This week's still is from The Red Shoes, a 1948 ballet melodrama (full of visual effects, campy overacting and gorgeous color schemes). I like to think of this film in the vein of Sunset Boulevard-- glamorous, overly dramatic, and with an insane leading lady. Considering that much of the film is set on stage, the visual language relies a lot on complimentary color relationships. The sets are predominantly monochromatic, with bright, contrasting spotlights. In the scene above, the main character is before a green backdrop, while her frame is aglow with contrasting orange. The figure to the left reaches out of a yellow-lit doorway.
Dramatic color schemes worked very effectively in this film. There was a lot of passion from the characters and the music, and the light boldly emphasized the drama of both. Although I feel the color choices were obvious, in the context of theater production, they worked perfectly.
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