The Tales of Hoffman is based of the Offenbach opera of the short stories of the romantic poet E T A Hoffman; it was adapted for the screen by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger and released in 1951. Robert Helpmann (1909-1986) was an Australian dancer and choreographer, and one time partner of the ballerina Margot Fonteyn. He later turned to acting, appearing as the child Catcher in Chitty, Chitty, Bang, Bang. Moira Shearer (1926-2006) was a Scottish born ballet dancer best known her role in the film The Red Shoes (1946), she retired in 1953 to take up acting and journalism.