1948—Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger, directors—starring Moira Shearer, Anton Walbrook
Hans Christian Andersen’s dark fairy tale “The Red Shoes” did double duty in the 1948 film of the same name by The Archers (the producer-writer-director team of Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger): it provided the storyline for the ballet creation featured in the movie, and it also suggested the plot for the work as a whole. Ballerina Moira Shearer made her feature film debut, performing alongside other leading dancers of the Forties. And, by the end of The Red Shoes, the titular footwear have become a character in their own right. The movie has long been a favourite of balletomanes and cinéastes alike.