British postcard in the Picturegoer Series, London, no. W. 650. Photo: J. Arthur Rank Organisation Ltd. Publicity still for The Red Shoes (Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger, 1948).

Red headed Moira Shearer (1926–2006) was a luminous star of the British ballet. She became an international film idol with her unforgettable debut as the young ballerina Vicky in The Red Shoes (1948), a classic of the British cinema and probably the most popular film about ballet.

Sir Robert Helpmann CBE (1909-1986) was an Australian dancer, actor, theatre director and choreographer. Helpmann appeared in many films, including the two Powell and Pressburger ballet films The Red Shoes (1948), for which he was the choreographer, and The Tales of Hoffmann (1951).

For more postcards, a bio and clips check out our blog European Film Star Postcards.

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