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.
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Ken Russell: A Bit of a Devil
Duration: 02:43
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 |
Broadcasts
- Sat 14 Jan 2012 21:00
- Wed 25 Jan 2012 23:00
- Sat 14 Apr 2012 03:05