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:

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

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Genres:

Drama | Music | Romance

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

The 15-minute (approximately) "Ballet of the Red Shoes" used a corps de ballet of 53 dancers.

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Goofs

When Vicky begins to dance with the "newspaper" character, only the words "Le Journal" are typed across his face. Partway through the dance, his face is covered with newsprint.

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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 Making Age of Consent (2009)

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Soundtracks

The Ballet of The Red Shoes
Music by Brian Easdale
Performed by Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (as The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra)
Conducted by Thomas Beecham (as Sir Thomas Beecham, Bart.)

User Reviews

Powell and Pressburger's ballet fairytale

`Why do you want to dance?' Anton Walbrook asks of Moira Shearer part way through Powell and Pressburger's inventive ballet film. `Why do you want to live?' is her cool response. Suggested by the Hans Christian Andersen story and a project long in development by P&P, this sumptuous colour production allows Shearer to display her excellent ballet skills alongside Robert Helpmann and Leonide Massine, and all three are excellent.

In fact, the `Red Shoes Ballet' alone is enough to recommend this movie in the strongest terms. Also in the cast is P&P regular Marius Goring, as the composer pushed aside for the lure of the stage. Walbrook, as the emotionless impresario who is only alive within the confines of his art, is superb, and perhaps only his role as Theo in `Colonel Blimp' served him better.

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English French Russian

Release Date:

6 September 1948 (UK)

Also Known As:

The Red Shoes

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