The Red Curtain Trilogy

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The Red Curtain Trilogy is the formal and official marketing title for three Baz Luhrmann films:

Each film begins in a vaudeville theatre (with the velvet red curtains setting, with the actual motion picture playing on the vaudeville screen.

[edit] Characteristics and hallmarks

Each film features luxurious design work. The costumes, music, sets and script are all rich, sumptuous and intricate. Catherine Martin, Craig Pearce and Marius DeVries have all worked on each film. The soundtrack to each film featured heavily in the Australian, British and American music charts on their release.

  • Each film's plot is based on a myth or widely-known story, the ending of which it can be assumed the audience is familiar. Strictly Ballroom is based on the David and Goliath Bible story; nearly every student in the US and UK has to read Romeo and Juliet in school; and Moulin Rouge! is based on the Greek myth of Orpheus.
  • Each film has a thematic device through which the story is told. In Strictly Ballroom, this is the dancing, in Romeo and Juliet it is the Shakespearean language, and in Moulin Rouge! it is the songs.
  • All of the films begin in a cheery and upbeat mood, featuring (almost comical) sound effects and the use of speed. At some point there is a change to a more dark and serious mood.

All use techniques seen within the Western, Musical and Romantic-Comedy movie genres. The style is meant to be heightened, and non-realistic, so that at all times the audience are aware that they are being entertained in a theatrical way.

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