The Next Reel Film Podcast

The Red Shoes • The Next Reel

2012-07-05

"You cannot have it both ways. A dancer who relies upon the doubtful comforts of human love can never be a great dancer. Never." And thus sums up the battle within Michael Powell's and Emeric Pressburger's 1948 film, "The Red Shoes" -- the battle between love and art. Can the two exist together? Or will one always win out and destroy the other? It's a fascinating question posed in a beautiful and sumptuous film that we -- Pete Wright and Andy Nelson -- talk about this week on Rash Pixel's "Movies We Like." Join us as we talk about the movie and what it's come to mean in the world of film. We talk about the fans of this film, particularly Martin Scorsese, and how they came together to restore this film into the mindbogglingly gorgeous version we have today. We chat about the amazing performances led by Anton Walbrook as the dark and controlling ballet impresario and Moira Shearer as the prima ballerina torn between love and dance. We discuss the amazing look of the film, focusing primarily on Jack Cardiff's stunning 3-strip technicolor cinematography. We talk about the realism and how it turns almost magical after the ballet of the Red Shoes midway through the film leading us to the inevitable and heartbreaking conclusion. And we talk about the nature of Hans Christian Andersen's original fairy tale and how it enhances and defines this film. It's an amazing film to watch. Join us this week as we catch up on this classic!
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