RIP Ken Russell

[easyrider]

Imdb -

ken russell dies

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legendary british director ken russell has died at the age of 84, having passed away in his sleep yesterday afternoon. Famed for his work on the likes of women in love, crimes of passion and tommy, russell was one of british cinema’s more colourful characters. His films frequently courted controversy, with the oliver stone-starring the devils meeting widespread outrage at its portrayal of sexual frenzy in the unlikely setting of a nunnery. Confronted by a critic from the evening standard who described the film as “monstrously...

[EricJ]

Those who caught Tommy for the first time on Blu-ray know all they need to know.
(And why I make Ken Russell jokes every time Baz Luhrmann directs a movie.)

His brief roll during the late 60's/early 70's was a frequent target of the Pythons, as well:

[Show spoiler]

Monty Python: Ken Russel's Gardening Club (1958) - YouTube

[Show spoiler]

Monty Python - Language Lab - YouTube

("Sandy Wilson's version of ''The Devils'" = A dig at Russell's 1971 version of Wilson's "The Boy Friend".)

On the upside, however, he played a characteristically mad-hatter Mi5 boffin in John LeCarre's "The Russia House". He was actually better at eccentric acting bit parts later on, when his movies couldn't get shown on an outhouse wall.

[X400]

BBC has a lengthy in depth article http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-10701521

[nefilim]

R.I.P.

always been fan of "Gothic".

[Dubstar]

shame that Warner's US is just making some of his film only available on DVD through Warner's Archive (at least it's something) - it'd be nice if they got the bug out of their ass to their disdain to his 'The Devils' and release it here in the States. At least they relented and gave permission to BFI video to do a special edition on DVD in his own country for god's sake.

[EricJ]

Originally Posted by Dubstar

shame that Warner's US is just making some of his film only available on DVD through Warner's Archive (at least it's something) - it'd be nice if they got the bug out of their ass to their disdain to his 'The Devils'

Most played the arthouses to begin with--He never really HAD a major breakout mainstream studio hit in the states apart from Tommy, Altered States and Billion Dollar Brain.
(The latter two of which seem to be, okay, playing by the rules of genre...Until we get the big montage-indulgent Ken Russell Moment, and we think, "Uh, yeah, never mind, this is definitely one of his. ")

[Beaucamper]

One of my favorite directors and one of the best who ever lived. The Devils, Women in Love, Altered States among the best films ever.

One that resonated deeply with me is The Savage Messiah, isn't even on DVD in the USA, last time I checked.

I wish I had prepared for this. He would have a long entry on my blog. He deserves an entire blog devoted to his work. He did so very much with so little. His wife even designed and sewed costumes herself. He was the filmmaker's filmmaker. Perhaps now we'll finally see BluRays of his work. Fans needs to shout long and loud for this.

[Dubstar]

Originally Posted by Beaucamper

One of my favorite directors and one of the best who ever lived. The Devils, Women in Love, Altered States among the best films ever.

One that resonated deeply with me is The Savage Messiah, isn't even on DVD in the USA, last time I checked.

I wish I had prepared for this. He would have a long entry on my blog. He deserves an entire blog devoted to his work. He did so very much with so little. His wife even designed and sewed costumes herself. He was the filmmaker's filmmaker. Perhaps now we'll finally see BluRays of his work. Fans needs to shout long and loud for this.

it's a Warner Archives DVD release actually:

http://www.wbshop.com/Savage-Messiah...efault,pd.html