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Ken Russell: A Bit of a Devil

Alan Yentob looks back over the career of the flamboyant film director. Friends and admirers recall a pioneering documentary-maker, talented photographer and fearless director.

Alan Yentob looks back over the career of the flamboyant film director responsible for Women In Love, Tommy and The Devils. Friends and admirers - including Glenda Jackson, Terry Gilliam, Twiggy, Melvyn Bragg, Robert Powell and Roger Daltrey - recall a pioneering documentary-maker, talented photographer and fearless film director.

When at the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ in the Sixties, Russell first established his name with brilliant documentaries on Elgar, Delius and Debussy. Not only did he bring alive their music with inspiring images, he also humanised them by using actors, something unthinkable in factual film-making at the time. His unfettered imagination soon led to feature films. Women In Love earned Glenda Jackson an Oscar and notoriety for a nude wrestling scene featuring Oliver Reed and Alan Bates. Although infamy dogged him with The Devils, he enjoyed considerable commercial success with The Boyfriend and his extravagant take on The Who's Tommy. Furiously creative to the end, Russell showed himself determined to pursue his original ideas, sometimes regardless of the personal cost.

50 minutes

Last on

Sat 14 Apr 2012 03:05

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Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Alan Yentob
Director Eleanor Horne
Producer Allan Campbell
Participant Terry Gilliam
Participant Twiggy
Participant Glenda Jackson
Participant Melvyn Bragg
Participant Robert Powell
Participant Roger Daltrey

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