Ken Russell

[poliphilo]

The Devils is the best British movie of the past 40 years.

And Liztomania is the second best.

Song of Summer and Dance of the Seven Veils are the best films ever made for television.

All right, maybe I'm being a little unreasonable, but Ken Russell just died and I don't want to be thinking about anybody else's work right now.

I watched the Devils this afternoon. 40 years old? 40 years ahead of us, more like. 

The history of postwar British cinema goes like this. First there was Michael Powell, then there was Ken Russell. The End.

Comments

[rosamicula.livejournal.com]

I introduced wardytron to A Matter of Life and Death at the weekend, oddly.

I saw The Devils when very young - eleven or twelve - and it really stayed in my memory; it was one of the things that shaped my aesthetic sensibilities in a way, certainly in terms of visualising and imaging the past.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

The design of The Devils is extraordinary- meticulous attention to period detail combined with flagrant anachronism (Murray Melvin's 15th century hair cut, the exorcist's rock star styling) plus wild flights of fancy. Russell's 17th century is both intensely 17th century and timeless.

[sovay]

The history of postwar British cinema goes like this. First there was Michael Powell, then there was Ken Russell. The End.

Hey! Derek Jarman!

(I shall watch The Devils.)

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Maybe. The only Jarman I've seen is Caravaggio. I love Caravaggio (the painter) and thought Jarman got him completely wrong.

Jarman designed the set for The Devils. It's one of the stars of the film.

[petercampbell.livejournal.com]

And Terence Davies, don't forget him!

Maybe with Russell's death his movies will come back into fashion again. I can't think of many directors who have lost favour with the critical establishment so completely.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I think Russell is just too big a talent not to come back into fashion.

[davesmusictank.livejournal.com]

I have said silmilar things about him. Time to get some DVD's out and rewatch.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Absolutely. There's a lot of Russell I haven't seen (I'm ashamed to say).

[michaleen.livejournal.com]

The only Ken Russel I've seen is, Gothic, and, The Lair of the White Worm. Yes, I'm a cultural cretin but have reached an age where it no longer pains me.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

No-one can see everything.

Russell was prolific. When the funding dried up he made movies in his back garden. He was an irresistible creative force.

[michaleen.livejournal.com]

I remember enjoying Gothic, at the time, though as I recall the critics were rather underwhelmed, possibly for good reason.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I need to watch it again. I didn't like it much, but I think that could have been because I was expecting a conventional horror flick. Russell simply doesn't do conventional.

[michaleen.livejournal.com]

I have no idea whether it is really fit to watch and frankly have my doubts. It was the early days of the music video and, as I recall, Russell brought that manic, steady-cam aesthetic to his portrayal of Byron and Company.

[algabal.livejournal.com]

Crimes of Passion is my favorite. So underrated!

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I haven't seen that one- yet....