The Red Shoes (1948 England) starring Moira Shearer and Anton Walbrook Is About Sergei Diaghilev (1872 Russia - 1929 Italy).The Red Shoes (1948 England) starring Moira Shearer and Anton Walbrook is beyond question the most important and well done dance movie in the history of cinema. No other movie comes close.The highlight of the movie, of course, is the 18 minute "Ballet Of The Red Shoes" danced brilliantly by the incredible (and incredibly physically beautiful) Moira Shearer (1926 - 2006...died at age 80...22 years old in 1948).Male supporting dancers Robert Helpmann (who also choreographed the wonderful RED SHOES BALLET) and Leonide Massine made the then (1948) groundbreaking "Ballet Of The Red Shoes" wonderful in every way.What's interesting is that, even though most people rightly associate this movie with the lovely and talented Moira Shearer and her dazzling red hair, and remember the "Ballet Of The Red Shoes" (all quite justified), the movie is actually about the character in the story who plays the Impresario (Executive Producer) of the ballet which is showcased in The Red Shoes (1948 England).Anton Walbrook was 53 when he played the role of "Boris Lermontov," owner and main mover and shaker of the "Ballet Lermontov" headquartered in Monte Carlo, located on the French "Cote D'Azure" (aka the French "Riviera.") The Boris Lermontov character is a fictionalized depiction of the incredible, famous, and notorious Sergei Diaghilev (1872 Russia - 1929 Italy) who invented the concept of the modern professional ballet company owned privately with his "Ballet Russes" organization, started in his native (then Czarist) Russia in 1909 and transported permanently to Paris, France and then Monte Carlo starting in 1917, after which Diaghilev never returned to Russia (the new Russian Communist government didn't approve of private companies like the Ballet Russes).Diaghilev was trained as lawyer in late 19th century Czarist Russia, then became an arts magazine manager, and in his 30's an Impresario for a traveling Russian opera which took him to Paris and major European capitals in pre-WWI Europe.Before him, ballet had never been self-standing. It was always part of opera companies or part of European royal courts.Any person interested in The Red Shoes (1948 England) should read biographies of Sergei Diaghilev (see the Wikipedia biography profile of Diaghilev) and also read without fail Reading Dance by Robert Gottlieb (2008 Pantheon Books, New York) which provides wonderful detailed accounts of Diaghilev and his life, the making of the Red Shoes (1948) movie essay by Michael Powell, and life and dance profiles of both major male dancers in the movie, Robert Helpmann (who also choreographed the RED SHOES BALLET) and Leonide Massine.The Red Shoes (1948 England) starring Moira Shearer is not only a high water mark dance movie in world cinema history, it was and is a major event in the history of world culture past and present.All this said, it is also true that the movie is edifying and pleasant to watch for only the first third of it.The best part of the movie is the first third only, during which the viewer is introduced to the exotic and charming world and politics of big time ballet in western Europe, and sees the interesting people, the lovely costumes and settings where they work and play, and is shown the entire "Red Shoes Ballet" which is presented early in the movie, rather than at the end when traditional "show stopper" dance numbers are usually presented.After the female star is introduced and wins the role of main dancer in the main ballet of the movie, things change.The movie gets worse, and though it has interesting moments and events thereafter, the best part of the movie ends when the Red Shoes Ballet ends.The movie stops being lovely (which is why it's famous), and starts being quite ugly and sad, right up to the end of the movie, when the beautiful dancer who has the main role commits suicide.A grim ending to a movie lovely to start with, but which changes after the main ballet presentation is offered. We see things get ugly, and they don't change until the end of the movie.Other movies of fame have the same problem. We are shown an interesting, lovely setting and world and equally lovely and interesting characters.....we visit their world.Then, a downward turn in the plot kicks in, and the viewer is dragged through it.It is arguable that movies like the RED SHOES (1948) should be seen only in part, and that the last part be avoided when repeat viewings occur.Movies, after all, are made up of fragments and sequences connected ("glued") together, one after another. The best sequences almost always come early.Viewers should be realistic about that, and defend themselves when necessary.-------------------Reviewer David "Tex" Allen is a professional SAG-AFTRA movie actor who also has a background as a stage dancer and dance teacher (specializing in recreational international folk dancing).Tex Allen is a SAG-AFTRA movie actor.