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RIP Ken Russell

Started by Raffine, November 28, 2011, 09:52:48 AM

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Raffine

November 28, 2011, 09:52:48 AM Last Edit: November 28, 2011, 10:05:15 AM by Raffine
Ken Russell, director of some of the most bizarre movies of the late 20th century, has passed away at the age of 84. Sometimes called 'Britain's Orson Welles' Russell could be also be considered the most critically acclaimed and respected bad movie director of all time.

ALTERED STATES was probably his most mainstream film. Most of his movies in the seventies were musicals or were about famous musicians or composers! The infamous WHORE (1991) was his last film to get any kind of distribution in the States. Since then he mostly made no-budget crazy short films and music videos for Andrew Lloyd Webber(!).

Back in the 80's I saw GOTHIC and LAIR OF THE WHITE WORM at a little art movie house in Alabama. Both times there were protesters outside waving signs and shouting about how the movies were "PORNO!!!". Both left me scratching my head ...

RIP, Mr. Russell


LISZTOMANIA, Russell's biopic of 19th century composer Franz Liszt starring Roger Daltrey:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWOWLXHAUhc


Uncanny!



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbORCePOELE&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2hl5Ee5_1E

If you're an Andy Milligan fan there's no hope for you.

Rev. Powell

#1
November 28, 2011, 10:32:16 AM
R.I.P. Mr. Russell, I was a big fan of his particular brand of craziness.  He looked at where the "over-the-top" line was, and decided it was set way too low.

Best known around these parts for his campiest film

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0hmB_S-cIQ&feature=related

but this one

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9DFfrH-018

(long unavailable on DVD) is probably his craziest...
I'll take you places the hand of man has not yet set foot...

Fausto

#2
November 28, 2011, 09:12:16 PM
An incredible director. Turns out he'll be leaving this world in as stylish a fashion as his films:

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/flamboyant-director-ken-russells-wish-was-for-a-viking-funeral/story-e6frg6so-1226209078217
"When I die, I hope you will use my body creatively." - Shin Chan

"Tonight, we will honor the greatest writers in America with a modest 9 by 12 certificate and a check for three thousand dollars...three thousand dollars? Stephen King makes more than that for writing boo on a cocktail napkin." - Jimmy Breslin

FatFreddysCat

#3
November 28, 2011, 09:16:01 PM
"Altered States" was one of the first movies to truly eff with my head when I was a wee lad. R.I.P. Mr. Russell.
"If you're a false, don't entry, because you'll be burned and died!"

voltron

#4
November 29, 2011, 10:33:35 PM
Loved Altered States, Gothic and LOTWW for years. CRRRAAAZZY movies! This is my fave (can't find it on dvd in my parts, though)......

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTZGdZbilFk

RIP Ken.
"Nothin' out there but God's little creatures - more scared of you than you are of them"  - Warren, "Just Before Dawn"

Rev. Powell

#5
November 29, 2011, 10:39:27 PM
Quote from: voltron on November 29, 2011, 10:33:35 PM
Loved Altered States, Gothic and LOTWW for years. CRRRAAAZZY movies! This is my fave (can't find it on dvd in my parts, though)......

RIP Ken.

Most of Ken's movies are not on DVD, sadly.  It's really odd how Warners has sat on the titles they control.  They teased that they were going to release THE DEVILS, then cancelled the release without any explanation.  Then they let the British release it on Region 2, but continue to sit on it here...
I'll take you places the hand of man has not yet set foot...

Allhallowsday

#6
December 01, 2011, 08:23:02 PM
I remember glutting myself on KEN RUSSELL back in the age of video rentals: GOTHIC, CRIMES OF PASSION, LAIR OF THE WHITE WORM... 

I learned not too long ago that the first deep film scare of my life was a KEN RUSSELL film: ISADORA DUNCAN, THE BIGGEST DANCER IN THE WORLD.  The climax of that film, which I've not seen since, is forever burned in my memory from the first and only time I saw it, just the ending on TV, decades ago, I was probably 7 years old...

Good night, KEN. 
If you want to view paradise . . . simply look around and view it!

ChaosTheory

#7
December 02, 2011, 01:02:26 PM
Rest in Peace, you crazy, crazy man.
Through the darkness of future past
The magician longs to see
One chance opts between two worlds
Fire walk with me

lester1/2jr

#8
December 02, 2011, 02:22:44 PM
I liked Altered States alot. RIP

BoyScoutKevin

#9
December 02, 2011, 06:00:28 PM
I don't know why anybody would protest "Gothic" and "Lair of the White Worm." I mean there's nothing offensive in neither one.

1. "Gothic"
a. A cunnilingus abortion.

2. "Lair of the White Worm"
a. Nuns raped by Roman soldiers.
b. Jesus Christ "an impotent God" mauled on the cross by a white worm.
c. A boy scout emasculated while getting a sponge bath in the tub.
d. Nuns impaled on stakes, while the villainess licks a bloody dildo.

No, nothing offensive there.

And that is why director Ken Russell will be missed in the world of filmmaking. He pushed his vision far past where most other directors would go. And what is more . . .

Most competent directors can get a decent performance from a decent actor, but Russell could get a more than decent performance from many of the mediocre actors he worked with. Plus the . . . of his films.

Cinematography
Costumes
Editing
Locations
Music
Sets

He was almost unique among directors, and we'll likely never see his like again.
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