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Filmography:
Women in Love(1969)
The Music Lovers(1970)
The Devils(1971)
The Boy Friend(1972)
Savage Messiah(1972)
Mahler(1974)
Tommy(1975)
Lisztomania(1976)
Valentino(1977)
Altered States(1980)
Crimes of Passion(1984)
Gothic(1986)
Salome's Last Dance(1987)
Lair of the White Worm(1988)
Whore(1991)
Mindbender(1995)
This page was created out of necessity. Given all the numerous shrines and fanpages dedicated to the newest fly-by-night popstars and other cultural ephemera, there are, to my knowledge, no websites dedicated to the great British film director, Ken Russell.
Here is my attempt to fill that void.
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Women in Love (1969)
Recently voted into the 100 best British films of all time,
this adaptation of D.H. Lawrence's classic is Russell's most critically acclaimed
film and his most beloved by connoisseurs of high cinema. It is certainly
Russell's most conventional feature in terms of style but unusually frank
and complex in terms of human relationship. This film does not have the visual
flair of other Russell films. Unless one were told explicitly that Russell
directed the movie, one would unlikely guess he was behind the camera. There
is one similarity that this movie has in common with other Russell films--the
exploration of the subjective realm. However, Russell's mode of exploring
the inner life is not through images of fantasy as much through dialogue and
intimate confessions.
Without question this film features the best acting of any Russell film. In particular, Glenda Jackson and Alan Bates are fantastic. Jackson's ( I swear she and John Hurt come from the same zygote) liberated woman showcases her ability to convey an incredible range of emotion through subtlety. Bates's idealistic schoolteacher has a warmth rarely captured on film. Reed and Jennie Linden are adequate but overshadowed by Bates and Jackson.
Bottom Line: Wonderful ensemble acting and high drama through humna relationship. Those looking for the imprint of Russell's standard visuals will be disappointed; those looking for highbrow Merchant Ivory harbinger won't.
Scenes to Watch for:
(1) Dance scene.
(2) Reed's horse whipping scene.
(3) Jackson's seduction of the bulls.
(4) Notorious nude wrestling scene.
(5) Reed's suicide.
What the Critics Had to Say:
---"Satisfactory rendering of a celebrated novel, with excellent period detail atoning for rather irritating characters."---Halliwell's Film and Video Guide.
---"a suprisingly restrained, even respectful adaptation of D. H.
Lawrence's novel."---Time Out Film Guide.