The Red Shoes (A- or 3.5/4 stars)
The British filmmaking team of Michael Powell & Emeric Pressburger direct & write 'The Red Shoes', a glorious, yet DARK homage to the world of dance. Hans Christian Andersen's tragic faerie tale serves as the foundation for a movie about a backstage love story btwn. the impresario & the star dancer ... which leads to certain tragedy. The story begins with talented, but impoverished music composer Julian Craster (Marius Goring) attending a London performance of the Lermontov Ballet Company & recognizes his own music being performed without his permission. Complaining to ballet impresario, Boris Lermontov (Anton Walbrook), things get resolved when he is hired to compose the score for his next work ... a ballet of The Red Shoes.
This ballet is based on H.C. Andersen's tale about a pair of magical shoes that allow their wearer to magically dance without stopping ... ever. The impresario hires a young, talented, red-haired dancer, Victoria Page (22 yr. old Moira Shearer, a real dancer debuting as an actress), to perform in said ballet. The ballet becomes wildly successful and, well, Julian & Victoria fall in love. Meanwhile impresario Boris recognizes Victoria's talent and demands total devotion to her art {and him}. Julian leaves the company & Victoria marries him over the strong objections of the jealous & overbearing Boris. Boris employs his power to prevent her from dancing the very role that brought her superstardom. Over time, Victoria misses performing her star role and, after a chance meeting with Boris, agrees to dance for him one. more. time. All this leads to an eye-popping, unhinged ending where Victoria Page becomes grievously torn btwn. love & the world of dance.
Good LORD, what a movie. Now, the story itself may be a bit pedestrian. The film is a tad long. And your mileage may vary on how much you enjoy a movie that is solely about ballet. However, 'The Red Shoes' is simply a STUNNING film to behold. It is beautiful. It is hypnotic. It is creepy. And it lingers with you long after it is over. There is much to admire & rave, here. Moira Shearer was a real find; with striking looks, graceful dancing & some necessary acting chops -- especially near the crazed end. Marius Goring makes you believe why Victoria would fall for him. And Anton Walbrook is authoritative as the dangerous impresario.
The look & sound of the film is astounding, with Jack Cardiff's scintillating use of the camera & the eye-popping Technicolor, Hein Heckroth & Arthur Lawson's vibrant use of color for the massive set designs, & Brian Easdale's incredible music score. All of this is great, and yet, the thrill, exuberance & unique movement of the dancing are what stands-out most, I'd say. Filmmakers P & P show us the joy of dance, and also how it can drive someone mad. The 17-minute Red Shoes ballet in the middle of the film is a wower. This film's damning theme: following emotions of the heart vs. obsession with discipline & art ... is a powerful one. And how that manifests in the heart-pounding, increasingly unsettling final sequence is just movie magic.
This ballet is based on H.C. Andersen's tale about a pair of magical shoes that allow their wearer to magically dance without stopping ... ever. The impresario hires a young, talented, red-haired dancer, Victoria Page (22 yr. old Moira Shearer, a real dancer debuting as an actress), to perform in said ballet. The ballet becomes wildly successful and, well, Julian & Victoria fall in love. Meanwhile impresario Boris recognizes Victoria's talent and demands total devotion to her art {and him}. Julian leaves the company & Victoria marries him over the strong objections of the jealous & overbearing Boris. Boris employs his power to prevent her from dancing the very role that brought her superstardom. Over time, Victoria misses performing her star role and, after a chance meeting with Boris, agrees to dance for him one. more. time. All this leads to an eye-popping, unhinged ending where Victoria Page becomes grievously torn btwn. love & the world of dance.
Good LORD, what a movie. Now, the story itself may be a bit pedestrian. The film is a tad long. And your mileage may vary on how much you enjoy a movie that is solely about ballet. However, 'The Red Shoes' is simply a STUNNING film to behold. It is beautiful. It is hypnotic. It is creepy. And it lingers with you long after it is over. There is much to admire & rave, here. Moira Shearer was a real find; with striking looks, graceful dancing & some necessary acting chops -- especially near the crazed end. Marius Goring makes you believe why Victoria would fall for him. And Anton Walbrook is authoritative as the dangerous impresario.
The look & sound of the film is astounding, with Jack Cardiff's scintillating use of the camera & the eye-popping Technicolor, Hein Heckroth & Arthur Lawson's vibrant use of color for the massive set designs, & Brian Easdale's incredible music score. All of this is great, and yet, the thrill, exuberance & unique movement of the dancing are what stands-out most, I'd say. Filmmakers P & P show us the joy of dance, and also how it can drive someone mad. The 17-minute Red Shoes ballet in the middle of the film is a wower. This film's damning theme: following emotions of the heart vs. obsession with discipline & art ... is a powerful one. And how that manifests in the heart-pounding, increasingly unsettling final sequence is just movie magic.