Not all famous fairy-tale movies come from Disney; perhaps many fairy tales have no Disney version.
Hans Christian Andersen's "The Red Shoes," which has a 1948 ballet-themed adaptation, is a prototype. It does not have the "happily ever after" ending prevalent in Disney movies. Instead, it is a cautionary tale about a girl whose red shoes won't stop moving, conveying the danger of material dedication.
Released a few years after World War II, film critic David Ehrenstein wrote in his essay "Dancing for Your Life" that The Red Shoes portrays "artistic dedication, even unto death." Some viewers might agree, but the film displays some negative consequences. For instance, the lead dancer Victoria "Vicky" Page (Moira Shearer) gets so taken over by her red shoes she misses a recital and injures herself.
The original Hans Christian Andersen tale ends with the dancer repenting of her sin while wearing replacement feet. Afterward, her soul goes to Heaven. This element is removed for the film, either for visual concreteness or to encourage dying for the arts. The shoemaker, a woman in the original tale, is also a creepy-looking man in the film (foreshadowing the danger that comes with the red shoes).
Another element in the film that was not present in the original tale is the triangle between Vicky Page, her manager Boris Lermontov (Anton Walbrook), and her lover Julian Craster (Marius Goring). Boris tries to control Vicky (a toxic relationship sign) by forcing her to dance. Besides, unlike in Disney films, Vicky and Julian do not marry. If Vicky did not let the red shoes consume her, they would have.
Filmed in technicolor, The Red Shoes is delightfully colorful. Vicky's red hair, red lips, and her outfits (including her bows) are especially pleasant to look at. However, some of her outfits are rather sexualized. The painterly backgrounds are another visual highlight. Plus, there are some magical transitions, such as when the red shoes appear out of nowhere.
The classical score, including "The Red Shoes" ballet, is well-orchestrated and complements the story well. For instance, the score in dark during scenes involving the shoemaker. The Red Shoes even has references to other ballets, such as "Swan Lake."
One critique I have for The Red Shoes is its overly broad focus on the ballet company. It would have been more enjoyable with a stricter focus on Vicky and her desires from the start. The film, which runs over two hours in length, also could have been condensed in a few areas.
Nevertheless, for movie lovers who need a break from Disney, The Red Shoes is a wonderful alternative. Perhaps we need to make "The Red Shoes" fairy tale popular again because it warns children about the dangers of material pursuits, encouraging them to put their trust in Jesus alone.
SCORE: Good (8.5/10)
AGE RATING: 10+
STREAMING SERVICES: Max
Have you seen The Red Shoes? What do you think about it?
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