"My Favorite Film: The Red Shoes", by Charlotte Higgins

Just another reason why Charlotte Higgins is awesome -- she's into Powell-Pressburger:

I find that I am lost to the film, every single time I see it, by the end of the opening sequence, in which a group of students burst through the entrance to the "gods" in the Royal Opera House then race up the stairs as if their very lives depended on it. They start to watch the ballet that unfolds before them with the kind of greed with which a condemned man might eat his last meal. It makes me cry, reliably, every time I see it, and I find I'm hard pressed to explain exactly why, except that it must chime profoundly with my own inarticulable feelings about the art I love.

Even if it really needs an actual cinema to be appreciated, the Criterion DVD is the right way to watch "The Red Shoes" at home.

Comments

[Bill Philin Ploplis]

I love the little cameo role of the girlfriend of Victor, the composer, who obviously adores him but whom he leaves behind on his journey to fame. She is so lovely in that opening "student rush" scene! The art direction in the whole movie is achingly brilliant--the attention to color detail unsurpassed. Moira Shearer--totally incandescent. And Easdale's music throughout--wish it were performed to the hilt on the concert stage.

[Eric]

I love "The Red Shoes". It's a masterpiece of film making!

[OperaluvrinNYC]

The composer's name is Julian Craster, and yes, he pretty much abandons her straight away - I never really thought about that before.

[alocksley]

It's out on blu-ray as well. Even better.

[Bill Philin Ploplis]

Hahaha! "Julian Craster"--how could I forget that, especially as "Borinskaya" pronounced it. Thanks!!!

[Geo.]

By the way, in that opening scene, there's a verbal blooper, with the girlfriend using the word "maestoso" for "Maestro", when talking about their teacher who stole Julian Craster's music for the "Heart of Fire" ballet. P&P obviously never caught that slip at the time.

[Philip Amos]

I always feel gratitude to Martin Scorsese for ensuring that these two extraordinary film makers, far from the main track of British filmmaking in the 1940's (though that too produced some fine movies)are not forgotten. He has spoken often of their influence on him and has also done much to preserve their masters and footage.