The Tales of Hoffman

In Brief: This is the odd-film-out in the major works of Michael Powell and Emerich Pressburger — rarely spoken of in the same breath with their standard classics, The Life and Death of Col. Blimp, Stairway to Heaven, Black Narcissus and The Red Shoes, yet clearly part of the same creative impetus behind those films. It’s a nonstop barrage of gorgeous color and precise filmmaking — with a perfect ending bit involving the legendary conductor Sir Thomas Beecham and a nicely defiant final touch that reminds us how British films were generally perceived at the time. That it seems to be suffering from the Tin Woodsman’s complaint of lacking a heart doesn’t prevent it being a glorious fusion of sight and sound unlike anything then seen — or much seen since. This excerpt was taken from a review by Ken Hanke published on Jan. 25, 2006. The Hendersonville Film Society will show The Tales of Hoffman on Sunday, Sept. 30, at 2 p.m. in the Smoky Mountain Theater at Lake Pointe Landing Retirement Community, 333 Thompson St., Hendersonville.