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Savage Messiah: Ken Russell / Re: Clouds of Glory at the British Film Institute
« Last post by Iain Fisher on April 22, 2023, 12:24:28 AM »The showing is on 11 June 2023 at the BFI, London.
Recent Posts
92
Savage Messiah: Ken Russell / Clouds of Glory at the British Film Institute
« Last post by Iain Fisher on April 21, 2023, 11:08:56 PM »The BFI in London will show the two Clouds of Glory films about poets Wordsworth and Coleridge. A rare chance to see them as they are not available on video or DVD. It is in June, more details soon.
For more on the films see here
http://www.iainfisher.com/russell/ken-russell-tv-clouds.html
For more on the films see here
http://www.iainfisher.com/russell/ken-russell-tv-clouds.html
93
Savage Messiah: Ken Russell / Murray Melvin passes away
« Last post by Iain Fisher on April 15, 2023, 06:17:59 PM »Sadly Murray Melvin has passed away. He was a loyal supporter of Ken's works and would attend screenings of his films.
I was fortunate enough to meet and talk with Melvin, a friendly, open and intelligent person. Someone asked him how old he was- he said 29 and he said he would continue to say that until he decided to move to 30.
His first role for Ken was 1964's The Diary of a Nobody
Further roles for Ken were in Isadora Duncan, the Biggest Dancer in the World, The Devils, The Boyfriend, Lizstomania, Clouds of Glory and Prisoner of Honor from 1991.
For more on his theatre work, his role in the first episode of The Avengers, and his Kubrick film click here
http://www.iainfisher.com/russell/ken-russell-news.html
I was fortunate enough to meet and talk with Melvin, a friendly, open and intelligent person. Someone asked him how old he was- he said 29 and he said he would continue to say that until he decided to move to 30.
His first role for Ken was 1964's The Diary of a Nobody
Further roles for Ken were in Isadora Duncan, the Biggest Dancer in the World, The Devils, The Boyfriend, Lizstomania, Clouds of Glory and Prisoner of Honor from 1991.
For more on his theatre work, his role in the first episode of The Avengers, and his Kubrick film click here
http://www.iainfisher.com/russell/ken-russell-news.html
94
Savage Messiah: Ken Russell / Updates to Tommy
« Last post by Iain Fisher on April 13, 2023, 10:15:20 PM »The section on Tommy is updated, including with comments by Tina Turner from her autobiography "I brought my own clothes to the set, just in case I didn't like the costumes. Thank God! You should have seen how they would have dressed me... The costume designer, Russell's wife Shirley, said that I could wear them, although she came up with the Acid Queen's clunky platform shoes. Ken Russell loved the way I looked"
The update is here
http://www.iainfisher.com/russell/ken-russell-film-tommy.html
The update is here
http://www.iainfisher.com/russell/ken-russell-film-tommy.html
95
Savage Messiah: Ken Russell / Elgar 60 years on
« Last post by Iain Fisher on March 15, 2023, 07:00:34 PM »Elgar was released in 1962 but in 2013 it is still remembered when Elgar's music is performed.
"the glorious sweep of the strings in Elgar’s Introduction and Allegro with their solo participation. It’s a sweep that I can never separate from Ken Russell’s Elgar film, accompanying the young composer riding a white pony across the Malvern Hills via the Royal Philharmonic’s broadest of brushes."
Quotation by Jeremy Eccles on Arts Hub covering the Orange Chamber Music Festival, 15 Mar 2023.
Click here
https://www.artshub.com.au/news/reviews/music-review-orange-chamber-music-festival-2619544/
"the glorious sweep of the strings in Elgar’s Introduction and Allegro with their solo participation. It’s a sweep that I can never separate from Ken Russell’s Elgar film, accompanying the young composer riding a white pony across the Malvern Hills via the Royal Philharmonic’s broadest of brushes."
Quotation by Jeremy Eccles on Arts Hub covering the Orange Chamber Music Festival, 15 Mar 2023.
Click here
https://www.artshub.com.au/news/reviews/music-review-orange-chamber-music-festival-2619544/
96
Savage Messiah: Ken Russell / poor journalism
« Last post by Iain Fisher on March 09, 2023, 01:12:00 AM »An example of the sort of poor journalism that haunts Ken's work.
The article is about music videos. Despite saying “we take a look at music videos from notable directors” he brings in Ken Russell but doesn’t mention (and may be unaware of) Ken’s music videos such as Elton John’s Nikita and Cliff Richard’s She’s So Beautiful.
He does however talk of “the sacrilege of most of the films of people like Ken Russell” I am not sure he actually understands the meaning of sacrilegious- the Cambridge Dictionary gives it as “treating something holy or important without respect”. Certainly The Devils, but Ken’s D.H. Lawrence films? Far less The Boyfriend. Far less Nikita.
Ignoring the poor understanding of sacrilege. He talks of a video In A Glass Cage (Tras El Cristal) by Agustà Villaronga and describes the plot as “The victim takes on the role of the Nazi's caretaker, and decides to torture him and follow in his footsteps as a pedophiliac murderer”. I’ve not seen it so can’t comment on its merits but does the subject matter (which he sees as sacrilegious) really compare to Ken Russell’s work?
