A marvellous book of the film that Winston Churchill tried (unsucessfully) to ban - because it showed good Germans during WWII. The book contains original & final versions of the scripts, reasons why Powell & Pressburger wanted to make the film and extracts from Government memos to & from Winston Churchill.

The reason I love this book adaptation of the film is because it goes it to details that are not shown in the film. You get to enter in to the thoughts of the characters. Considering what a expressive film The Red Shoes was, that this only brings more depth to it is wonderful. That only increases my love of the film. It is one of my favorite film of all time, but not just that all of Powell's and Pressburger's films were amazing. I recommend it to ballet fans everywhere.

Emeric Pressburger was a fascinating man. A Hungarian Jew
exiled during WWII he came to England and (together with
Michael Powell) made some of the most fascinating and
influential movies of the period.

This is the story of how Kevin MacDonald followed his
Grandfather's path through Europe and how and why a
non-native speaker could finish up being one of the
best observers of the English.

Emeric Pressburger often showed a deep understanding of
the British that is only granted to those "outside, looking
in". He always prided himself on being "more English than
the English". After all, some of use were just BORN English,
but he CHOSE to become English.

Unfortunately lacking in photographs (that's why I only gave it 8/10) but a marvellous story of a film that made thousands of little girls want to be ballet dancers.

One star is too many.

I am a long term fan of Michael Powell and The Archers and was horrified when I read this book.

I've never seen a book so full of inaccuracies.

I wrote to the publishers listing about 30 or so of the most glaring factual errors. They wrote back saying that my comments had been noted but didn't say they intended to correct any of them.

Having spent nearly three years researching this book, it is the most detailed look at the career of Michael Powell and his work with Emeric Pressburger. As Steve Crook correctly points out, a number of spelling errors made it into the final manuscript, but this book serves to introduce fans of The Red Shoes, Black Narcissus, Peeping Tom, and I Know Where I'm Going to their other work. In addition to the most comprehensive filmography and bibliography available, it takes a detailed look at most of his films that are available. Thanks to the cooperation of the British Film Institute, many of his lesser-known works were analyzed in detail, including some that were thought to be long lost.

"I'm tremendously impressed by your book on Michael Powell. Well written, very interesting, not dry and tedious. Excellent work. Thomas Gifford, New York Times Best Selling Author, The Assassini, The Wind Chill Factor.

"A conscientious, well-documented account of Powell's work." Sight and Sound Magazine.

"Reliable study along currently orthodox lines, with sagacious observations and some nicely disconcerting insights." Raymond Durgnatt, Cineaste.

"Describes and analyzes of Michael Powell the work and his partner, Emeric Pressburger, who released 16 films in 15 years, from the beginning of their partnership until its end in 1956." Booknews.

"Its great to see Powell receiving his due, and this is a welcome addition to the literature of his very special talents." George Turner, American Cinematographer.

"This author has already written well on one British director. This new volume is a thoughtful consideration of the work of the Archers and Powell in particular. . . Salwolke writes with style and grace. . . Anyone interested in British cinema, particularly thinking of researching the subject, should be aware of this excellent book." Graham Roberts, Historical Journal of Film, Radio, and Television.

"A scholarly study of the legendary Red Shoes director and his writer Emeric Pressburger." Howard Maxford Film Review.