Hans Christian Andersen – Spotlight on Film

Soviet “Fairy Tale” Animations: The Scarlet Flower, The Little Humpbacked Horse & Thumbelina

I. The Scarlet Flower [1952] – ★★★★1/2 This animation is based on a story of 1858 by Sergei Aksakov who, in turn, re-worked the tale of Beauty and the Beast . In The Scarlet Flower, three daughters of one wealthy merchant request from their father overseas presents. The eldest daughter wants a diamond tiara, the…

Short Reviews: The Red Shoes, West Side Story (1961), & Black Narcissus

I. The Red Shoes [1948] – ★★★★1/2 The Red Shoes is about the rise to stardom of a dancer Victoria Page (Moira Shearer) who falls under the strict control of one charismatic, but elusive and mysterious company director Boris Lermontov (Anton Walbrook). Page becomes truly famous after appearing in Lermontov’s ballet “The Red Shoes”, but…

Winter Animations: The Snow Maiden, The Twelve Months, & The Snow Queen

Below are three classic Russian-language animations from the Soyuzmultfilm Studio.