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Summary: Except for the Original Film, this DVD is the Best Release
Review: I've seen the original film of "The Red Shoes" a number of times over the years and just loved it. The story, ballet, music, color, actors, and the whole production are superb! Later I acquired the RCA SelectaVision CED video disc edition (two parts) in the early 1980s. The CED issue unfortunately was prone to frame skipping, occasionally syncopating the ballet sequences. Still later, I obtained the Paramount VHS hi-fi release (1987). There was no frame skipping with the VHS tape, but the tops of all the frames tended to be somewhat bent and fluttery. Alas, I found no remedies for these problems. Without question, this DVD release is the best of the lot, technically. And, I liked the additional background material contributed to this DVD edition. The DVD has great color with clear, well focused images. The only deficiency, in my opinion, is the movie sound track which sounds dated (1947), however it's on par or better than the forementioned VHS release. Overall, I would class this DVD movie as one I would have to take, along with others, to a desert island on which I subsequently became marooned.
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Summary: lovely
Review: just a great film. combining good fresh acting and marvelous dancing and scenes. it is easy to LOVE this film. I hate to sound corney but this film is unforgetable adults and kids will love this film. A bittersweet film of what can happen if you love too much.
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Summary: The dangerous power of art
Review: Many of Powell and Pressburger's films explore the life of the artist and the power of the artistic imagination. In THE RED SHOES and PEEPING TOM, most notably, the writer-directors reveal the sacrifices that art sometimes demands from its acolytes. Balletophiles often praise THE RED SHOES, but one need not be a fan of ballet to be amazed by the film's emotional power and extraordinary staging. On the Criterion DVD, the saturated reds that represent the artist's blood sacrifice, and the cool aqua-blues that represent the (false) promise of life and romance outside of art, appear with unmatched vividness. Powell is a master of color, and has influenced a generation of filmmakers (through the advocacy of his admirer Martin Scorcese) with his theories about how color and music contribute to the thematic impact of a film. Anton Walbrook, who plays the impressario Lermontov in THE RED SHOES, is one of Powell and Pressburger's favorite actors, appearing to stunning effect in THE LIFE AND DEATH OF COLONEL BLIMP as well. Moira Shearer, the actress/dancer who plays the lead, made her reputation on THE RED SHOES. She also dances in one segment of the rarely-seen Powell/Pressburger masterpiece THE TALES OF HOFFMAN. The Criterion DVD has the beautiful sound and picture we've come to expect from the Voyager Company. Interesting disc features include: an audio track of Jeremy Irons reading from the original Hans Christian Anderson fairy tale, the complete text of Powell and Pressburger's novelization of the movie, an extensive collection of Scorcese's memorabilia, and a comparison of the Red Shoes Ballet with the filmed storyboard sketches the directors used as a guide. One wonderful addition for Powell and Pressburger fans is their filmography -- brief descriptions with cast lists and dates for all their films, most of which also have film clips included. It's a chance to see scenes from some of the long-lost works in their catalogue.
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Summary: Historical Gem for Dancers
Review: My general comment is that this is a grand and beautiful movie. It is very entertaining. There have been some wonderful dance sequences in the movies, but none have surpassed "The Red Shoes Ballet" within this movie. The rest of this review is rather esoteric, and I apologize for that, but it may be useful to those interested in Dance. This is a must-have for anyone interested in Ballet History. While it is not a true story, Boris Lermontov is clearly based on Serge Diaghilev, down to the funny white streak in his hair. Moira Shearer playes the lead ballerina Victoria Page. Shearer, of Sadler's Wells, exhibits her geniune and compelling technique. The Lermontov/Page relationship echos that of Diaghilev and Nijinsky or perhaps Mr. B. and his girls. The crazy genius choreographer and dancer Leonide Massine has a wonderful part, and there is a little cameo appearance of Marie Rambert in the Mercury Theatre. See this movie and watch for other interesting parallels and tidbits!
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Summary: Beautiful in every aspect !!!
