The Red Shoes: Beyond the Mirror @ BFI Southbank, London
A glorious (and free) exhibition examining Powell and Pressburger’s creation of ballet movie, The Red Shoes. Originally framed for Merle Oberon and enamored producer Alexander Korda, the role of Victoria Page eventually passed to Moira Shearer. From excited letters and marketing materials, Powell and Pressburger envisaged their star as a rival to Ginger Rogers. Plus she had the winning combination - red hair and red shoes! (and was professionally dancing at Sadlers Wells).
In a stagey setting of looped velvet curtains and coloured lights, we follow the creation of the film/ballet from script to drawing greater influences from Hans Christian Anderson’s folk tale, moving away from Korda’s original idea of Nijinsky and the Ballet Russes. They also had to get the right dancers and choreographer on board - Ballet Lermontov.
Unlike the fairy tale, there were numerous pairs of red shoes created for the film - some unworn and sent as gifts. (Such as to a local Royal Navy company!) In a magical moment, key scenes of the shoes in action in the movie play out as the red shoes whirl backwards and forwards overhead. It’s like a ballet shoe shrine! Later on are red shoes from Scorsese’s own personal collection of movie memorabilia. (These ones are signed by the main stars of the film).
You can also enjoy a recreation of Victoria Page’s dressing room, thronged with flowers, and a room full of packing cases as the film marketing kicks into gear and promotions become serious. The well-travelled cases also reflect Norma Shearer’s flight away from sudden fame - by going on holiday. One of her gorgeous dresses from a premiere is also on display - a beautiful, sleekly cut black velvet gown. Contrast too the costumes from Matthew Bourne’s version of the Red Shoes with the movie version.
Posters, drawings of the set and staging, behind the scenes photographs are on display too and make you appreciate all the more the 1948 artistry of Powell, Pressburger and Shearer. Ironically Shearer’s life began to mimic something of Victoria Page’s as she went onto star in two more movies for her famed directors.
Other inspiration can be seen in a jolly letter from Powell to Kate Bush, ending with the pun ‘Kiss me Kate! and her own depiction of the Red Shoes. Shearer’s own inspiration in the form of photo cards of ballerinas and how, as a child, she provided inspiration for famed ballet writer Noel Streatfield, modelling for one of the three children in the Ballet Shoes novel. And the lighting, style and design continue to inspire - most recently La La Land. (Not bad for a 70 year old film!)
