(Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger, UK 1948, 133 min., 35mm)

Hans Christian Andersen’s tale is just the starting point for this imaginative and moving classic—a landmark in the histories of both dance and cinema. An ambitious and obsessive dancer (the luminous Moira Shearer) falls under the spell of a tyrannical impresario (Anton Walbrook) and soon must choose between ballet and life. The intertwining of art and life is vividly expressed in every aspect of this beloved production, particularly Jack Cardiff’s rich color cinematography.

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