For all artists who have felt compelled to create at any cost, and for the poor souls who choose to love them, The Red Shoes is beautiful and heartbreaking all at the same time. Written, produced, and directed by the stunning team of Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger, The Red Shoes has long been revered as perhaps the greatest example of color filmmaking, and stands today as one of the favorite films of filmmakers such as Brian De Palma and Martin Scorsese. The shorthand version of the plot can be summed thusly: a young and talented ballerina is forced to choose between her career and the man she loves. But the larger story of The Red Shoes is one of the strife, desire, and anguish of being an artist. Knowing her whole life she has worked toward becoming a successful dancer, Victoria Page (Moira Shearer) becomes increasingly caught between a demanding but successful manager (Anton Walbrook) and the idea of home, hearth, and husband (Marius Goring).

The titular ballet is based on a fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen that involves a young dancer putting on a pair of enchanted red slippers that dance her into a frenzy long beyond her staying power, dancing her very nearly to death. I was struck by how emotionally relevant the 1948 film still feels, a young woman set along an almost mythic path toward her destiny. Even a dreamy 20-minute ballet sequence in the middle of the action isn’t enough to throw the film off balance. The Red Shoes is surprisingly warm and natural, and there are many high points: the large ballet company functioning as happily as a bustling family; the cold and stern director of the company who pushes the dancers to new heights and successes; and the astounding Oscar-winning sets, costumes, and music, which take this film from earthbound delight and lift it into ethereal realms.

The Criterion Collection went above and beyond in their careful restoration and presentation of the Blu-ray DVD. Many of the special features were shot in 2009, the year that the restoration was completed and the film was screened at Cannes to thunderous praise. The color and visuals are unbelievable, carefully restored in a way that seems to go beyond the usual expectations for even a Criterion release, and in one special feature Martin Scorsese himself leads the viewer through the process of restoration, giving a detailed description as well as various visual comparisons of the unrestored film with the properly restored images. This segment felt remarkably short, and I would have liked to hear more about the process of restoration — imagine my delight upon opening up the accompanying booklet to find further explanation! Also included in the booklet is a delightfully meaty essay by David Ehrenstein, a perfect choice as Ehrenstein is both a Scorsese expert and a qualified writer. The audio commentary is by film historian Ian Christie, along with stars Marius Goring and Moira Shearer, cinematographer Jack Cardiff, composer Brian Easdale, and Scorsese. Christie also makes an appearance in a 30-minute “making-of” documentary, which sheds light on many of the decisions that went into The Red Shoes, and even features interviews with living crew members and biographers. Scorsese’s longtime editor and friend Thelma Schoonmaker was married to Michael Powell for quite some time, and recorded an interview wherein she discusses him and the film. At one point she likens the filmmaking and artistic process to being at war, and that when you went to war you needed people you could count on in your single-minded vision and focus. I’m not quite sure if it’s as dire as all that, but her clear and concise comments are just some of many creatively stimulating questions and statements that make this film such a delight to think about. That sounds a bit silly, but this film is a must-see for any artist or anyone who operates in a creative capacity. The themes of drive, destiny, chance, and relentless pursuit of perfection provide plenty to think about in one’s own life.

Jeremy Irons is featured twice, once reading excerpts from the novelization of the film, and once reading from the original fairy tale that inspired the film. Additionally, Scorsese is a collector of Red Shoes memorabilia, and photographs of many of the items in his collection made their way onto the disc in a special gallery. A theatrical trailer rounds out these impressive special supplementals.

The one small sad detraction to such a fantastic release is the matter of the design and presentation. Upon looking at the cover art all I can think is, it looks like some sort of second-rate after-market Fellini Satyricon. The Red Shoes is a film filled to the brim with color, vibrancy, and life, and the dull artwork does little to add to this remarkable release.

The Red Shoes has never been seen like this before, never so crisp and startling. If you’re a Criterion purist, this is the best restoration I have ever seen from the Criterion Collection. If you’re a lover of ballet, this is the film that paved the way for ballet films to this day. If you’ve never seen The Red Shoes, the Blu-ray DVD is as stunning and lovely as it will ever be and I heartily recommend you buy it.

The Red Shoes on Blu-ray and DVD is available now from the Criterion Collection.

Tags: criterion collection, the red shoes