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The Red Shoes (1948)

A review by Damian Cannon.
Copyright © Movie Reviews UK 1997
Hans Christian Andersen's fairytale The Red Shoes provides the centrepiece around which a tale of love and betrayal is built, all set within the famed Lermontov Ballet Company. From the outset the atmosphere of music, dance and acting descends, when Julian Craster (Marius Goring) accompanies his friends to the ballet; their professor wrote the score, you see! Soon after the start Julian realises that the music is, in fact, his and storms out of the performance; intensely annoying his neighbouring balletomanes. "Heart of Fire" is a great success however and Boris Lermontov (Anton Walbrook) attends an after-show party, where he meets the pretty, young dancer Victoria Page (Moira Shearer). Initially he pretends a cynical outlook, to put her off, but soon realises that she has something special and invites her to join his Company. The next morning Julian forces his way into an audience with Lermontov, who realises that he also has real talent and hires him on the spot. In this way our two young hopefuls join the chaos and anarchy of the prestigious Lermontov Ballet.

They soon realise that they're not alone in being given this chance, since Lermontov uses the system of picking the best then letting them sink or swim, but they both manage to stay with the Company when it leaves London. Lermontov wants to premiere a new ballet, The Red Shoes, but is stunned when his lead ballerina announces that she is to be married. Since he regards ballet as more important than life itself (and love as a worthless emotion) he casts Vicky in the lead. She is hungry for success and he wants to take her as his protege and make her into a star. Since Julian is writing the score he spends a lot of time with Vicky; they argue, laugh and slowly fall in love. When the ballet is staged (in a glorious 15-minute sequence) it is a critical and commercial success. Great roles beckon for Vicky (under the guidance of Lermontov) when the Company tours the World.

This is short-lived promise though once Lermontov learns of the romance between Julian and Vicky. Not only does he (outwardly) abhor relationships among his employees but he (secretly) loves Vicky for himself. In a fit of rage he forces Julian to leave, with Vicky following him (realising that there is more to life than dancing). When they are married Lermontov feigns indifference (despite losing two of his stars) since he has a trump card. He owns the rights to The Red Shoes and Vicky is unable to get work when she can't perform this astounding work. Years later, when Julian has gained greater fame, this ballet leads to tragedy for everyone concerned.

To the unknowing eye this movie might seem to appeal only to balletomanes but there is much more to The Red Shoes than dancing. The dramatic aspects are both convincingly played and appropriate to the characters, as they grapple with combining life and art. Surprisingly, to contemporary viewers, the ballet professionals were rather good at acting - especially Moira Shearer. Other aspects of the movie are equally strong, such as the photography, the score (including excerpts from classic ballets) and the continental locations. The directing team of Powell and Pressburger apply their masterful touch to both the small details and the whole picture; a supreme symbiosis. Finally, the central 15-minute ballet is fantastic and surrealistic, using the camera to give us s viewpoint among the dancers and to provide special effects. Great stuff indeed.

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