The article is by Theodoor Steen ,Screen Anarchy, 6 Mar 2023, click here
https://screenanarchy.com/2023/03/sound-and-vision-agusti-villaronga.html
The article is about music videos. Despite saying “we take a look at music videos from notable directors” he brings in Ken Russell but doesn’t mention (and may be unaware of) Ken’s music videos such as Elton John’s Nikita and Cliff Richard’s She’s So Beautiful.
He does however talk of “the sacrilege of most of the films of people like Ken Russell” I am not sure he actually understands the meaning of sacrilegious- the Cambridge Dictionary gives it as “treating something holy or important without respect”. Certainly The Devils, but Ken’s D.H. Lawrence films? Far less The Boyfriend. Far less Nikita.
Ignoring the poor understanding of sacrilege. He talks of a video In A Glass Cage (Tras El Cristal) by Agustà Villaronga and describes the plot as “The victim takes on the role of the Nazi's caretaker, and decides to torture him and follow in his footsteps as a pedophiliac murderer”. I’ve not seen it so can’t comment on its merits but does the subject matter (which he sees as sacrilegious) really compare to Ken Russell’s work?
The article is by Theodoor Steen ,Screen Anarchy, 6 Mar 2023, click here
https://screenanarchy.com/2023/03/sound-and-vision-agusti-villaronga.html
97
Savage Messiah: Ken Russell / Re: Billion Dollar Brain
« Last post by Iain Fisher on March 07, 2023, 06:49:32 PM »and again on Film4 today and also on 20 Mar 2023.
98
Savage Messiah: Ken Russell / Tommy in Ohio, USA
« Last post by Iain Fisher on March 06, 2023, 06:25:15 PM »Tommy will be shown at the Robins Theatre, Warren, Ohio on 11 March 2023.
The theatre website is here https://robinstheatre.com/
"Tommy is a 1975 British satirical operetta fantasy drama film written and directed by Ken Russell and based upon The Who's 1969 rock opera album Tommy about a "psychosomatically deaf, mute, and blind" boy who becomes a pinball champion and religious leader. The film featured a star-studded ensemble cast, including the band members themselves, Ann-Margret, Oliver Reed, Eric Clapton, Tina Turner, Elton John, and Jack Nicholson."
The theatre website is here https://robinstheatre.com/
"Tommy is a 1975 British satirical operetta fantasy drama film written and directed by Ken Russell and based upon The Who's 1969 rock opera album Tommy about a "psychosomatically deaf, mute, and blind" boy who becomes a pinball champion and religious leader. The film featured a star-studded ensemble cast, including the band members themselves, Ann-Margret, Oliver Reed, Eric Clapton, Tina Turner, Elton John, and Jack Nicholson."
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Savage Messiah: Ken Russell / Murray Melvin interview
« Last post by Iain Fisher on March 06, 2023, 01:15:46 AM »A short interview with Murray Melvin by Samira Ahmed, 6 Aug 2014.
The interview covers mainly A Taste of Honey, the stage and film versions, and more briefly Ken's The Devils and Kubrick's Barry Lyndon. Nice to hear that the actors thought The Boyfriend was a reward for the gruelling work on The Devils.
I met Murray Melvin and he is a modest and likeable person and that comes out in the interview.
The recording of the interview is on the BBC Sounds website
http://www.samiraahmed.co.uk/a-taste-of-honey-50-years-on/
The interview covers mainly A Taste of Honey, the stage and film versions, and more briefly Ken's The Devils and Kubrick's Barry Lyndon. Nice to hear that the actors thought The Boyfriend was a reward for the gruelling work on The Devils.
I met Murray Melvin and he is a modest and likeable person and that comes out in the interview.
The recording of the interview is on the BBC Sounds website
http://www.samiraahmed.co.uk/a-taste-of-honey-50-years-on/
100
Athol Fugard discussion / The Island touring the UK
« Last post by Iain Fisher on February 28, 2023, 06:38:12 PM »Elysium Theatre Company & Queen’s Hall Arts Centre, Hexham present the 50th Anniversary Production of The Island.
The Director is Jake Murray and designed is by Caitlin Mills and Lee Ward. Ewen Cummins plays John and Daniel Poyser plays Winston.
"South Africa 1973, Robben Island, the top security political prison where Nelson Mandela was held. John and Winston are sharing a cell. They survive through a mixture of solidarity, laughter and defiance. The two men’s sense of brotherhood has kept them going for years, then John hears that he’s going to be released… The Island is one of the most famous plays of the 20th Century and has been seen all over the world. A rich, boisterous, funny, moving piece of theatre, it is a hymn to the human spirit and a cry for freedom everywhere".
There are dates throughout the UK. More details are here
http://www.iainfisher.com/fugard/fugard-news.html
The Director is Jake Murray and designed is by Caitlin Mills and Lee Ward. Ewen Cummins plays John and Daniel Poyser plays Winston.
"South Africa 1973, Robben Island, the top security political prison where Nelson Mandela was held. John and Winston are sharing a cell. They survive through a mixture of solidarity, laughter and defiance. The two men’s sense of brotherhood has kept them going for years, then John hears that he’s going to be released… The Island is one of the most famous plays of the 20th Century and has been seen all over the world. A rich, boisterous, funny, moving piece of theatre, it is a hymn to the human spirit and a cry for freedom everywhere".
There are dates throughout the UK. More details are here
http://www.iainfisher.com/fugard/fugard-news.html