"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 ( )