Barnes & Noble

Lush, romantic, and gorgeously photographed, this beloved 1947 classic captures the magic and movement of ballet more perfectly than any film made before or since. Based loosely on Hans Christian Andersen's tragic fairy tale, the story follows aspiring ballerina Victoria Page (the dazzling Moira Shearer) as she pursues her heart's desire under the tutelage of charismatic and demanding impresario Boris Lermontov (Anton Walbrook). But when Vicki becomes romantically involved with composer Julian Craster (Marius Goring), she finds herself forced to choose between love and dance. And without dance, Vicki cannot live.… The high-water mark in the career of the great British writing and directing team of Michael Powell and Emric Pressburger, The Red Shoes won Academy Awards for Best Score and Best Art Direction. Filled with cameos and choreography by some of ballet's most illustrious names, it is a film that set thousands of little girls to dreaming of toe shoes and tutus. Karen Backstein

All Movie Guide

Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger's influential musical tragedy set the stage for the climactic dance ballets that became a staple of the Arthur Freed-MGM musicals (An American in Paris, Singin' in the Rain and The Band Wagon) of the early 1950s. Hans Christian Andersen's tragic fairy tale forms the basis of this film about betrayal, love and art. The story begins as struggling composer Julian Craster (Marius Goring) attends a performance of the Lermontov Ballet Company and recognizes his own score in the production of "Hearts of Fire." Julian protests to ballet company director Boris Lermontov (Anton Walbrook) about the unauthorized use of his music. Impressed by Julian's talent, Boris hires him to compose the score for his next ballet -- a dance version of "The Red Shoes." Boris also hires an attractive young dancer, Victoria Page (Moira Shearer), to perform in the ballet. When the lead ballerina announces that she plans to get married, Boris, in a pique over being abandoned, casts Victoria in the starring role. As Julian works on the score and Victoria struggles to perfect her dance technique, the two fall in love. When "The Red Shoes" ballet is premiered -- seen in a stunning and glorious fifteen-minute sequence -- it is a raging success and it makes Victoria a star. But when Boris learns that Julian and Victoria have fallen in love, Boris, who is secretly in love with Victoria, in a fit of rage forces Julian to leave the ballet company; Victoria leaves with him. Since Boris owns the rights to "The Red Shoes" ballet, he forbids Victoria to perform the dance and she becomes unemployable. Time passes and Julian and Victoria are now happily married. Julian's compositions have made him an international success. One day, with Victoria disembarking from a train in Paris, she meets Boris, who implores her to do one performance of "The Red Shoes" in Monaco. Victoria agrees as Julian cancels an engagement in London to travel to Monte Carlo in order to convince his wife not to perform the ballet. But Victoria goes on with the performance, with tragic results. Paul Brenner

Product Details

• UPC: 037429128220
• Source: CRITERION
• Region Code: 1
• Aspect Ratio: Pre-1954 Standard (1.33.1)
• Presentation: Pan & Scan
• Sound: monaural
• Language: English
• Subtitles: English
• Time: 2:14:00
• Sales Rank: 170

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