The Red Shoes - Criterion Collection

Starring:Albert Bassermann, Eric Berry, Irene Browne, Derek Elphinstone, Marius Goring, Robert Helpmann, Esmond Knight, Julia Lang, Gordon Littmann, LÃ©onide Massine, Emeric Pressburger, Marie Rambert, Moira Shearer, Bill Shine, Jean Short, Ludmilla TchÃ©rina, Austin Trevor, Jerry Verno, Anton Walbrook
Director: Emeric Pressburger
Studio: Criterion
Product Type: DVD

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It's been said that this 1948 classic has been responsible for the ballet lessons of more young girls than any other film. It's not hard to understand why: Michael Powell and Emerich Pressburger's dark fairy tale presents the ballet as an exquisite, magical work of art; but under the theatrics and glory is an all-consuming lifestyle with the power to destroy those who love it perhaps too much. Moira Shearer practically glows as Victoria "Vicky" Page, a young woman consumed by a will to dance who is accepted into the highly prestigious ballet company run by perfectionist Boris Lermontov (Anton Walbrook). Meanwhile, a gifted young composer, Julian Craster (Marius Goring), is brought on board as an orchestra coach, and later conductor and composer of the ballet that will make Vicky's name: The Red Shoes, one of the most beautiful and dramatic dances ever captured on film. Professional and personal jealousies soon pull this creative team apart, however, and Vicky is torn between her love of Julian, her responsibility to Boris, and her need to dance. Powell and Pressburger recast Hans Christian Andersen's sad story as a modern romantic melodrama, highlighted by beautiful dances and shot, not as stage ballets, but rather as expressionist cinematic dramas on impossibly grand sets awash with bold color and beautifully captured in glorious Technicolor by cinematographer Jack Cardiff. It's a brilliant melding of dance and drama as Vicky's real life mirror's the tragic story she danced in the Red Shoes ballet. --Sean Axmaker

Description

A glorious Technicolor epic that influenced generations of filmmakers, artists, and aspiring ballerinas, The Red Shoes intricately weaves backstage life with the thrill of performance. A young ballerina (Moira Shearer) is torn between two forces: the composer who loves her (Marius Goring), and the impresario determined to fashion her into a great dancer (Anton Walbrook). Criterion is proud to present The Red Shoes in its DVD premiere.

Customer Reviews:

The Red Shoes.......2007-06-25

Close to sixty years after its initial release, Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger's best-remembered classic remains one of the most sumptuous Technicolor films ever made. The ballet sequences (choreographed by Robert Helpmann) are breathtaking, but never eclipse the human drama, with Walbrook powerful as the icy Lermontov, and Shearer a red-haired vision, whether still or in motion. One of the great achievements in film, and a must for family viewing, particularly for those with daughters.

dance dance dance little lady -- leave tomorrow behind ..........2007-05-12

this backstage fantasia is the antithesis of baz luhrmanns overwrought "moulin rouge". co-directed by michael powell and emeric pressburger, it ranks as among the most sumptuous feasts for the eye you can ever see. moira shearer made a stunning debut as the debuting ballerina whose real life is a parallel to the starring role in her new ballet, caught in the maelstrom of a satanic impresario who can give her what she wants but only at the cost of her soul (& eventually her life). while it is not QUITE on the par with their other ballet masterpiece "tales of hoffman" (and the musical score is a primary culprit there), it is still a must-see.

Boris Lermontov: "A dancer who relies upon the doubtful comforts of human love can never be a great dancer. Never.".......2007-05-03

"The Red Shoes" (1948) is a fantasy/musical/romance/drama set in the world of ballet and it could be possibly the best or one of the best ballet movies ever filmed. The red shoes of the title are from Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale about a girl who tried the shoes on and possessed by their spell, dances to her death. The shoes gave her dance unearthly ethereal lightness and elegance and she paid with her own life for them. Andersen's fairy tale was transformed into a ballet in Michael Powell's and Emeric Pressburger's glorious film. 21-year-old Moira Shearer, the real life ballerina gave a heartbreaking and awe-inspiring performance as a ballet dancer Vicky Page for whom to dance meant to live and to live meant to dance. She never included love in the equation and one day she found herself trapped in the red shoes forever just like the girl from the ballet "The Red Shoes" that was written by a young composer with whom Vicky fell in love. The ballet was produced for the stage by a powerful talented world famous impresario Boris Lermontov (based on Sergey Diaghilev, the head of the celebrated Russian Seasons, as brilliant as he was tyrannical, played to perfection by Anton Walbrook). The short ballet is included in the movie and it is 15 minutes of unbearable perfection where colors, music and dance blend into unforgettable delight. When you watch dancing Shearer with her glowing red hair of rare shade that matches the color of the magic shoes you would want to capture the moment of beauty and keep it forever in the vaults of your memory.

4.5/5

"Why do you want to dance?" "Why do you want to live?".......2007-04-07

If you can hear this melodramatic dialogue exchange without smirking a tad, then you'll dig the whole movie and find no melodrama in it whatsoever. Even if you find it a tad overwrought, however, you'll encounter lots to enjoy, and you'll find yourself involved in the story of the ballerina torn between a personal life and love, and the demanding dictates of her profession and her boss.

The twenty minute ballet in the middle of the film is very appealing, though it's supposed to be on a stage in front of a live audience and many of the things that take place in it could only happen in film. Still, it's captivating.

The performances are excellent all around and (though R. Baker's rule of thumb that everything is 20% too long applies here) the story keeps your attention most of the time, all the way up to the suspenseful, heart-wrenching--and, to me--unexpected ending.

The Red Shoes.......2007-03-15

I used to watch this on Public t.v. over and over when I was 13, so now that I have it in my posession I am very happy. It's a beautiful story, full of beautiful music and wonderful dancing. It still takes my breath away.

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