The Red Shoes (Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger, 1948) is one of the best films about ballet thanks to the vision of its directors. The ballets, 'The Red Shoes ballet' by Sir Robert Helpmann and 'The Shoemaker' by Leonide Massine, are magnificently staged. The glorious Technicolor cinematography by Jack Cardiff is tremendous. Moira Shearer with her red hair and peaches and cream skin projects a refined presence in the film that is hard to forget. Cinematography, music, acting and ballet combined make a timeless classic with a vivid look that 70 years after, still appears fresh and glamorous.
Moira Shearer. British postcard by 'The People' Show Parade Picture Service, London, no. P. 1041. Photo: J. Arthur Rank Organisation Ltd.
British postcard in the Picturegoer Series, London, no. W. 649. Photo: J. Arthur Rank Organisation Ltd. Moira Shearer in The Red Shoes (Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger, 1948).
British postcard in the Picturegoer Series, London, no. W. 650. Photo: J. Arthur Rank Organisation Ltd. Moira Shearer and Robert Helpmann in The Red Shoes (Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger, 1948).
The Red Shoes (Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger, 1948) is basically a fairy tale loosely based on a Hans Christian Andersen story. Emeric Pressburger's story appears simple at first glance, but is a challenging study of the value and purpose of art, and of aestheticism as a creed.
At a performance by the Ballet Lermontov at Covent Garden Opera House, music student Julian Craster (Marius Goring) is in attendance to hear the ballet score 'Heart of Fire', composed by his teacher, Professor Palmer. Separately present is Victoria 'Vicky' Page (Moira Shearer), a young, unknown dancer from an aristocratic background, with her aunt, Lady Neston. As 'Heart of Fire' progresses, Julian recognises the music as one of his own compositions.
During the performance, Professor Palmer receives an invitation to an after-ballet party at Lady Neston's residence, also asking charismatic Boris Lermontov (Anton Walbrook), the company impresario, to attend. Julian leaves the performance in disillusionment at his professor's plagiarism of his music. Lermontov and Vicki meet, and he invites her to a rehearsal of the company.
Julian has written to Lermontov to explain the circumstances behind Heart of Fire, but then tries to retrieve the letter. Lermontov's assistant Dimitri thwarts all attempts by Julian to gain entry to Lermontov's suite, but finally Lermontov gives Julian an audience. Julian says that he wishes to retrieve his letter before Lermontov has seen it, except that Lermontov has already read the letter.
Lermontov asks Julian to play one of his own works at the piano. After hearing Julian play, he hires him as a répétiteur for the company orchestra and assistant to the company's conductor, Livingstone Montague. Lermontov realises that Julian was the true composer of 'Heart of Fire'.
Julian and Vicky arrive for work at the Ballet Lermontov on the same day. Later, Vicky dances with Ballet Rambert in a matinee performance of Swan Lake at the Mercury Theatre, Notting Hill Gate, in a production with a company led by Marie Rambert (who appears in the film as herself in a wordless cameo). Watching this performance, Lermontov realises her potential and invites Vicky to go with Ballet Lermontov to Paris and Monte Carlo. He decides to create a starring role for her in a new ballet, 'The Red Shoes', for which Julian is to provide the music.
Under the authoritarian rule of Lermontov, his proteges realise the full promise of their talents, but at a price: utter devotion to their art and complete loyalty to Lermontov himself. Under his near-obsessive guidance, Vicky is poised for superstardom, but earns Lermontov's scorn when she falls in love with Julian. Vicky leaves the company and marries Craster, but still finds herself torn between Lermontov's demands and those of her heart.
At the 21st Academy Awards, The Red Shoes won awards for Best Original Score and Best Art Direction. It also had nominations for Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay and Best Film Editing.
British postcard in the Picturegoer Series, London, no. W. 651. Photo: J. Arthur Rank Organisation Ltd. Moira Shearer in The Red Shoes (Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger, 1948).
British postcard in the Picturegoer Series, London, no. W. 653. Photo: J. Arthur Rank Organisation Ltd. Moira Shearer, Robert Helpmann and Leonide Massine in The Red Shoes (Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger, 1948).
British postcard in the Picturegoer Series, London, no. W. 654. Photo: J. Arthur Rank Organisation Ltd. Moira Shearer, Robert Helpmann and Leonide Massine in The Red Shoes (Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger, 1948).
