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The Red Shoes (1948)
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Overview
User Rating:
Directors:
Writers:
Release Date:
6 September 1948 (UK)
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Tagline:
Dance she did, and dance she must - between her two loves more
Plot:
Under the authoritarian rule of charismatic ballet impressario Boris Lermontov, his proteges realize the full promise of their talents...
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| full synopsis
Awards:
Won 2 Oscars.
Another 1 win
&
5 nominations
more
NewsDesk:
(31 articles)
Surrealist artwork from The Red Shoes to go on display
(From The Guardian - Film News. 20 November 2009, 7:31 AM, PST)
Box Office 2.0: Assessing 2009’s Dox Office From “Capitalism” to “The Cove”
(From indieWIRE. 17 November 2009, 2:23 PM, PST)
(From The Guardian - Film News. 20 November 2009, 7:31 AM, PST)
Box Office 2.0: Assessing 2009’s Dox Office From “Capitalism” to “The Cove”
(From indieWIRE. 17 November 2009, 2:23 PM, PST)
User Comments:
(Top 10 pick) A superior film.
more (87 total)
Cast
(in credits order) (verified as complete) | Marius Goring | ... | Julian Craster |
| Jean Short | ... | Terry |
| Gordon Littmann | ... | Ike |
| Julia Lang | ... | A Balletomane |
| Bill Shine | ... | Her Mate |
| Léonide Massine | ... | Ljubov (as Leonide Massine) |
| Anton Walbrook | ... | Boris Lermontov |
| Austin Trevor | ... | Professor Palmer |
| Esmond Knight | ... | Livy |
| Eric Berry | ... | Dimitri |
| Irene Browne | ... | Lady Neston |
| Moira Shearer | ... | Victoria Page |
| Ludmilla Tchérina | ... | Boronskaja (as Ludmilla Tcherina) |
| Jerry Verno | ... | Stage-Door Keeper |
| Robert Helpmann | ... | Ivan Boleslawsky |
| Albert Bassermann | ... | Ratov (as Albert Basserman) |
| Derek Elphinstone | ... | Lord Oldham |
| Marie Rambert | ... | Madame Rambert (as Madame Rambert) |
| Joy Rawlins | ... | Gwladys - Vicky's friend |
| Marcel Poncin | ... | M. Boudin |
| Michel Bazalgette | ... | M. Rideaut |
| Yvonne Andre | ... | Vicky's Dresser |
| Hay Petrie | ... | Boisson |
| Alan Carter | ... | Solo Dancer |
| Joan Harris | ... | Solo Dancer |
| Joan Sheldon | ... | Dancer |
| Paula Dunning | ... | Dancer |
| Brian Ashbridge | ... | Dancer |
| Denis Carey | ... | Dancer |
| Lynne Dorval | ... | Dancer |
| Helen Ffrance | ... | Dancer |
| Robert Dorning | ... | Dancer |
| Eddie Gaillard | ... | Dancer |
| Paul Hammond | ... | Dancer |
| Tommy Linden | ... | Dancer |
| Trisha Linova | ... | Dancer |
| Anna Marinova | ... | Dancer |
| Guy Massey | ... | Dancer |
| John Regan | ... | Dancer |
| Peggy Sager | ... | Dancer |
| Ruth Sendler | ... | Dancer |
| Hilda Gaunt | ... | Accompanist |
| rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Neville Astor | ... | Corps de Ballet (uncredited) |
| Edmond Audran | ... | Corps de Ballet (uncredited) |
| Mark Baring | ... | Corps de Ballet (uncredited) |
| Peter Bayliss | ... | Evans - Lord Oldham's Chauffeur (uncredited) |
| Michael Bayston | ... | Corps de Ballet (uncredited) |
| Leonard Boucher | ... | Corps de Ballet (uncredited) |
| Anne Byatt | ... | Corps de Ballet (uncredited) |
| Joy Camden | ... | Corps de Ballet (uncredited) |
| Jack Carter | ... | Corps de Ballet (uncredited) |
| Michelle de Lys | ... | Lady in Vicky's dressing room before premiere (uncredited) |
| Peter Fisk | ... | Corps de Ballet (uncredited) |
| Gladys Forrester | ... | Corps de Ballet (uncredited) |
| Donato Forte | ... | Corps de Ballet (uncredited) |
| Richard George | ... | Doorman (uncredited) |
| Greta Grayson | ... | Corps de Ballet (uncredited) |
