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The Red Shoes: Relaced and Restored
Even in this age of Blu-ray and appreciation for all things high-def, a number of take for granted how complicated but vital a great film restoration can be. Buzzed about at this year"s Cannes Film Festival as one of the most miraculous to date is the UCLA Film & Television Archive"s restoration of Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger"s 1948 masterpiece The Red Shoes, starring Moira Shearer as a gifted young ballerina forced to choose between her love for composer Marius Goring and a career as lead dancer and muse to ballet company impresario Anton Walbrook. In association with the BFI, The Film Foundation, ITV Global Entertainment Ltd., and Janus Films, the restored 35mm print-which Film Foundation founder Martin Scorsese has praised as one of his all-time faves and the most extraordinary use of the three-strip Technicolor process-dazzled a packed house at the DGA Theater last night. (The Red Shoes screens at NYC"s Film Forum from November 6 - 19.)
Thelma Schoonmaker-Scorsese"s three-time Oscar winning editor, and widow of Michael Powell-introduced the screening with a test sample showing a practical comparison of what had been done to correct for mold damage, shrinkage and surging color. Suffice to say, no superlatives can do justice to what was easily the most impressively eye-popping revitalization these eyes have yet popped for. Following the screening was a swanky afterparty at nearby Nobu 57, where I had a chance to speak briefly with Mr. Scorsese, Ms. Schoonmaker, and filmmaker (and fellow guest) James Toback about the event:
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