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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
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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:
One of the best films of all time
more (87 total)
Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only) | 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 |
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.
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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.
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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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[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
Movie Connections:
Referenced in "CSI: NY: Cold Reveal (#3.22)" (2007)
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Soundtrack:
Excerpts from 'Swan Lake'
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FAQ
Did Moira Shearer do her own dancing?Is "The Red Shoes" based on a novel?
Why would Lermontov reinstate Irina as the principal dancer AFTER she's been married?
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more (87 total)
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I am biased because I have loved this film ever since I was four years old. Some films, as you grow and age, lose their magic and you forget what made you love it as a child. This film has only strengthened my love and appreciation of it as I have grown older. I am not one to narrate a storyline, as this film is great for more than, and even despite, it's story.
The beautiful colour photography of the locations, including London, Paris and Monte Carlo, will take you back to a fictional glamorous 1940's where everyone wore chic clothes and were perfectly mannered and groomed and make you wish you could visit there sometime.
The music is a highlight for me. Brian Easdale has written such a detailed and nuanced lyrical score that does not overpower any moment in the film. There are moments where the music so perfectly conveys a character's very thought, even though they are not saying a word and their face betrays not a hint of emotion.
The story is a familiar one, particularly today, of ambition and the balance between career and personal life, between a creative passion and a human one. And of course, yes there is the ballet element. I have no interest in ballet and I love the film. It does play up the prima ballerinas and haughty choreographer stereotypes, but as they are played by real ballet dancers, I think it makes it all the funnier. Robert Helpmann and Leonide Massine are particularly hilarious and over the top, so full of pathos and themselves.
Anton Walbrook is the star of this film, playing a Diaghilev type character and absolutely dominates any scene he is in. He is not bombastic in a showy, hammy way. It is a more silent but deadly charismatic performance. It is a pity he did not receive an award for it. He is stern, uncompromising, cold and passionate and absolutely deadly. He is a gentleman tough guy.
Moira Shearer and Marius Goring, unfortunately do not fare so well in comparison, but they are perfectly adequate in their roles and have some touching and funny moments. It is not altogether their fault, the characters are a little bland, especially in comparison to all the other larger than life characters they are paired with. Shearer really comes good as soon as she starts dancing.
Which brings me to the fifteen minute ballet in the middle of the film. It is beautiful (and brief). The dancing is fabulous, it looks beautiful and the music is amazing. No one should fast forward this masterpiece of filmed ballet. It is cinematic, not (as filmed ballet usually is) procenium stage bound. It is a modern ballet, choreographed by Robert Helpmann and Leonide Massine and is a story, perhaps even a mirror, within and of the film.
The Red Shoes combines every one of it's elements into a perfect whole. Some elements are a bit lacking, the story is very simple and given another context a bit soap opera like, but combined with the visuals, the music, the characters and the human comedy-tragedy, it is a beautiful complete film and one that will keep improving with age.
10/10