Stella Loves ... The Red Shoes

images from various sources on Google Images and Flickr

The other night I watched a 1948 English classic called “The Red Shoes” – one of the first ever ballet films and something perfect to curl up on the couch and watch on a stormy night. Since then I haven’t quite been able to get it out of my head!

The film is known for it’s creative use of Technicolor and dancers who could act, rather than actors who dance, and features several highly regarded dancers including Robert Helpmann, Léonide Massine, Moira Shearer and Ludmilla Tchérina. The movie stars a young dancer Victoria Page (Moira Shearer) who meets Boris Lermontov (Anton Walbrook), the director of the established Ballet Lermontov, and evidentially joins the company as a student and travels with them Paris and Monte Carlo. Her talents become recognised and she grows to be the prima ballerina for a new ballet called “The Red Shoes”, which is based on the fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen. Vicky falls in love with the young composer of The Red Shoes, Julian Craster (Marius Goring), which is seen as a threat to her career by Lermontov. She is then faced with the ordeal of having to choose between her love for Julian and her love for dancing.

A truly inspiring film – I’m sure it would be nearly impossible for someone not to be taken back by the beautiful colours, filming, costumes, make up and some breath taking dance performances and orchestral pieces. And if you can watch the documentary afterwards in the special features edition, I highly recommend it. It gives you an interesting insight into some of the filming techniques which were revolutionary at the time, as well as the history behind the film and the symbolism within the story. All in all, love love LOVE this movie!