West Germany | 1963 | 62’ | PG | Michael Powell

Norman Foster, Ana Raquel Satre

The murderous Bluebeard reveals psyche to his new wife Judith as he introduces her to the mysterious room in his castle. This rediscovered late masterpiece by Michaell Powell was made for West German television, combining outstanding performances with creative and innovative production design.

The Sorcerer’s Apprentice

West Germany | 1955 | 13’ | NC | Michael Powell

Sonia Arova

In a ballet rendition of this classic tale, a young inexperienced apprentice of a powerful wizard tries to use magic to get through her chores.

Screening as part of Cinema Unbound: The Creative Worlds of Powell + Pressburger, a UK-wide film season supported by National Lottery and BFI Film Audience Network. bfi.org.uk/powell-and-pressburger.

Reciprocal Gestures

To complete our season of films about art and obsession we look at the art of dance within the work of Powell and Pressburger. In the 1940s, as the world was at war and crumbling, artists of all stripes were experimenting with their form. Taking a decisive step away from realism in post-war film and falling in love with fantasy, they created some of their most magical experiences on screen by trying to find a way to bring the most glorious and bold work they had seen on stage into cinemas where they could be enjoyed by a wider audience. “We had all been told for 10 years to go out and die for freedom and democracy,” Powell recalled. “Now the war was over, The Red Shoes told us to go out and die for art.”

Around this time animators were also trying to spread their wings and play with the artform. These grand experiments in pairing music, dance and animation the UK from Halas and Batchelor and in the US from Walt Disney.