| Audrey Harman | ... | Corps de Ballet (uncredited) |
| Pamela Harrington | ... | Corps de Ballet (uncredited) |
| Jean Hébey | ... | Parisian taxi driver at Opera square (uncredited) |
| Suzanne Jemmett | ... | Corps de Ballet (uncredited) |
| Barry Klare | ... | Corps de Ballet (uncredited) |
| Joan Lehman | ... | Corps de Ballet (uncredited) |
| Joyce Linden | ... | Corps de Ballet (uncredited) |
| Charles Lisner | ... | Corps de Ballet (uncredited) |
| Graham MacCormack | ... | Corps de Ballet (uncredited) |
| Enid Martin | ... | Corps de Ballet (uncredited) |
| Denise Merrum | ... | Corps de Ballet (uncredited) |
| Helene Mladova | ... | Corps de Ballet (uncredited) |
| Patricia Norman | ... | Corps de Ballet (uncredited) |
| Yvonne Olena | ... | Corps de Ballet (uncredited) |
| Collin Patrick | ... | Corps de Ballet (uncredited) |
| Philippe Perrottet | ... | Corps de Ballet (uncredited) |
| Emeric Pressburger | ... | Man Waiting on Station Platform (uncredited) |
| Jackie Smithers | ... | Corps de Ballet (uncredited) |
| Saxon Stobart | ... | Corps de Ballet (uncredited) |
| Margaret Tate | ... | Corps de Ballet (uncredited) |
| Meta Thomas | ... | Corps de Ballet (uncredited) |
| John Tore | ... | Corps de Ballet (uncredited) |
| Gladys Walton | ... | Corps de Ballet (uncredited) |
| Elizabeth West | ... | Lermontov's Secretary (uncredited) |
| George Woodbridge | ... | Doorman - Covent Garden (uncredited) |
| Anne Woolliams | ... | Corps de Ballet (uncredited) |
| Marnia Zarina | ... | Corps de Ballet (uncredited) |
Directed by | |||
| Michael Powell | |||
| Emeric Pressburger | |||
Writing credits | ||
| Hans Christian Andersen | (fairy tale) | |
| Emeric Pressburger | (original screenplay) | |
| Keith Winter | (additional dialogue) | |
| Michael Powell | (written by) and | |
| Emeric Pressburger | (written by) | |
Produced by | |||
| George R. Busby | .... | assistant producer | |
| Michael Powell | .... | producer | |
| Emeric Pressburger | .... | producer | |
Original Music by | |||
| Brian Easdale | (music composed by) | ||
Cinematography by | |||
| Jack Cardiff | |||
Film Editing by | |||
| Reginald Mills | |||
Production Design by | |||
| Hein Heckroth | |||
Art Direction by | |||
| Arthur Lawson | |||
Costume Design by | |||
| Hein Heckroth | (uncredited) | ||
Makeup Department | |||
| George Blackler | .... | makeup artist (uncredited) | |
| Eric Carter | .... | makeup artist (uncredited) | |
| Ernest Gasser | .... | makeup artist (uncredited) | |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director | |||
| Sydney Streeter | .... | assistant director (as Sydney S. Streeter) | |
| J.M. Gibson | .... | third assistant director (uncredited) | |
| Laurie Knight | .... | third assistant director (uncredited) | |
| Kenneth K. Rick | .... | second assistant director (uncredited) | |
Art Department | |||
| Ivor Beddoes | .... | special painting | |
| Joseph Nathanson | .... | special painting (as Józef Natanson) | |
| Alfred Roberts | .... | scenic artist | |
| Bernard Goodwin | .... | draughtsman (uncredited) | |
| G. Heavens | .... | draughtsman (uncredited) | |
| Don Picton | .... | draughtsman (uncredited) | |
| V. Shaw | .... | draughtsman (uncredited) | |
| Elven Webb | .... | assistant art director (uncredited) | |
| V.B. Wilkins | .... | draughtsman (uncredited) | |
| Alan Withy | .... | draughtsman (uncredited) | |
Sound Department | |||
| Gordon K. McCallum | .... | dubbing sound (as Gordon MacCullum) | |
| Charles Poulton | .... | sound | |
| Al Burton | .... | boom operator (uncredited) | |
