the red shoes

another fantastic recommendation from cousin joey--a 1948 "three strip" technicolor extravaganza, based in part on the Hans Christian Andersen story, and starring moira shearer. shearer is a delight. she flits and floats and falls like a chiffon kerchief in the wind. at certain angles she calls to mind vivien leigh, but she smiles with an innocence and warmth that is remarkably un-hollywood, and entirely appealing.
the color in the film is magnificent. scorsese comments that color itself is a character in this film. certainly it has a strong painterly sensibility. jack cardiff, the director of photography offers a little bit of story book, some staged ballet, and a lot of fauvist color. (i was reminded keenly of some of florine stettheimer's work . i'm sure those of you with more knowledge of the arts can make even stronger comparisons.) in any case, it is stunning.

after seeing the red shoes, i've added jack cardiff to my list of favorite/interesting folks. how can you not love some who (a) has photographed some of hollywood's most beautiful women (check out the gallery on his site to hear short-and-sweet recollections of audrey hepburn, anita ekberg, sophia loren, et al.), and (b) can boast a filmography that encompasses the red shoes and rambo: first blood part II!