# The Red Shoes

> 1948 film by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger

**Wikidata**: [Q625780](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q625780)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Red_Shoes_(1948_film))  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/the-red-shoes

## Summary

The Red Shoes is a romance film, drama film, musical film, and dance film[1][2][3][4]. It received the Academy Award for Best Art Direction, Color, and the Academy Award for Best Original Dramatic or Comedy Score[5]. The picture was also named among the National Board of Review: Top Ten Films[5].

## Summary
The Red Shoes is a 1948 British drama film directed by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger, based on the fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen. It tells the story of a young ballerina torn between her art and her love, featuring a famous 17-minute ballet sequence that is considered one of the most innovative in cinema history.

## Key Facts
- Released in 1948, with multiple publication dates including September 6, 1948 and October 22, 1948
- Directed by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger, known collectively as The Archers
- Runtime of 133 minutes (2 hours and 13 minutes)
- Produced by The Archers production company
- Country of origin: United Kingdom
- IMDb ID: tt0040725
- Rotten Tomatoes score: 98% with a 9/10 rating
- Budget: $505,600
- Box office: $843,502
- Genre classifications include drama, romance, and musical
- Based on the fairy tale "The Red Shoes" by Hans Christian Andersen
- Features Moira Shearer in her film debut as the lead ballerina Victoria Page

## FAQs
What is the plot of The Red Shoes?
The film follows Victoria Page, a young ballerina who joins a prestigious dance company and becomes the star of a new ballet called "The Red Shoes," but must choose between her career and her love for composer Julian Craster.

Who directed The Red Shoes?
The film was directed by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger, the British filmmaking duo known as The Archers, who were famous for their visually stunning and artistically ambitious films.

What makes the ballet sequence in The Red Shoes so famous?
The 17-minute ballet sequence is renowned for its innovative use of color, special effects, and surreal imagery that blurs the line between reality and fantasy, influencing countless filmmakers and choreographers.

## Why It Matters
The Red Shoes is considered one of the greatest British films ever made and a landmark in the history of cinema, particularly for its groundbreaking integration of dance and film. Its influence extends far beyond the world of ballet, inspiring generations of filmmakers with its bold visual style, complex characters, and exploration of the artist's struggle between personal life and professional dedication. The film's innovative techniques, particularly in the ballet sequence, pushed the boundaries of what was possible in cinema at the time and continue to be studied and admired today. It represents a perfect synthesis of storytelling, visual artistry, and technical innovation that exemplifies the heights of cinematic achievement.

## Notable For
- Revolutionary integration of ballet and cinema
- Groundbreaking use of color and special effects
- Influence on countless filmmakers including Martin Scorsese and Brian De Palma
- Launch of Moira Shearer's film career
- Considered one of the greatest British films of all time
- Preservation in the United States National Film Registry
- Multiple award wins including Academy Award for Best Art Direction
- Cultural impact on fashion and design

## Body
### Production and Creative Team
The Red Shoes was produced by The Archers, the production company formed by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger. The film was their seventh collaboration and is often considered their masterpiece. The screenplay was written by Powell and Pressburger, who adapted Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale into a modern story about the sacrifices required for artistic greatness. The film's cinematography was handled by Jack Cardiff, whose innovative use of Technicolor created some of the most visually stunning sequences in cinema history.

### Cast and Performances
The film stars Moira Shearer as Victoria Page, a role that launched her film career after she was already an established ballerina with the Sadler's Wells Ballet. Anton Walbrook plays Boris Lermontov, the demanding director of the ballet company, while Marius Goring portrays Julian Craster, the young composer who falls in love with Victoria. The supporting cast includes Robert Helpmann, Léonide Massine, and Albert Bassermann, many of whom were actual dancers and choreographers, lending authenticity to the ballet sequences.

### The Famous Ballet Sequence
The centerpiece of the film is the 17-minute ballet sequence based on "The Red Shoes" fairy tale. This sequence is notable for its surreal, dreamlike quality and its innovative use of cinematic techniques to visualize the story. Powell and Pressburger used various special effects, including miniatures, matte paintings, and creative camera work to create a world that exists only in the imagination of the dancer. The sequence features groundbreaking use of color, with the red shoes becoming a focal point against the more muted backgrounds, and includes visual metaphors that represent the dancer's psychological state.

### Critical Reception and Legacy
Upon its release, The Red Shoes was both a critical and commercial success, winning two Academy Awards for Best Art Direction and Best Music Score. It has since been consistently ranked among the greatest films ever made, appearing on numerous "best of" lists including those by the British Film Institute and Sight & Sound. The film's influence can be seen in countless later works, from the musicals of the 1950s to modern films like Black Swan (2010). Directors such as Martin Scorsese, Francis Ford Coppola, and Brian De Palma have cited The Red Shoes as a major influence on their work.

### Restoration and Preservation
The film has undergone several restoration efforts to preserve its visual splendor. In 2009, the Criterion Collection released a restored version on DVD and Blu-ray, which included both the original British version and the slightly shorter American release. The film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress in 1990, being deemed "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant." This recognition ensures that future generations will be able to experience the film's groundbreaking visual style and powerful storytelling.

### Cultural Impact
Beyond its influence on cinema, The Red Shoes has had a significant impact on fashion, design, and popular culture. The image of the red shoes has become an iconic symbol in fashion, inspiring countless designers and appearing in various forms of media. The film's exploration of the conflict between personal life and professional dedication resonates with artists across all disciplines, making it a touchstone for discussions about the nature of artistic creation and the sacrifices it demands. The film's visual style has influenced not just filmmakers but also fashion photographers, music video directors, and advertising creatives, cementing its place as a cultural touchstone that continues to inspire and influence more than seven decades after its initial release.

## References

1. [Source](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0040725/)
2. [Source](http://www.ofdb.de/film/19066,Die-Roten-Schuhe)
3. [Source](http://www.filmaffinity.com/en/film843502.html)
4. [Source](http://www.radiotimes.com/film/mcxdt/the-red-shoes)
5. [Source](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0040725/fullcredits)
6. Česko-Slovenská filmová databáze
7. [Source](https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1949)
8. Virtual International Authority File
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12. Freebase Data Dumps
13. [IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0040725/releaseinfo)
14. [IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0040725/releaseinfo/)
15. The Red Shoes
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17. [Source](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0040725/)
18. BBC Things
19. [IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0040725/technical/)
20. Kinopoisk
21. [Source](https://www.kijkwijzer.nl/films/red-shoes-the/)
22. terjesztesre_kerulo_filmalkotasok_nyilvantartasa.xlsx
23. [Source](http://www.allocine.fr/film/fichefilm_gen_cfilm=553.html)
24. List of film licenses issued from 1945 to 2020
25. [Source](https://www.cnc.fr/professionnels/visas-et-classification/8664)
26. Bechdel Test Movie List
27. mymovies.it
28. IMDb
29. [Source](https://ui.eidr.org/view/content?id=10.5240/7A8F-736F-2022-236F-C77E-Q)
30. [Source](https://www.acmi.net.au/works/93939)
31. Trakt.tv
32. FilmVandaag.nl