Details from “The Red Shoes Ballet. A Critical Study”, first edition (Saturn Pre
Details from “The Red Shoes Ballet. A Critical Study”, first edition (Saturn Press, 1948), presented by Powell and Pressburger. This is a study of the famous film “The Red Shoes” made in 1948 by the successful duo Powell and Pressburger. The film was born out of a Pressburger script commissioned by Alexander Korda for his wife Merle Oberon to star in the main role with her dancing performed by a double. The duo then bought the script back from Korda and made an extraordinary tale of romance and artistic obsession using real ballet stars alongside actors of the day. Moira Shearer, Leonide Massine, Robert Helpmann and Ludmilla Teherina from the world of ballet joined Anton Walbrook, Marius Goring and Esmond Knight to make a memorable film. This book is a presentation copy inscribed by both Powell and Pressburger on the half-title page: “February 26 1949. To Kai Berg Madsen, it’s a matter of life and death. Michael Powell”, and “To Kai Berg Madsen from Emeric Pressburger.” The reference to “a matter of life and death” relates to an earlier Powell and Pressburger film of that name, made in 1946. It, too, was an enormous success. It starred David Niven, Kim Hunter, Roger Livesey, Raymond Massey, Richard Attenborough and (again) Marius Goring. It was called “Stairway to Heaven” in the United States. -- source link
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