The Red Shoes + Extended Introduction by Pamela Hutchinson PG
One of the greatest British films of all time, Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger’s The Red Shoes is visually ravishing masterpiece.
Like the heroine of Hans Christian Andersen’s source fairytale, whose magic shoes compel her to dance, Victoria Page – played by real-life ballerina Moira Shearer – finds herself driven to breaking point by obsessive Russian impresario Lermontov (Anton Walbrook) when she’s cast in his ballet, The Red Shoes.
For writer-directors Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger, it represented a triumphant attempt to create a ‘composed film’ in which music – here by Brian Easdale – plays a more central role, demanding similar expressive intensity in every detail of design and performance. Fittingly, it won Oscars for both art direction and music.
With its captivating behind-the-scenes insight into the creative process, and characters for whom art is more important than life itself, the film has proved an inspiration to filmmakers and dancers alike.
This special screening will feature an extended introduction by Powell and Pressburger expert and author of BFI Film Classics: The Red Shoes, Pamela Hutchinson.
Watch
Gallery 1 image
- Director
- Emeric Pressburger, Michael Powell
- Year
- 1948
- Duration
- 2 hours 15 minutes
- Language
- English
- Cast
- Anton Walbrook, Marius Goring, Moira Shearer
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