| Of particular note, it was a young Frederick Freed, founder of a new ballet shoe manufacturing company called Freed of London, that was called upon to create the ruby red slippers used in the film’s main production number, a 15 minute surrealistic piece replete with special effects of the period and a magic all its own. With the tremendous international success of the film, the legend of Freed of London was born. |
| Filmed in the original Technicolor process, the photography by master cinematographer Jack Cardiff set this film apart from all others; the look, lighting and richness of colors is without peer. Not only is The Red Shoes the greatest ballet film ever made, it also stands among the greatest achievements in color cinematography. |
| The Red Shoes is available on DVD from The Criterion Collection, a distributor known for their painstaking work in restoring dilapidated film negatives to their former theatrical glory. The Red Shoes is one such film that has been masterfully restored to its pristine perfection. Among the DVD’s many special features are interviews with stars Moira Shearer and Marius Goring, Director of Photography Jack Cardiff, and composer Brian Easdale. Famed contemporary director Martin Scorsese provides occasional commentary, as well. |
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| Scorsese reveals that filmmakers Powell and Pressburger are among hisgreat
cinematic influences, and claims that
the fight scenes in his Academy Award-winning
film Raging Bull were inspired by the 15 minute ballet sequence, The Red Shoes. |
| In all, The Red Shoes was nominated for five Academy Awards, winning for Best Score (Brian Easdale) and Best Art Direction (Hein Heckroth), and losing in the Best Picture, Best Film Editing (Reginald Mills) and Best Story categories. |
Title: The Red Shoes
Year of Release: 1948
Genre:Drama
Country: UK
Running Time: 153 minutes
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Directed by: Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger
Screenplay by:Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger
Photographed by: Jack Cardiff
Cast: Moira Shearer, Anton Wallbrook, Marius Goring, Leonide Massine, Robert Helpmann, Albert Basserman, Esmond Knight and Ludmilla Tcherina
Available on DVD: Yes
DVD Distributor: The Criterion Collection |
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