The Red Shoes - Criterion Collection (1948)

Both Beautiful and Trivial

A great many people--including Martin Scosese--have stated that seeing THE RED SHOES fueled their desire for a career in the arts, and over the years the film has acquired quasi-legendary status as an intellectually profound, emotionally stirring motion picture that investigates the deep personal sacrifices a career in the arts requires. But while I found the film visually stunning and interesting in concept, I also found it simplistic in its statements on the nature of art and nothing short of trivial melodrama in terms of plot.

Very loosely based on the goings-on in the famous Serge Diaghilev ballet company, the film concerns a rising dancer (Moira Shearer) and rising composer (Marius Goring) who fall under the spell of an inflexible impressario (Anton Walbrook), who leads them to create a new ballet: The Red Shoes, based on the famous Hans Christian Anderson fairy tale. The ballet turns both dancer and composer into stars--but so far as the impressario is concerned art leaves no room for human affection, and when the dancer falls in love with the composer professional and personal tragedy is the result.

THE RED SHOES is particularly famous for its portrait of backstage life and the fifteen-minute "Ballet of the Red Shoes" sequence, which was the first of its kind in a major motion picture. Moira Shearer, who was a major dancer at the time of the film, is more of a dancer than an actor, but she carries the demands of the script very well. The remaining cast, however, overplays shamelessly, and when combined with the trivial plot and equally trivial script--well, let's just say that the whole thing acquires a slightly ripe quality and it is difficult to feel a great deal of interest in the characters or their personal difficulties.

Even so, THE RED SHOES is nothing short of visually stunning. It is easily among the finest Technicolor films made, and the attention to design detail is elegant, beautiful, and imaginative. Although certain camera techniques have dated poorly, the "Ballet of the Red Shoes" is indeed worthy of its fame, and Shearer is exceptionally attractive in her screen debut. The Criterion DVD presents the film in near-pristine condition with a truly memorable audio commentary. Recommmended, but don't expect too much in terms of depth.

GFT, Amazon Reviewer October 2, 2008

WHAT KIND OF BILLING IS THIS?

THIS IS ACTUALLY A REVIEW OF THE BILLING YOU GIVE THE ACTORS. HOW CAN YOU LIST ALBERT
BASSERMAN AND NOT MENTION EITHER ANTON WALBROOK, MOIRA SHEARER OR MARIUS GORING.
WHOSE IGNORANCE IS BEHIND THIS? THE FILM WAS I BELIEVE ONE OF THE FIRST FILMS TO BE
"ROADSHOWED" WHICH MEANS IT WAS A RESERVED TICKET. I SAW IT IN BOSTON WHEN I WAS A
COLLEGE STUDENT. IN FACT I SPENT A FORTUNE GOING TO SEE IT OVER AND OVER. IT HAD A
HUGE INFLUENCE ON ME AS A WRITER.

JULIAN BARRY September 15, 2008

Torn between two loves.

There is so much to praise about this film. Based on a fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen and filmed in Technicolor, The Red Shoes (1948) tells the memorable story of a determined young ballerina, Victoria "Vicky" Page (played by beautiful Moira Shearer), who becomes the lead dancer in a ballet about a woman who cannot stop dancing once she puts on a pair of red shoes. Ballet is Vicky's passion. She is recruited by Boris Lermontov (Anton Walbrook), the business-minded and demanding manager/impresario of the prestigious ballet troupe, Ballet Lermontov. The music for the ballet is to be written by Julian Craster (Marius Goring), a gifted young composer. Vicky and Julian fall in love as the premiere approaches, which infuriates Lermontov when he learns of their affair. He demands nothing less than Vicky's total loyalty to the ballet. When Lermontov fires Julian, Vicky leaves with him, a decision that ultimately forces her to choose between her love for Julian, her passion for dancing, and her contractual responsibility to Lermontov. The film ends on a truly dark and shocking note. Moira Shearer and Anton Walbrook bring fine performances to film. The Red Shoes will appeal to anyone interested in dance or the dance-on-film genre.

The Criterion edition of this film features a digital transfer, interviews with Marius Goring and Moira Shearer, Jack Cardiff, composer Brian Easdale, and Martin Scorsese, Jeremy Irons reading excerpts from Powell and Pressburger's novelization of The Red Shoes and the original Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale "The Red Shoes," Martin Scorsese's collection of Red Shoes memorabilia, and the theatrical trailer.

G. Merritt October 22, 2007

This is the kind of film that truly inspires people to become dancers, filmmakers, artists, etc., etc....

I am a huge fan of Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger. Their colloboration was one of the greatest and most unique in the history of cinema. This is probably their greatest film, even though there are others which are just as magnificent. This film is about ballet, the love of art, and the burning that artists have in their desire to create. I love the 20 minute ballet sequence in the middle of the film. The film "leaves" the stage, and we get a beautiful, emotional, poetic interpretation of The Red Shoes. It's almost like it's own little movie. Certain films like this can't really be described to anyone's satisfaction, as they inspire many emotions and feeling, and words cannot convey these things most of the time. The film is so beguiling and beautiful that it still inspires many filmmakers, dancers, musicians, and artists to this very day. One of my favorite exchanges of dialogue sums up this film....

Lemontov...why do you want to dance?
Vicki....why do you want to live?
Lemontov...I don't know exactly why, but I must.
Vicki...that's my answer too.

We must create...we have no other choice....
September 8, 2007

Thank you Netflix

If not for that I would have missed this one entirely. I Don't usually go in for "Classic" movies, but I'm a dance movie addict Ballet especially, so I had to give The Red Shoes a go. And I must say that this film is absoluely beautiful from top to bottom.

Moira Shearer Glows, as Victoria Page. who wants nothing more in life then to dance, and never even considered love until... I'm telling you it's like you have to watch her. Her performance is hypnotic. She makes the film worth watching all by herself.

Anton Wallbrook as Boris Lermontov is so wonderfully sinister. the guy you love to hate and all. Wallbrook really masterd Lermontov's downward spiral. he was truly unhinged by the end, An amazing talent.

Marius Goring as Julian Craster was missing somthing for me. His performance was tepid at best, He just didn't seem to own the part. I don't know He bothered me.

The Red Shoes Ballet sequence was breath taking, unbelievable. I was gaping at the screen. and when it was performed again at the end of the film. I was speachless. Gut renchiing.

I highly recommend it to any one looking for a memorable viewing experience. August 30, 2007

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