| Peter Davies | .... | first assistant dubbing mixer (uncredited) | |
| Desmond Dew | .... | sound recordist (uncredited) | |
| Leonard Trumm | .... | dubbing editor (uncredited) | |
Visual Effects by | |||
| George Gunn | .... | composite photography: Technicolor (as F. George Gunn) | |
| E. Hague | .... | composite photography: Technicolor | |
| Les Bowie | .... | matte art assistant (uncredited) | |
| W. Percy Day | .... | matte artist (uncredited) | |
| Peter Ellenshaw | .... | assistant matte artist (uncredited) | |
Camera and Electrical Department | |||
| Christopher Challis | .... | camera operator | |
| George Cannon | .... | still photographer (uncredited) | |
| Bob Kindred | .... | clapper loader (uncredited) | |
| Cornel Lucas | .... | special still photographer (uncredited) | |
| George Minassian | .... | focus puller (uncredited) | |
| John Morgan | .... | clapper loader (uncredited) | |
| Alistair Phillips | .... | assistant still photographer (uncredited) | |
| Bill Wall | .... | chief electrician (uncredited) | |
Costume and Wardrobe Department | |||
| Carven | .... | dresses: Mlle. Tcherina (as Carven of Paris) | |
| Dorothy Edwards | .... | wardrobe | |
| Jacques Fath | .... | dresses: Miss Shearer (as Jacques Fath of Paris) | |
| Mattli | .... | dresses: Miss Shearer (as Mattli of London) | |
| Dorothy Edwards | .... | dresses: Miss Tcherina (uncredited) | |
| Elsie Withers | .... | head of wardrobe (uncredited) | |
Editorial Department | |||
| Noreen Ackland | .... | assistant editor (uncredited) | |
| Anne V. Coates | .... | second editor (uncredited) | |
| Tony Haynes | .... | second assistant editor (uncredited) | |
| Laurie Knight | .... | second assistant editor (uncredited) | |
Music Department | |||
| Thomas Beecham | .... | conductor: The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, The Ballet of The Red Shoes (as Sir Thomas Beecham, Bart.) | |
| Ted Drake | .... | music recorder | |
| Brian Easdale | .... | conductor | |
| Brian Easdale | .... | music arranger | |
Other crew | |||
| Joan Bridge | .... | associate colour control | |
| Alan Carter | .... | assistant maitre de ballet: The Ballet of The Red Shoes | |
| Joan Harris | .... | assistant maitresse de ballet: The Ballet of The Red Shoes | |
| Robert Helpmann | .... | choreographer: The Ballet of The Red Shoes | |
| Natalie Kalmus | .... | colour control | |
| Léonide Massine | .... | the part of the Shoemaker created and danced by: The Ballet of the Red Shoes (as Leonide Massine) | |
| Doreen North | .... | continuity | |
| J. Arthur Rank | .... | presenter | |
| John Seabourne Jr. | .... | liaison editor (as John Seabourne Jnr.) | |
| Joanna Busby | .... | assistant continuity (uncredited) | |
| Gwladys Jenks | .... | production assistant (uncredited) | |
| Vivienne Knight | .... | publicist (uncredited) | |
| Marjorie Mein | .... | production secretary (uncredited) | |
| Terence Morgan II | .... | mask maker: monsters (uncredited) | |
| Comer Peter | .... | production assistant (uncredited) | |
Production Companies
- Archers, The
- Independent Producers (uncredited)
- General Film Distributors (GFD) (1948) (UK) (theatrical) (released through)
- Eagle-Lion Films (1948) (USA) (theatrical)
- Universal Pictures (1951) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
- J. Arthur Rank Film Distributors (1960) (UK) (theatrical) (re-release)
- Paramount Home Video (1987) (USA) (VHS)
- Warner Home Video (1992) (UK) (VHS)
- Pickwick Video (1994) (UK) (VHS)
- Chapel Distribution (2009) (Australia) (theatrical) (re-release, new restored 35mm print)
- J. Arthur Rank Film (1949) (West Germany) (theatrical)
