In The News

Film director Ken Russell passes away

Film director Ken Russell passes away

THE film director Ken Russell has passed away. He was 84.

Mr. Russell was one of the most acclaimed and controversial film directors of his generation.

His route to getting into films was punctuated with a spells in the Royal Air Force, the merchant navy, touring with dance troupes and working as a fashion photography.

It was in television where Mr. Russell was first to make his mark as a film maker.

He began by working on the arts programme Monitor and later on Omnibus, producing a body of work which included more than 30 films including a number featuring the lives of famous composers.

His first main film for the cinema was Women In Love (1969), the adaptation of D. H. Lawrence’s novel which was to attract controversy.

During the 1970s he produced a stream of films, many of which failed to win critical acclaim but did win him the respect of many other film makers. 

Among his work at this time was The Devils (1971), The Boy Friend (1971), Mahler (1974) and the film of The Who’s rock musical Tommy (1975). 

The controversy which surrounded many of his projects did have a negative impact when it came to sourcing finance for new films.

In recent years he directed a number of TV documentaries as well as some made for TV movies.

To view an interview which Ken Russell gave in 2009 click here.

 

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