British Real Photo postcard by Rotary Photographic Company, London, no. F.S. 20. Caption: [Leonide] Massine conducts a class with the Principals and the Corps de Ballet in the Rehearsal Room at Covent Garden for the film The Red Shoes.
Sources: Wikipedia and IMDb.
Moira Shearer. British postcard by 'The People' Show Parade Picture Service, London, no. P. 1041. Photo: J. Arthur Rank Organisation Ltd.
British postcard in the Picturegoer Series, London, no. W. 649. Photo: J. Arthur Rank Organisation Ltd. Moira Shearer in The Red Shoes (Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger, 1948).
British postcard in the Picturegoer Series, London, no. W. 650. Photo: J. Arthur Rank Organisation Ltd. Moira Shearer and Robert Helpmann in The Red Shoes (Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger, 1948).
Torn between Lermontov's demands and those of her heart
The Red Shoes (Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger, 1948) is basically a fairy tale loosely based on a Hans Christian Andersen story. Emeric Pressburger's story appears simple at first glance, but is a challenging study of the value and purpose of art, and of aestheticism as a creed.
At a performance by the Ballet Lermontov at Covent Garden Opera House, music student Julian Craster (Marius Goring) is in attendance to hear the ballet score 'Heart of Fire', composed by his teacher, Professor Palmer. Separately present is Victoria 'Vicky' Page (Moira Shearer), a young, unknown dancer from an aristocratic background, with her aunt, Lady Neston. As 'Heart of Fire' progresses, Julian recognises the music as one of his own compositions.
During the performance, Professor Palmer receives an invitation to an after-ballet party at Lady Neston's residence, also asking charismatic Boris Lermontov (Anton Walbrook), the company impresario, to attend. Julian leaves the performance in disillusionment at his professor's plagiarism of his music. Lermontov and Vicki meet, and he invites her to a rehearsal of the company.
Julian has written to Lermontov to explain the circumstances behind Heart of Fire, but then tries to retrieve the letter. Lermontov's assistant Dimitri thwarts all attempts by Julian to gain entry to Lermontov's suite, but finally Lermontov gives Julian an audience. Julian says that he wishes to retrieve his letter before Lermontov has seen it, except that Lermontov has already read the letter.
Lermontov asks Julian to play one of his own works at the piano. After hearing Julian play, he hires him as a répétiteur for the company orchestra and assistant to the company's conductor, Livingstone Montague. Lermontov realises that Julian was the true composer of 'Heart of Fire'.
Julian and Vicky arrive for work at the Ballet Lermontov on the same day. Later, Vicky dances with Ballet Rambert in a matinee performance of Swan Lake at the Mercury Theatre, Notting Hill Gate, in a production with a company led by Marie Rambert (who appears in the film as herself in a wordless cameo). Watching this performance, Lermontov realises her potential and invites Vicky to go with Ballet Lermontov to Paris and Monte Carlo. He decides to create a starring role for her in a new ballet, 'The Red Shoes', for which Julian is to provide the music.
Under the authoritarian rule of Lermontov, his proteges realise the full promise of their talents, but at a price: utter devotion to their art and complete loyalty to Lermontov himself. Under his near-obsessive guidance, Vicky is poised for superstardom, but earns Lermontov's scorn when she falls in love with Julian. Vicky leaves the company and marries Craster, but still finds herself torn between Lermontov's demands and those of her heart.
At the 21st Academy Awards, The Red Shoes won awards for Best Original Score and Best Art Direction. It also had nominations for Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay and Best Film Editing.
British postcard in the Picturegoer Series, London, no. W. 651. Photo: J. Arthur Rank Organisation Ltd. Moira Shearer in The Red Shoes (Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger, 1948).
British postcard in the Picturegoer Series, London, no. W. 653. Photo: J. Arthur Rank Organisation Ltd. Moira Shearer, Robert Helpmann and Leonide Massine in The Red Shoes (Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger, 1948).
British postcard in the Picturegoer Series, London, no. W. 654. Photo: J. Arthur Rank Organisation Ltd. Moira Shearer, Robert Helpmann and Leonide Massine in The Red Shoes (Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger, 1948).
British Real Photo postcard by Rotary Photographic Company, London, no. F.S. 20. Caption: [Leonide] Massine conducts a class with the Principals and the Corps de Ballet in the Rehearsal Room at Covent Garden for the film The Red Shoes.
Sources: Wikipedia and IMDb.
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