- Park Circus (2009) (UK) (theatrical) (re-issue)
- Atlantic Film (2006) (Sweden) (DVD)
- Carlton Visual Entertainment (2001) (UK) (DVD)
- Continental Home Vídeo (200?) (Brazil) (DVD)
- Criterion Collection, The (2004) (USA) (DVD)
- Epix Media (2005) (Germany) (DVD)
- F.J. Lucas (Brazil) (VHS)
- Filmax International (2009) (Spain) (DVD)
- Homescreen (2010) (Netherlands) (DVD)
- ITV DVD (2009) (UK) (DVD)
- Magna Pacific (2009) (Australia) (DVD)
- D&P Studios logo
- Royal Opera House, The theater (uncredited)
- Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, The music played by (as The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra)
- Ted Heath's Kenny Baker Swing Group music played by (as Ted Heaths Kenny Baker Swing Group)
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
133 min | Japan:136 min
Country:
Colour:
Colour (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (Western Electric Recording)
Certification:
Iceland:L |
South Korea:12 |
Sweden:Btl |
West Germany:12 |
Australia:G |
Finland:S |
UK:U |
Spain:T |
Ireland:G
Filming Locations:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
Much to his surprise, Michael Powell had great difficulty persuading Moira Shearer to be in the film. She held out for a year before giving in to him. Shearer herself, however, did not particularly care for Powell. In later years, she described the making of the film as being a terrible ordeal: Powell was distant and aloof and never really gave her much direction; and having to dance for hours on end on concrete floors also physically took its toll on all the dancers, making their legs swell up.
more
Goofs:
Continuity: The length of Julian's cigarette changes dramatically (gets longer and then gets much shorter than he could smoke it down to in the short time between shots) while he's playing the piano for Vicky in Lermontov's office.
more
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.
more
[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.
more
Soundtrack:
Dance Music
more
FAQ
Is there any work inspired by the movie?Who was the source of the character Boris Lermontov's name?
Why is Vicky all decked out in evening dress when she goes to Lermontov's villa in Monte Carlo?
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more (87 total)
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I first heard of "The Red Shoes" when I read the liner notes to an album by the jazz/fusion group Weather Report, called "Tale Spinnin'". Therein it said that saxophonist Wayne Shorter had seen the film a few dozen times. Intrigued, I watched it when I noticed it in the TV listings. What a discovery!
With its focus on the tangle of lives of a ballerina, a composer, and a dictatorial impresario who uses them both, the story may have elements of a soap opera, but it's a superior soap opera. What appealed to Shorter, I'm sure, is the film's depiction of the artists' creative process. It may have been done better elsewhere, but I haven't seen it. Besides that, it's beautifully directed, beautifully photographed and sumptuous to look at throughout. The surreal title ballet is performed in a segment that is stunning, and I'm not just using that word as a cliche.
Anton Walbrook stands out as Lermontov, leader of the ballet troupe. There are many real-life artists from the ballet world in the film, including Leonide Massine and Robert Helpmann. Massine is particularly effective.
Don't be put off by the notion that this is some effete art film; it's high quality AND accessible. Anyone who enjoys art (especially ballet), romance or just plain good moviemaking owes it to themselves to see it.