home films tv stage biog best scene shop news discussion download interviews more all the sites русский

Ken Russell Elgar on DVD

Ken Russell Elgar

Darren Arnold´s pre-release review of the DVD version of Elgar from the BFI

If you’re anything like me then chances are that you’ve had several different favourite Russell films in the time that you’ve been acquainted with the director’s work. One film that’s pretty much always been there or thereabouts as my own personal favourite is Elgar, a film that took me years to track down but in no way disappointed once I finally viewed it. As my old VHS has now been played countless times and has had to endure much in the way of wear and tear, the BFI’s DVD release of the film couldn’t be more welcome. You’ll remember that the BFI also gave Song of Summer the DVD treatment, but as good as that release was the Elgar package probably outdoes the Delius disc.

Ken Russell Elgar

Elgar, as most of you will know, is Russell’s Monitor documentary on the composer Edward Elgar, and it first screened way back in 1962. Although Russell was to essay the lives of many other composers in his subsequent films (not least through his loose ‘trilogy’ of features The Music Lovers, Mahler and Lisztomania) I feel that Elgar still stands up - forty years down the line - as being the best film Russell ever made about a composer. The use of locations (particularly the Malvern Hills) coupled with Russell’s unerring use of Elgar’s music adds up to a moving and uplifting hour of viewing. There are numerous noteworthy sequences in the film, not least being the infamous scene where footage of wounded soldiers is coupled with a soundtrack of “Land of Hope and Glory”. For me, however, the best sequence in the film isn't that one, although it does feature the same piece of music. It’s where Elgar is seen walking away from the Wembley exhibition, cutting a lonely figure as his own tune is eerily played over the speaker system. A far simpler but almost equally effective sequence comes with Elgar’s famous piece “Salut d’Amour”, which starts off as a piano piece (we see hands on a keyboard) before sweeping out into a fuller orchestral work where the visuals cut to a shot of Elgar and his bride walking in a field.

Ken Russell Elgar

As well as the film (a nice crisp 4:3 transfer), which features commentary by Ken with Elgar expert Michael Kennedy (on top of Huw Wheldon’s original commentary), the disc features several nice extras. There’s a stills gallery, some rare clips of Elgar playing with his dogs as well as in a more professional mode, and footage of the recording of “Land of Hope and Glory” which marked the opening of Abbey Road studios. There’s also a director’s bio (which includes another still), and a set of sleevenotes written by Kennedy.

As you’ve no doubt gathered by now, the DVD release of Elgar is heartily recommended.

 

Darren Arnold


home films tv stage biog best scene shop news discussion download interviews more all the sites русский

www.iainfisher.com / send mail /  © 1998- 2012 Iain Fisher