Review: One of the most beautiful films ever made gets the ultimate treatment, on this DVD from The Criterion Collection. This film shows us the awesome, driving, life consuming force that races through any artist who wants to be the best at that particular art form. In this film, Vicky is the ballerina who "needs" to dance to live. We see her amazing journey as she looses herself in the "Red Shoes" ballet sequence. Which is one of the most daring and artistic statements made in film history. Her husband is a composer / conducter and his music is his passion. But when Vicky is forced to make a choice between her love for her husband or her love to dance "The Red Shoes" the results are frightening, hypnotic, and tragic. A film you will never forget, and always cherish for it's powerful statement, and it's sheer beauty. Criterion's transfer is stunning and the bonus material is great !! Get this DVD and see the results of a beautifully crafted film getting the "best" treatment it could get in the digital realm !!
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Summary: BRITISH DELIGHT FROM 1948.
Review: One of the most imaginitive and elaborate backstage musicals ever filmed, and many have called it great. The movie contains a 14 - minute ballet, also called THE RED SHOES based upon a Hans Christian Andersen story about a wicked shoemaker who sells and enchanted pair of slippers to a young girl. Delighted at first with the slippers in which she dances joyously, she discovers that the slippers will not let her stop dancing - and the bewitched, exhausted girl dies. The film's story is, of course, the same story, spelled out in more complicated terms, with the shoemaker of the ballet (Leonide Massine) replaced by the megalomaniac ballet impresario played by Anton Walbrook. The exquisite Moira Shearer is the ballerina; the cast includes Marius Goring as the young composer. Self-conscious though the film may be, it nonetheless affects some people passionately and it's a classic of a kind. Written, produced and directed by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger - who were master purveyors of high kitsch - this colour film is sure to please discerning lovers of whimsy and ballet.
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Summary: Enjoyable for everyone!
Review: Shearer's acting is as effortless as her dancing and also just as emotional. As a dancer, I emphatically recommend "The Red Shoes" to all dancers and non-dancers, as anyone can relate to this story and appreciate the morals. This film contains fine acting by all three principle stars and the supporting roles, and neatly weaves some beautiful dancing scenes into the story. Highly recommended.
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Summary: A must-have for classical movie collectors
Review: Such fine art, superb cast, great performance, an unforgettable fairy-tale. Outstanding reproduction with sharp image and natural color capture. Mono-sound, but that is part of the legend.
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Summary: A Must See For Ballet Fans
Review: The 1948 classic film starring Moira Shearer (herself a professional ballerina) is no only an enjoyable semi-realistic fantasy film, in much the same lines as say The Wizard Of Oz, but a brilliant film technically to look at. It's drawn from the dark fairy tale by Hans Christian Anderson (responsible for such stories as The Little Mermaid), in which a young girl is forced to wear red shoes with a will of their own. The poor girl dances until she dies. The concept is taken to a late 40's England, where the aspiring ballerina Victoria Page seeks to dance in the prestigious company headed by the eccentric, perfectionist and intensely driven impresario Lentmontov. The story provides the audience with a glimpse of dance rehearsals, theatrical life both pre-performance and during, the charm of the glamourosu life ballerinas are said to enjoy. But in reality, it is a study on obscession, the demand for virtuouso performance and the conflict between love of one's career and romantic love. Victoria Page is herself doomed to dance to her death when she is torn between her duty to Lentmontov and her love for his musical composer and choreographer. This movie is excellent for ballet fans, and for stage magic fans- the Ballet of the Red Shoes is the most striking moment in the film, an original ballet set against surreal, nightmarish backgrounds of carnivals, ballrooms and ghostly netherworlds where neon lights change colors in blinding and dizzying speed and danced to jazzy 40's music. The film is sure to impress adults (I disagree that it is for children due to the drama of the whole thing), and it is marvelously shot in Paris, London and Monte Carlo. A film like this does'nt come often.
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Summary: Criterion Rules
Review: The best mastering i've seen of this film.
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