The Red Shoes details
| Formats: | U DVD, Blu-ray |
|---|---|
| Starring: | Albert Bassermann, Esmond Knight, Robert Helpmann, Esmond Kn, Anton Walbrook, Leonide Massine, Marius Goring, Moira Shearer, Ludmilla Tcherina |
| Directors: | Emeric Pressburger, Michael Powell |
| Genres: | Drama, Music/Musical - Ballet/Dance |
| Studio: | ITV STUDIOS HOME ENTERTAINMENT |
| Name | Discs | |
|---|---|---|
The Red Shoes |
U Feature | |
The Red Shoes - Bonus Features |
U Bonus |
DVD Information
| Run time: | 2 hours 8 minutes |
|---|---|
| Rental release: | 11 Oct 1999 |
| Main languages: | English |
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Most helpful review
A cinematic wet dream
By Tinderbox from England , 05 Jul 2004[Highly rated reviewer]
While some critics find it hard to swallow the tragic end of this melodrama about ballet, it's pretty much agreed that the 17-minute centrepiece of "The Red Shoes" is one of the most unforgettable visions ever committed to celluloid.
The plot might seem like it should appear in an issue of 'Bunty', but in the hands of scriptwriter Emeric Pressburger it becomes something truly dark and overpowering. Moira Shearer plays a young, obsessive ballet dancer who is forced to choose between her lover and a future under the tutelage of ballet guru Mr Lermontov.
The link to Hans Christian Andersen's tragic tale of a girl who dances herself to death with red shoes (a symbol of potent lust) comes in the form of the central ballet piece. Conceived as a series of tableaux, it is incredible to watch: shadows and colour fill the screen, and seeing newspaper cut-outs pirouette and twirl will redefine your faith in cinema.
The eventual outcome may not quite work, but Michael Powell's stunning direction and Jack Cardiff's amazing cinematography convince you that dying for your art wouldn't be so immoral if all art was this good.- Was this review helpful to you?
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(27)Truly dire
By NeilWeightman (32 reviews) from Peckham , 19 Nov 2012I really have no idea why this is regarded as a good movie. The plot is thin and obvious, the acting is sub-school-play, the dialogue rubbish, the sets all look totally unconvincing, the first hour contains nothing in the way of significant plot, then you have nearly 20 mins of dancing, then 40 more grinding minutes of totally obvious crushingly dull plot, then a completely unbelievable ending. The only good thing about it was the occasional clever (for the late 40s) special effect.
I don't know how anyone could consider this in the same league as Black Swan, which was genuinely dark, disturbing, ambiguous and well acted.- Was this review helpful to you?
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Classic ballet film
By Ferry41 (223 reviews) from Oxford , 15 Aug 2012Don't rent this if you don't like dance. Great classic ballet film that keeps the suspense up to the end. Beautifully filmed.- Was this review helpful to you?
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Shame on 'Black Swan' for stealing so much of this!!
By ZKPW (42 reviews) , 13 Feb 2012I've wanted to see this film for 22 years... and it really wasn't what I expected it to be, but I really enjoyed it. Less about ballet and more about the artist (be that dancer, composer, set designer, impressario) and their need to express. Exploring the ideas of selfishness versus commitment, personal desire versus obligation, it is wonderfully restored and as sumptuous and beautiful as the other works made by Powell/Pressburger. The real revelation for me was just how much Darren Arronovsky owes to this film, it's almost criminal! If he says he's never seen it, he's lying...- Was this review helpful to you?
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Sumptuous Fairy Story Ballet From The Golden Age of Hollywood
By Jennish (335 reviews) from Rye , 01 Nov 2011Remastered classic that lends a bold and glossy look to a tale of jealousy, intrigue, love and ambition in an international ballet troupe. Blending both the fairy story behind the performance with the doomed relationships amongst the charcacters is a simple but effective way to sustain the film's excessive running time and distract from the often wooden acting. The production doesn't dissapoint though, the dance sequences and cinematography are sumptuous and lavish. Fans of dance and classic cinema alike should find common ground in this one.- Was this review helpful to you?
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the red shoes
By maemagoosling (1 review) , 26 May 2011Great old classic
my 11 year old daughter like it as well.
the ballet in the film is so dated thats why is great for all ballet lovers.- Was this review helpful to you?
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