The Red Shoes [Criterion Collection]

The Red Shoes [Criterion Collection]

Director: Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger Cast: Moira Shearer
Moira Shearer
, Anton Walbrook
Anton Walbrook
, Marius Goring
Marius Goring
Michael Powell
The Red Shoes [Criterion Collection]

The Red Shoes [Criterion Collection]

Director: Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger Cast: Moira Shearer
Moira Shearer
, Anton Walbrook
Anton Walbrook
, Marius Goring
Marius Goring
Michael Powell

DVD

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Overview

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.

Product Details

Release Date: 07/20/2010
UPC: 0715515059411
Original Release: 1948
Source: Criterion Collection
Region Code: 1
Sound: [Dolby Digital Mono]
Language: English
Time: 2:14:00
Sales rank: 13,223

Special Features

Introductory restoration demonstration with filmmaker Martin Scorsese; Audio commentary by film historian Ian Christie, featuring interviews with stars Marius Goring and Moira Shearer, cinematographer Jack Cardiff, composer Brian Easdale, and scorsese; Audio recording of actor Jeremy, Irons reading excerpts from Powell and Pressburger's novelization of the red shoes; Theatrical trailer; Profile of "the red shoes," a documentary on the making of the film, featuring interviews with members of the production team; Video interview with director Michael Powell's widow, editor Thelma Schoonmaker Powell, from the 2009 cannes film festival, in which she discusses Powell, the film, and the restoration; Collection of items from Scorsese's personal collection of the red shoes memorabilia; "The Red Shoes" sketches, an animated film of Hein Heckroth's painted storyboards, with the Red Shoes ballet as an alternate angle; Audio recording of irons reading the original hans Christian Andersen fairy tale "The Red Shoes"

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits
Moira Shearer Victoria Page
Anton Walbrook Boris Lermontov
Marius Goring Julian Craster
Leonide Massine Grischa Ljubov
Robert Helpmann Ivan Boleslawsky
Albert Basserman Sergei Ratov
Esmond Knight Livy
Ludmilla Tcherina Irina Boronskaja
Jean Short Terry
Gordon Littman Ike
Julia Lang A Balletomane
Bill Shine Her Mate
Austin Trevor Prof. Palmer
Eric Berry Dimitri
Irene Browne Lady Neston
Jerry Verno Stagedoor Keeper
Derek Elphinstone Lord Oldham
Mme. Rambert Herself
Joy Rawlins Gladys, Vicky's Friend
Marcel Poncin M. Boudin
Michel Bazalgette M. Rideaut
Yvonne Andre Vicky's Dresser
Hay Petrie Boisson
Joan Harris Solo Dancer
Emeric Pressburger Actor
George Woodbridge Doorman
Denis Carey Dancer
Robert Dorning Dancer
Guy Massey Dancer
Albert Bassermann Actor
Brian Easdale Composer

Technical Credits
Michael Powell Director,Screenwriter,Producer
Emeric Pressburger Director,Screenwriter,Producer
George Busby Producer
Keith Winter Screenwriter
Charles Poulton Sound/Sound Designer
Gordon McCallum Sound/Sound Designer

Scene Index

Disc #1 -- Red Shoes
1. Opening Credits [3:39]
2. Musicians and Balletomanes [3:45]
3. Heart of Fire [4:45]
4. Lady Neston's Party [4:23]
5. "A Matter of Very Great Importance" [4:04]
6. Covent Garden, Backstage [7:25]
7. Natural Ambitions [5:12]
8. The Mercury Theatre [3:18]
9. Paris [2:29]
10. The Story of "The Red Shoes" [3:05]
11. Irina is Finished [2:53]
12. An Invitation [5:39]
13. Julian Scores [3:52]
14. "Nothing But the Music" [7:23]
15. The Red Shoes Ballet [4:45]
16. "You Will Do the Dancing" [16:09]
17. The Great Roles [5:19]
18. Grischa's Birthday Party [3:51]
19. Departures [6:59]
20. Lermontov's Reflection [8:30]
21. Sleepless Nights [7:56]
22. "Dance For Us Again" [4:30]
23. The Struggle For Vicky [2:46]
24. Vicky's Last Dance [5:31]
25. End Credits [4:42]
1. Russian Impresarios [3:39]
2. "The Gods" [3:45]
3. Public Execution [4:45]
4. The Most Important Man [4:23]
5. "Dear Mr Lermontov" [4:04]
6. The Great Boronskaja [7:25]
7. "From the Beginning, Please" [5:12]
8. Ballet Rambert [3:18]
9. Six Foolish Virgins [2:29]
10. A Young Composer's Dream [3:05]
11. "You Cannot Have it Both Ways" [2:53]
12. Monte Carlo [5:39]
13. "Change Everything!" [3:52]
14. Lermontov's Creed [7:23]
15. The First Night [4:45]
16. "It Was . . . Good" [16:09]
17. Two Vicky's [5:19]
18. A Little Romance [3:51]
19. "Send Craster to Me" [6:59]
20. The Telegram [8:30]
21. Lady Neston [7:56]
22. "I'm Always Looking For Great Dancers" [4:30]
23. The Spider and the Fly [2:46]
24. "Wait For Me!" [5:31]
25. End Credit Music [4:42]
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