The first part of Ken Russell's career was largely devoted to biopics of artists (Rossetti, Isadora Duncan) and composers (Strauss, Elgar, Delius, Mahler, Liszt). Of the latter, my favorite is The Music Lovers (1970), his audacious take on the life of Pyotr Ilych Tchaikovsky. Russell's films are usually bursting at the seams with energy and ideas, but the chaos is controlled here, if just barely. It's over the top without spilling over the edge. Attention to period detail keeps these rapturous flights of fancy grounded in some sort of historical reality, yet by its tragic end the swelling music and escalating emotions reach near-operatic heights. There is so much going on here (Richard Chamberlain portrays a closeted homosexual! Glenda Jackson loses her mind!) that it's best to simply give in and enjoy the madness. Delirious, decadent, and depraved, it's a wild ride with a glorious soundtrack.
Within the space of a few short years, Ken Russell directed three great films: Women in Love, The Music Lovers, and The Devils. That the remainder of his career was immensely uneven (though occasionally brilliant) does nothing to diminish the appeal of these achievements. Russell understood that the essence of cinema is vision and sound; he grasped the power of artifice and melodrama. Here's hoping that his entire body of work will finally be released on DVD so that future generations may experience movies the likes of which will not be made again.
Posted below is a serviceable copy of the entire film. If you've nothing else to do this weekend, check it out! Happily, The Music Lovers is finally available on DVD.
See also: this post.
4 comments:
"Here's hoping that his entire body of work will finally be released on DVD"
Yes, indeed! Lately I've got into the habit of watching an entire directorial oeuvre (or as close as one can get) over several evenings. Would be great to do that with Our Ken.
And speaking of Our Glenda, it always tickles me that the wild roles of her youth have proved no stumbling block to her becoming (and still being) The Right Honorable Glenda Jackson, Member of Parliament for Hampstead and Kilburn. She's the only British politician whose pubic hair is a familiar site to the entire nation.
(It should be noted that Hampstead is a very liberal place, of course, and also home to London's largest cruising area, something local resident George Michael could tell you all about.)
JC, you crack me up!
As a Russell fanatic, I own most of his available output, but several are on VHS and thus unwatchable anymore. A Criterion box set would be ideal! Until then, the internet and downloading will have to suffice.
I've always thought Ms. Jackson a woman of the utmost integrity. Honorable indeed---she has two Oscars! Though I'm sure she's done some good work in the political arena (Didn't she once run for mayor of London?), I selfishly wish she'd bless us with another screen performance. But I guess she's "been there, done that". She's being true to herself, and a public servant as well. There's something to be said for that.
The great Derek Jarman designed the wonderful and somewhat startling sets for The Devils. They give the film much of its visual punch.
So true! His designs were perfect, and definitely help take that film to another level.
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