A Clockwork Orange

A package deal with Russell directing and the Rolling Stones starring. Russell only heard about the possibility years after.

Dracula

Ken Russell submitted two scripts, one for Dracula and one for The Rainbow. The latter was accepted.

Moll Flanders

Ken was sued for failing to complete this film adaptation of the Daniel Defoe novel. He won the court case. As payment Russell did a pop video for his lawyer.

Moll Flanders (second attempt)

A cast of Lucinda Rhodes Flaherty, Steven Berkoff and Barry Humphries.  To be filmed in Croatia with a multi-million budget.  Ken would also do the script and possibly appear in the film.

Quadrophenia

Pete Townsend and The Who´s follow up to Tommy.

Evita

Before Madonna´s involvement Ken had the first attempt to make a film of the Andrew Lloyd Webber/Tim Rice musical.  He wanted Liza Minelli in the lead role rather than studio choice Elaine Page.

Summer Holiday

Ken decided not to film Cliff Richard and the Shadows on the double decker bus. The relationship with the girl in French Dressing (which he did instead) is almost identical to that of the girl disguised as a boy in Summer Holiday. Ken later directed a Cliff Richard video.

Nijinsky

A film project with dancer Rudolf Nureyev. Russell later filmed Nureyev in Valentino.

Sergei Diaghilev

Another dancer.  Melvyn Bragg wrote a script which is now in the Brotherton Library in Leeds University.

The Gershwin Dream

David Puttnam commissioned six music films on Mahler, Liszt, Gershwin, Vaugham Williams and two others to be decided. Mahler and Lisztomania were made, the rest were not. Neil Diamond was to star as Gershwin (much as I love Ken, I am glad this did not go ahead!!).

Cleopatra

The project got stopped at the writing stage.

Maria Callas

Russell wanted Sophia Loren to star in the story of the opera singer.

The Beethoven Secret

Glenda Jackson, Charlotte Rampling, Jodi Foster and Anthony Hopkins.

The King´s Man

A script by Oliver Reed who would play Thomas à Becket, the Archbishop of Canterbury murdered on the steps of his cathedral in 1170. TS Eliot´s play Murder in the Cathedral covers the same event.

The Gospel of Linda

Regent/Moonstone announced at Cannes a "pre-production offering" of Ken directing Gospel of Linda. This did not go ahead.

The Angels

The story of a ghost in the afterworld. It is based on Georges Neveux´s play Juliette which was made into an opera by Martinu, but Russell´s treatment would centre on commercialism (the beans advert, reappearing in a different form in Tommy). The script was completed but filming never started.

Scriabin

Russell calls composer Aleksandr Scriabin "a man after my own heart- a true mystic who many saw as a charlatan". The film did not go ahead, but it was converted and broadcast as a radio play.

The Eleventh Commandment

A film about Moses (mentioned in Empire magazine, Nov 1989).

Son of Man

Variety, 15 Dec 1997 states "Russell already has scouted locations in Turkey for the John  Daly-produced "Son of Man", which will, he promises, "depict the life of Christ with a lot of joy and humor."  Shooting could start in Istanbul in March (1998). Expect Jesus "to crack a few  jokes," the jolly helmer adds."

Skeletons

Any details are welcome.

Visions of Eight

One of the eight short films about the 1972 Olympics. Directors included Milos Forman, Arthur Penn and John Schlesinger.

Kiplinger´s Syndrome

It may be filmed (without Russell) and starring Malcolm McDowell.

Hamlet

Hamlet would have featured David Bowie and Elton John.

The Hunger 

More Bowie, eventually filmed by Tony Scott.  Info from Blitz magazine June 1983.

When I´m 64

Part of a Beatles tribute. Twelve directors would each do a video of one of the songs from Sgt Pepper.