A young ballet dancer is torn between the man she loves and her pursuit to become a prima ballerina.A young ballet dancer is torn between the man she loves and her pursuit to become a prima ballerina.A young ballet dancer is torn between the man she loves and her pursuit to become a prima ballerina.
- Won 2 Oscars
- 5 wins & 5 nominations total
Albert Bassermann
- Sergei Ratov
- (as Albert Basserman)
Léonide Massine
- Grischa Ljubov
- (as Leonide Massine)
Ludmilla Tchérina
- Irina Boronskaja
- (as Ludmilla Tcherina)
Marie Rambert
- Madame Rambert
- (as Madame Rambert)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe title ballet sequence took six weeks to shoot and employed over 120 paintings by Hein Heckroth. The dancing newspaper was achieved through careful cutting and use of wires.
- GoofsNear the end, when Vicky is getting ready to go on stage for "The Red Shoes" once again, she's wearing the red dancing shoes, but the play starts with the white dancing shoes; only during the play does her character find the red shoes and put them on.
However, this is not an accidental goof. This is essential to the plot and the director wants us to overlook this detail so that all the symbolism of Vicky wearing those red shoes while "unable to stop dancing" can be fully explored.
- Quotes
Boris Lermontov: Why do you want to dance?
[Vicky thinks for a short while]
Victoria Page: Why do you want to live?
[Lermontov is suprised at the answer]
Boris Lermontov: Well I don't know exactly why, er, but I must.
Victoria Page: That's my answer too.
- Crazy creditsThe end of the film finishes with 'Finis' instead of 'The End'.
- Alternate versionsThere is an Italian edition of this film on DVD, distributed by DNA srl, "THE TALES OF HOFFMANN (1951) + THE RED SHOES (1948)" (2 Films on a single DVD), re-edited with the contribution of film historian Riccardo Cusin. This version is also available for streaming on some platforms.
- ConnectionsFeatured in The Screen Writer (1950)
- SoundtracksThe Ballet of The Red Shoes
Music by Brian Easdale
Performed by Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (as The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra)
Conducted by Thomas Beecham (as Sir Thomas Beecham, Bart.)
Featured review
A true masterpiece
A great film speaks to each of us in a different way. To me this more than a colourful piece of escapist entertainment, this was a glimpse into a world of magnificent color, sumptious settings, French Haute Couture, the theatre, music, luxury hotels, elegant opera houses, chaffeured Rolls Royce cars, travel to the South of France - in short, everything that a child in the near bankrupt England in 1948 had never seen and could barely imagine.
I was fascinated not only by the glimpse of an elitist life, but of the time capsule which the film presented of a time and place that no longer exists as it was at that time. The views of London in 1948, are similar to watching "World War II in Color" on the history channel. When the ballet company travelled, they took the train. Rationing may still have existed back then, and travellers could not take money out of the country, except for a ridiculously inadequate amount; therefore, if you went abroad you had to know someone with whom you could stay. I also found myself wondering how they got the money to make a technicolour film in 1947, when they began filming.
Part of the film takes place in Monte Carlo, only 20 years after the heyday of the famous Ballet Russe. In fact the ballet company in the film is quite obviously based on the Diaghilev Company. Former member Leonid Massine has a major part in the film, and Marie Rambert has a cameo role.
This is also a ballet film for those who do not really care for ballet. The plot is simple - rising young ballerina falls in love with rising young composer and must choose between him and a career possessively controlled by the impressario - and acts as a frame for the ballet. The film is as near perfection as it is possible to get, and watching it in 2004, it does not seem to have dated at all. Everyone, especially Anton Walbrook, is perfectly cast. The script is witty and occasionally humorous. The technicolour photography is superb, especially capturing Moira Shearer's flaming red hair.
The audio commentary on the DVD adds immensely to the enjoyment of the film, which is one that can be watched over and over. o understand how great this film really is, try watching Baz Luhrmann's "Moulin Rouge" travesty afterwards.
I was fascinated not only by the glimpse of an elitist life, but of the time capsule which the film presented of a time and place that no longer exists as it was at that time. The views of London in 1948, are similar to watching "World War II in Color" on the history channel. When the ballet company travelled, they took the train. Rationing may still have existed back then, and travellers could not take money out of the country, except for a ridiculously inadequate amount; therefore, if you went abroad you had to know someone with whom you could stay. I also found myself wondering how they got the money to make a technicolour film in 1947, when they began filming.
Part of the film takes place in Monte Carlo, only 20 years after the heyday of the famous Ballet Russe. In fact the ballet company in the film is quite obviously based on the Diaghilev Company. Former member Leonid Massine has a major part in the film, and Marie Rambert has a cameo role.
This is also a ballet film for those who do not really care for ballet. The plot is simple - rising young ballerina falls in love with rising young composer and must choose between him and a career possessively controlled by the impressario - and acts as a frame for the ballet. The film is as near perfection as it is possible to get, and watching it in 2004, it does not seem to have dated at all. Everyone, especially Anton Walbrook, is perfectly cast. The script is witty and occasionally humorous. The technicolour photography is superb, especially capturing Moira Shearer's flaming red hair.
The audio commentary on the DVD adds immensely to the enjoyment of the film, which is one that can be watched over and over. o understand how great this film really is, try watching Baz Luhrmann's "Moulin Rouge" travesty afterwards.
Helpful•5911
Details
Box office
- Budget
- £500,000 (estimated)
- Gross worldwide
- $171,124
- Runtime2 hours 15 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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