The Line, the Cross and the Curve
Encyclopedia
The Line, the Cross and the Curve is a musical short film directed by and starring pop singer Kate Bush
. Released in 1993, it co-starred Miranda Richardson
and noted choreographer
Lindsay Kemp
, who had served as dance mentor to Bush early in her career.
This short film is essentially an extended music video
featuring songs from Bush's 1993 album, The Red Shoes
, which in turn was inspired by the classic movie musical-fantasy The Red Shoes.
In this version of the tale, Bush plays a frustrated singer-dancer who is enticed by a mysterious woman (Richardson) into putting on a pair of magical ballet slippers. Once on her feet, the shoes start dancing on their own, and Bush's character (who is never referred to by name) must battle Richardson's character to free herself from the spell of the shoes. Her guide on this strange journey is played by Kemp.
The film was released direct-to-video in most areas and was only a modest success; Kate Bush later called it "a load of bollocks". Soon after its release, Bush effectively dropped out of the public eye until her eighth studio album, Aerial
, was released in November 2005.
All songs apart from "Lily" were also used as promotional videos for the corresponding singles from Bush's The Red Shoes album. The version used for "Eat the Music" had several differences from the film version, excising all footage featuring Richardson and of Bush's ballet shoe-clad feet running across the fruit-covered floor, while adding additional dancing and singing sequences featuring Bush and new footage featuring two male dancers sparring with watermelons on their heads and of Bush having a line of black make-up applied to her cheeks.
The "Rubberband Girl" and "Moments of Pleasure" clips were included on The Whole Story '94 video CD which also featured videos from the albums The Whole Story and The Sensual World.
Kate Bush
Kate Bush is an English singer-songwriter, musician and record producer. Her eclectic musical style and idiosyncratic vocal style have made her one of the United Kingdom's most successful solo female performers of the past 30 years.In 1978, at the age of 19, Bush topped the UK Singles Chart...
. Released in 1993, it co-starred Miranda Richardson
Miranda Richardson
Miranda Jane Richardson is an English stage, film and television actor. She has been nominated for two Academy Awards, and has won two Golden Globes and a BAFTA during her career....
and noted choreographer
Choreography
Choreography is the art of designing sequences of movements in which motion, form, or both are specified. Choreography may also refer to the design itself, which is sometimes expressed by means of dance notation. The word choreography literally means "dance-writing" from the Greek words "χορεία" ...
Lindsay Kemp
Lindsay Kemp
Lindsay Kemp is a British dancer, actor, teacher, mime artist and choreographer.Born in South Shields on May 3, 1938, Kemp's father, a seaman, was lost at sea in 1940. According to Kemp, he danced from early childhood: "I'd dance on the kitchen table to entertain the neighbours. I mean, it was a...
, who had served as dance mentor to Bush early in her career.
This short film is essentially an extended music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
featuring songs from Bush's 1993 album, The Red Shoes
The Red Shoes (album)
-Personnel:*Jeff Beck: Guitar*Haydn Bendall: Engineer*Gary Brooker: Hammond Organ*Kate Bush: Bass, Guitar, Piano, Arranger, Composer, Keyboards, vocals, Producer, Fender Rhodes...
, which in turn was inspired by the classic movie musical-fantasy The Red Shoes.
In this version of the tale, Bush plays a frustrated singer-dancer who is enticed by a mysterious woman (Richardson) into putting on a pair of magical ballet slippers. Once on her feet, the shoes start dancing on their own, and Bush's character (who is never referred to by name) must battle Richardson's character to free herself from the spell of the shoes. Her guide on this strange journey is played by Kemp.
The film was released direct-to-video in most areas and was only a modest success; Kate Bush later called it "a load of bollocks". Soon after its release, Bush effectively dropped out of the public eye until her eighth studio album, Aerial
Aerial (album)
Aerial is the eighth studio album by British singer-songwriter and musician Kate Bush.-Overview:Aerial is Bush's first double album, and was released after a twelve year absence from the music industry during which Bush devoted her time to family and the rearing of her son, Bertie...
, was released in November 2005.
Song listing (as listed on video cover)
- "Rubberband GirlRubberband Girl12"CDCD -Charts:...
" - "And So is LoveAnd So Is LoveCD single-Charts:...
" - "The Red Shoes"The Red Shoes (song)"The Red Shoes" is a song written and recorded by musician Kate Bush. It was the third single released from, and is the title track of, the album The Red Shoes....
- "Lily"
- "The Red Shoes" (instrumental)
- "Moments of PleasureMoments of PleasureCDCollectors CD Box Set Cassette-Charts:...
" - "Eat the MusicEat the Music"Eat the Music" is a song written and recorded by Kate Bush. Columbia Records released it as the lead single from Bush's album The Red Shoes in the U.S., while EMI chose "Rubberband Girl" everywhere else in the world...
" - "The Red Shoes"
All songs apart from "Lily" were also used as promotional videos for the corresponding singles from Bush's The Red Shoes album. The version used for "Eat the Music" had several differences from the film version, excising all footage featuring Richardson and of Bush's ballet shoe-clad feet running across the fruit-covered floor, while adding additional dancing and singing sequences featuring Bush and new footage featuring two male dancers sparring with watermelons on their heads and of Bush having a line of black make-up applied to her cheeks.
The "Rubberband Girl" and "Moments of Pleasure" clips were included on The Whole Story '94 video CD which also featured videos from the albums The Whole Story and The Sensual World.