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KenRussellhotnews

Lisztomania on DVD.  Aria special edition.  A new book coming up.  A British Picture updated.  BBC films on DVD.  Ken's  A Kitten for Hitler on-line.  In Search of the English Folk Song and the Gaudi film on DVD.  Your updates are welcome.  Send details here.  Last update 11 Jun  2009.

 

Lisztomania on DVD

Ken Russell Lisztomania

Lisztomania is available on DVD, with a commentary. You can buy it here.

 

Aria Special Edition on DVD/ Ken at the BFI

Ken Russell Aria

Aria will be reissued on DVD on 15 Jun 2009 but this time with extras.

The 10 directors each assigned to create a short film for this whole piece were Robert Altman, Derek Jarman, Jean-Luc Godard, Julien Temple, Charles Sturridge, Bruce Beresford, Bill Bryden, Franc Roddam with Nicolas Roeg and of course Ken.  Each made a film segment to the music of operatic arias.  Ken did Nessun dora.  You can buy it here.

The special features include a documentary featuring interviews with Producers and Directors and a commentary by Producer Don Boyd.  Thanks to Donald for the info.

Aria will be shown at the BFI in London with Ken present.  It happens on 9 Jun 2009.  For details click here.

 

Ken Russell: Re-Viewing England's Last Mannerist

A new book on Ken Russell, Ken Russell: Re-Viewing England's Last Mannerist, will be published in Sept 2009 by Scarecrow Press, USA. The book is edited by Kevin M. Flanagan.

The book "on the one hand, explores areas of Russell's career that have been somewhat overlooked or marginalized, and on the other expands the applicability of Russell's films to academic film study. Roughly half of the essays in the book are "academic" while the other half, though still scholarly, could be seen as more popular and historical. Topics covered include an elucidation of all of Russell's Monitor films, a new framework for reading Russell's whole career (as a champion of the amateur aesthetic), an essay on Russell's approach to 1980s horror, a reconsideration of Salome's Last Dance, and many, many more. Contributing writers include Barry Keith Grant, John C. Tibbetts, Joseph A. Gomez, Paul Sutton and John Kenneth Muir.  More details soon.  Thanks to Kevin for the information.


 

 A British Picture reissued

A British Picture Ken Russell

Ken's autobiography A British Picture has being reissued in an updated version.

"The updated autobiography of Britain’s most controversial film director, the maker of Women in Love, The Devils, The Music Lovers, Tommy and The Rainbow, is as unconventional and brilliant as his best films.  Moving with astonishing assurance through time and space, Russell recreates his life in a series of interconnected episodes – his thirties childhood in Southampton, his first sexual experience (watching Disney’s Pinocchio), his schooldays at the Nautical College, Pangbourne, early careers in the Merchant Marine and the Royal Air Force, dancing days at the Shepherds Bush Ballet Club and of course his career as a film-maker, beginning with an extraordinary interview with Huw Wheldon for a job on Monitor.  Full of marvellously funny anecdotes and fascinating insights into the realities of the film director's life, A British Picture is a remarkable autobiography."  Thanks to Paul for the information.  You can buy it here. Recommended.
 

Ken Russell films

 

BBC films on DVD in USA

Ken Russell BBC- click for link

Some of the best and rarest of Ken's work is released on DVD.  The films are The Debussy Film, Dante's Inferno, Always on Sunday, Isadora: The Biggest Dancer in the World, A Song of Summer and Elgar.  It is a USA release.  Originally it was to include Dance of the Seven Veils but obviously the Strauss estate blocked it and Elgar was substituted.  Thanks to Michael for the info.  Click on the image for more info. You can buy it here.
 

Phallic Frenzy

Ken Russell Phallic Frenzy

By Joseph Lanza and sub-titled Ken Russell and his films, this major new book is now available.  As well as the films it covers Ken's opera and video work.  This will be the first full length book on Ken since 1984.  You can buy the book in the shop (click here).  Recommended.

 

Ken writing for The Times on Tuesday

Ken's weekly article for The Times is now on Tuesdays.  Highly recommended.
 

 

In Search of the English Folk Song on DVD
G
audi on DVD
BBC films on DVD

In Search of the English Folk Song  Ken Russell Gaudi

In Search of the English Folk Song is on DVD, American format.  Ken's film on architect Gaudi is available along with Hiroshi Teshigahara's Gaudi film.

 

A Kitten for Hitler on-line

A Kitten for Hiter by Ken Russell

A Kitten for Hitler is available on the Comedybox site. 'Ten years ago, while working on The South Bank Show, Melvyn Bragg and I had a heated discussion on the pros and cons of film censorship. Broadly speaking, Melvyn was against it, while I, much to his surprise, was absolutely for it. He then dared me to write a script that I thought should be banned. I accepted the challenge and a month or so later sent him a short subject entitled A Kitten for Hitler. “Ken,” he said, “if ever you make this film and it is shown, you will be lynched.”  ...that was ten years ago, and I’m still alive and kicking, but whether that will still be the case in November only the Lord knows. Because, by the end of October, the film will be seen the world over, on the Comedybox website.'  Click on the image for the film.  Thanks to Ken and Lisi as well as Emma and Marc for the link.

 


 

 Recent changes to the site:

  • Links updated 24 May 2009

  • the Hot News and feedback pages are updated every two weeks

 

 

 Too late- you missed it:

 

 Monitor films at the BFI

On 15 Apr 2009 the BFI in London present Monitor Miscellany.  Lots of good early Ken Russell television work
- Guitar Music (1959)
- John Betjeman (1960)
- London Moods (1961)
- The Lonely Shore (1962)
- Lotte Lenya Sings Kurt Weill (1961).

 

Ken Russell at the Florida Film Festival

Ken Russell will be honoured and Crimes of Passion will be shown on the opening weekend of the  Florida Film Festival at the Enzian Theater in Maitland.  The Festival runs from 27 Mar- 27Apr 2009.  Thanks to Nick for the information.

 

Gorsewood films: Boudica and Charlotte Bronte

Boudica Bites Back: Ken's latest Gorsewood film was expected on the Times Online site around Easter 2008.  Now it will be shown at the SAND animation film festival in Swansea, Wales.

Charlotte Bronte: Ken's Charlotte Bronte was expected to be on YouTube.  Thanks to Alex for the information.

 

Ken's photos in London: Soho Nights

Ken Russell photo- click for link

"The photographs of Ken Russell captured the birth of the ‘hand jive’ at the Cat’s Whiskers coffee bar in 1956. This venue attracted such big crowds that there was no room to move and so hand gestures replaced conventional dancing.  The atmospheric scenes these photographs portray give us a glimpse of night-time Soho as it once was."

This exhibition is on from 6 Dec 2008- 8 Feb 2009 at the Photographers Gallery, London.  Click on the image for more info.

 

 

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