Budapest Classic Film Marathon: The Red Shoes

Director: Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger

Screenplay by Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger
Director of photography: Jack Cardiff
Music by Brian Easdale
Cast: Anton Walbrook, Marius Goring, Moira Shearer

In the footsteps of a filmmaking dynasty: from Pressburger to Macdonald / Emeric Pressburger, the experimenter genius

Introduction by: Péter Muszatics, film historian

Although The Red Shoes was cherished by many little girls who wanted to become ballerinas, the story is far from a commonplace, ‘a star is born’ story. Under the control of impresario Lermontov, a charming girl is willing to neglect her private life and even sacrifice her health for artistic accomplishment. The twenty-minute inset scene of the Andersen fairytale dance is a powerful summary and a flash of the whole story. This scene will be the model for later musicals and for the making of separate musical episodes. Yet there is still no scene to match it. The film has been a favourite among great directors like Martin Scorsese or Damien Chazelle, the director of La La Land.

More information about the Budapest Classic Film Marathon's program in Uránia >>