Rating: 
Summary: Powerfully haunting
Review: Hans Christian Andersen's fairytale has been taken to greater depths. The fine line between art and life, duty and desire is expertly explored in this amazing film. Once seen this film lingers in the brain and cannot be forgotten. Shearer's character Vicky Page is tortured by her passion for dancing and her role as a wife, caught between the ballet director and her composer-husband. Although this was made over 50 years ago, many of the issues dealt with still resonate in our lives. The Red Shoes is a true classic-it defies the test of time and will continue to mesmerize all who dare to experience it.
Rating:
Summary: The Red Magic
Review: How to explain magic? Some movies have it but most don't. When I first saw this film long ago at the Hamilton Theater on the South Side of Chicago, I felt its enchantment almost from the first scene until the tragic conclusion. Frankly, at that age, I really didn't fully understand (much less appreciate) what I had just seen but I knew it was something quite special. And so it remains decades later. To some extent based on one of Hans Christian Andersen's tales, this film examines the brief and tragic career of a young ballerina, Victoria Page (Moira Shearer), who becomes an international celebrity following her performance of The Red Shoes while a member of the Lermontov Ballet Company. Shearer's performance is most credible when she dances, of course, but at least adequate when delivering her lines. The strongest performances are those of Marius Goring (Craster) and Anton Walbrook (Lermontov) who portray men in love with the same woman. The plot is really insignificant to the music and especially to the dancing. I also enjoy the exterior shots in London and Paris in the late-1940s. For me, the 15-minute ballet sequence is among the most enjoyable audiovisual experiences on film and was perhaps an inspiration for the extended dream sequence in An American in Paris three years later.One final comment. Perhaps I have been spoiled by the quality of other DVDs (sound/image quality and/or special features) but nonetheless share the disappointment of others with the production quality of this DVD. The glitches are minor but a distraction.
Rating:
Summary: A symphony of color.
Review: I first saw this film when I was very very small, about the time I began studying ballet and it has stayed with me forever even after I left the ballet. It captures the day to day drudge of practicing, the politics of any ballet company and the excitement of something new.
I have always been impressed with how it combined the ballet so well into the story; before then most ballet seen on film were in revues. This changed everything.
Film and ballet fell inlove here and the dance showed off its true power.
This was probably the defining movie about ballet for quite a long time and one can see why it holds up so well. It has a dramatic story about people making choices over a love of one's art or love in general, it has the incredible beauty of the cinematography and technicolor and it has all of that beautiful beautiful dancing.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Package
Review: I have not had time to view the film all the way through yet but my main interest was the extras available. And what a well put together package it is the film is a classic and with the extras that now come with it it is a must buy. From the moment it starts you can see that a lot of though has gone into this production. The first thing is I am not sure what region it is, as it is Criterion I presume it is Region 1 but it does not say, its dual layered so you can watch the whole film without getting up to turn it over, and the colour WOW, the opening credits just jump out at you the colour is so rich and vibrant. It is absolutely brimming with extras which from my recollection are not even on the laser disc version, the opening menu plays a 45 sec loop of music with Moira Shearer dancing around the menu. The choices are: Play the movie: (Obviously) Chapter selection: (nice) Commentary: This has audio commentary by film historian Ian Christie featuring interviews with Marius Goring. Moira Shearer, Jack Cardiff, Brian Easdale and Martin Scorsese. The Red Shoes Novel read by Jeremy Irons, this is very strange to hear someone reading a story while you can see the film playing. Archival Material: This is what a lot of you will really want, a treasure chest of goodies, The Theatrical trailer, a stills gallery, Scorsese's memorabilia, The Red Shoes Sketches and finally a filmography of the Powell and Pressburger films from the Spy in Black to the Boy who turned yellow, the filmography is very good with either stills or clips from each of the various films and all well presented. I have had the pleasure of putting together Jack Cardiff's web site. This will go in my must buy recommendations for all his fans. www.jack-cardiff.com
Rating:
Summary: GREAT FILM, GREAT DVD
Review: I remember this fine film from when I first saw it in junior college way back in 1948. It so impressed me then and still does now. No one, except for perhaps the Soviets in Stone Flower had produced color like this before. I believe it twas the first film to include a 20 minte complete ballet in the film. The performanes are wonderful with Anton Walbrook playing the charming villan; The Criterion Collection DVD is great with many extras including commentaries by all of the principals and Martin Scorcese too. It is definitely worth adding to your collection.
Rating:
Summary: Don't ignore human nature
Review: I saw "The Red Shoes" tonight once more on TCM and my heart pounds each time I see it...The color, the acting, the art direction, the music. This is a film that has aged well like fine wine...... you just want more and more of it.
I am so glad to have finally ordered the DVD. I have had the VHS tape a few years but now I will soon have the DVD thanks to CDNOW for making it so easy to order...
Dave Reep
Kansas City
Rating: 
Summary: The movie was full of passion, a wonderfull film
Review: I thought the movie was wonderful. As a dancer, I could understand the heroine's deep love for dance. The emotions displayed in the movie were also wonderful. This is a movie I would recommend to anyone who has ever been passionate about something they enjoy doing.
Rating:
Summary: Classic
Review: I waited 50 years! to re-see this movie. Anton Walbrook is first rate; his best film. The color is magnificent, even in the reproduced DVD. It could well be titled: Ballet for people who hate ballet. There's never too much. The moody music, the dance, the actors/actresses are all splendid. Yes, you can go back again. I highly recommend it as a "must have" in the nucleus of your film library. Arnie Warren
Rating:
Summary: True Family Classic
Review: I was expecting a boring sappy story about ballet, what I found was one of the most entertaining films ever. It is a wondrous look at the world of ballet. Who knew that a Midwest teen would find ballet cool. The cast is super especially Boris. We watch two young people achieve their dreams in the competitive world. They start out ignorant and ignored in a great scene where both Julian and Vicky are pushed aside. There is a wonderful shot from the stage that is dizzying to show Vicky's perspective. Highlighted by a beautiful ballet piece in the middle. The sequence is a great moment on film. Beautifully photographed with wondrous lights and special effects. It takes the sequence to another level. Hypnotic and mystifying. A wonderful scene is the dance with the newspaper. The curious changing of perspective shows us a glimpse into the future with Boris and Julian appearing in the dance briefly. This of course leads to a fascinating parallel of the Red Shoes in the lives of Vicky, Julian, and Boris. In the film's most powerful scene the Red Shoes goes on without anyone in Vicky's role.
Rating:
Summary: Great Editing
Review: I was introduced to this film by the man who was the assistant film editor at the time, Anthony Hanes. Tony now lives on Vancouver Island in Canada and although appearing on few credit lists of the films he worked on, including, Lawrence of Arabia, he is has a wealth of knowledge on all of the cutting procedures that went into the making of this film. In the days when computer editing could only be dreamed about this film is a magnificent blend of creativity and beauty.
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