Reginald Mills (1912–1990)

"The Red Shoes"'s plot is based on the 1845 eponymous fairytale by Hans Christian Andersen,and features a ballet within it by the same title, also adapted from the Andersen work. Beautiful, but unsettling: a fairytale film about obsession; jealousy; control.

T/FB: 2023 movie #124. 1948. A ballet impresario (Walbrook) forces his young talented dancer (Shearer) to choose her art (and, by implication, him) or her husband. Nominated for Best Picture Oscar, won Best Writing Oscar.

The story is a romance, with villains and heroes, and a bitter ending, which is in keeping with the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale on which the central ballet performance is based.
The filming is ostensibly of a stage performance, but incorporates "modern new cinematography" for special effects that would be impossible on a real stage.
In 1948 they were probably much admired; now they are a bit cheesy (see "Pied Piper of Hamelin" for similar effects).

A young dancer and a young composer get their break together with a touring ballet company.

I didn't love it, but I have to wonder what's wrong with the world that I'd never even heard of it until a few days ago.

Concept: B
Story: B
Characters: B
Dialog: B
Pacing: B
Cinematography: B
Special effects/design: B
Acting: A
Music: A

Enjoyment: A

GPA: 3.3/4