The most beloved of all the films that Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger ever made is this beautiful film inspired by Hans Christian Anderson's story. Probably one of the most gorgeously photographed colour films ever made, it's about a brilliant ballerina (Moira Shearer, showing equally impressive skills as both actor and dancer) who becomes the muse of a theatrical impresario (Anton Walbrook) and the love of his musical director (Marius Goring). When she is forced to choose between the two of them, her love and her career, she finds herself faced with a choice too difficult to make and is led towards dire circumstances. The centrepiece of the film is a near-twenty minute ballet sequence, the first successful marriage of classical dance and film, one that is full of brilliant visual effects and endlessly creative images. The story lags quite a bit, making the film a bit of a chore to sit through, but there's so much reward involved that you just can't miss it.

 

Powell/Pressburger Previous: Black Narcissus [1947]
Powell/Pressburger Next: The Small Back Room

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< The Criterion Collection #44 >
Bil's Best Of 1948
Academy Awards: 1948

 

 

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