Romance

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Did You Know?

Trivia

The exterior of the Mercury Theatre, Notting Hill Gate was shown in the rain because Michael Powell had often gone there to see plays or the ballet and reminisced, "It always seemed to be raining when one queued up for Madame Rambert's productions."

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Goofs

Lermontov's invitation to Vicky says his car will pick her up at eight , so she dresses up expecting a formal evening dinner. The entire sequence of her arrival and departure to and from the meeting takes place in bright sunlight, obviously the middle of the day, nowhere near eight o'clock in the evening.

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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.

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Crazy Credits

The end of the film finishes with 'Finis' instead of 'The End'.

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Connections

Referenced in The Royal Tenenbaums (2001)

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Soundtracks

La Boutique Fantasque
(uncredited)
Music by Ottorino Respighi
based on the music of Gioachino Rossini
Arranged by Malcolm Sargent
Played by uncredited symphony orchestra

User Reviews

Shall we dance?

We saw this film years ago. It was a surprise when it was included as part of a Michael Powell's work at the Walter Reade recently. The film still has a great look as it seems it has been lovingly restored. Mr. Powell, working with his usual collaborator, Emeric Pressburger, created a film about the world of ballet that has proved to be, not only a timeless classic, but a crowd pleaser to those who watch it for the first time.

"The Red Shoes" is basically a fairy tale loosely based on a Hans Christian Andersen story. Mr. Anderson and Mr. Pressburger gave it a vivid look that even today, appears fresh and glamorous. Those glorious colors in the film stays in the mind of the viewer forever.

The ballets shown are magnificently staged. The Red Shoes ballet by Sir Robert Helpmann and The Shoemaker by Leonide Massine, a giant in the world of ballet. The music conducted flawlessly by Sir Thomas Beecham lingers in one's mind long after the movie is over. The glorious Technicolor cinematography by Jack Cardiff is amazing.

The acting by Anton Walbrook, Marius Goring and Moira Shearer serves the story well, although the director got better performances in later films, "Peeping Tom" and "Black Narcisus", to name two. Ms. Shearer with her red hair and peaches and cream skin projects such a refined presence in the film that is hard to forget her features. The actress dressed by Jacques Fath, the famous French designer, shows why she was one of the best things that happened to the picture.

"The Red Shoes" is one of the best films about ballet thanks to the vision of its directors.

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English French Russian

Release Date:

6 September 1948 (UK)

Also Known As:

Las zapatillas rojas

Filming Locations:

D&P Studios, Denham Studios, Denham, Buckinghamshire, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

GBP500,000 (estimated)

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$30,165

Company Credits

Production Co:

The Archers, Independent Producers

Technical Specs

Runtime:

135 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Color (as Colour by) (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1