The Red Shoes: Turner Classic Movies British Film Guide

by Mark Connelly

Since its release in 1948 The Red Shoes has been regarded not only as a British classic, and as perhaps the most widely loved of all of Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger's collaborations, but as a highlight of world cinema. Its innovative mixture of dance, music, color and light has inspired audiences across the decades. The first comprehensive study of the film that marks the pinnacle of the directors' long and productive relationship, Connelly offers fresh insights into this intriguing work and the characters at the heart of the the Svengali-like impresario and the ingénue dancer played by the brilliant Moira Shearer. According to many accounts the most successful British film ever made, it is fitting that The Red Shoes should be celebrated in 2005, the centenary of Powell's birth.

Genres: Film

128 pages, Paperback

First published August 26, 2005

Reviews

[Evan]

The Red Shoes
(1948/Great Britain)
Directors: Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger
A Production of The Archers

A moment from the famous central 15-minute ballet sequence

First of all, I haven't read this book. Apparently it's the only study of the movie in book form, and it comes from Turner Classics and not the British Film Institute (BFI) for some baffling reason. I would read it, except my library doesn't have it, and it's a bit rare and expensive to buy.

I wouldn't mind having it, though, because The Red Shoes is the greatest movie ever made.

Imagine being a producer or a director in Hollywood in 1948 -- especially somebody high up the Arthur Freed musicals unit at MGM and someone runs in breathlessly bearing the news:

"Have you seen this new movie: The Red Shoes?"

"That's some arty ballet thing, ain't it?"

"Yeah, but you gotta see it, and I hate to say it, but our asses have just got owned. By a bunch of goddamned Brits, no less!"

My theory is that the reason you started to see all those extended ballet-like epic musical sequences in MGM movies from 1949 on -- particularly in the Gene Kelly musicals -- is because they saw The Red Shoes and realized that Hollywood had been bested. And that couldn't stand. And, they did a pretty good job of catch-up. But, in my opinion, they never did better than this.

(KR@KY 2016)

[Jennifer Grozelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favourite movie.