Gary K’s review published on Letterboxd:
Film 2/31 - 60s
I have never seen any of Michael Powell’s other films and to be honest while I was aware of this one, it had never made it to my watch list until I was compiling my list for this year’s Hooptober.
Exquisitely shot and composed. Masterful use of color, framing and set design. I was blown away. As if a 50’s era golden age of Hollywood dance film was mixed with Hitchcock. Yes, there is only one scene of dancing featuring the amazing Moira Shearer (must watch Red Shoes now), it still had that feeling.
A compelling story, lurid and dangerous for its time but quite tame by today’s standards this is still well deserving of consideration as a classic of the genre. The lead actor Carl Bohm was decidedly creepy and of a piece with Norman Bates if somehow less unhinged sporting daddy issues rather than mommy issues.
But, wow, the color and cinematography were masterclass. This was compulsively watchable and entertaining from start to finish. Thank you Hooptober. I would never have watched this were it not for this challenge.
