|
Two books on single films, The Devils and Women in Love, both by Jeremy Mark Robinson. Each book has 80-90 pages on the film, then over 100 pages on Russell. This second section (100 pages) is identical in both books. Some good observation such as the large wagon in the opening sequence foreshadowing the arrival of the equipment to destroy the walls of Loudun. More of this would be welcome. I would have liked more questioning of evidence. For example, it is true Oliver Reed found the dialogue (of The Devils) difficult, but no mention of Reed being dyslexic which brings out a different reason than lack of understanding. Some errors:
The book is written in a teenage style which an editor of an established publisher would have corrected- b4 for before, crrritics, d-e-a-t-h. It does become irritating. There are some references but often not which is frustrating. If you can put up with the flaws it could be an enjoyable read, the enthusiasm comes over, and the more books on Ken Russell and his films the better.
By Joseph Lanza and sub-titled Ken Russell and his films, the first full length book on Ken since 1984. As well as the films it covers Ken's opera and video work.
By John Edgar Mann, 1989. A book about famous people who lived in Southampton. Ken is covered, mainly via John Baxter's book "Success in art... was 90 per cent drudgery, nine per cent luck and one per cent inspiration". Ken's fellow Sotonians (as the book states people from Southampton are called) include Jane Austen, General Gordon and Benny Hill. One other is significantly the Rev. Harold Davidson- did this book inspired Russell's film about Davidson- Lion's Mouth?
By Ken Hanke, 1984. An early comprehensive account of Kenīs work, films and television, up to Crimes of Passion. The last chapter on Kenīs influence covers, as well as Jarman, people like Fellini and Lynch. Ken Hanke was rumoured to be writing a new biography Nymphomaniacs, Nuns and Messiahs: The Fantastic Life and Times of Ken Russell but this did not go ahead.
By Gene D. Phillips, 1979. Covers some of the early TV work in detail, and the films up to Lisztomania. Ken Russell dedicated his novel to Gene Phillips, a Catholic priest.
By Diane Rosenfeldt, 1978. Mainly a listing of articles about Russell, with small quotes (one-liners) from some of them. For example in Life in 1971 Richard Schickel reviews The Devils: "nothing but disgust...There is no human decency to be found in it; Russell has wasted his rare gift on this film".
Edited by Thomas R. Atkins with sections by Atkins, Gene D. Philips, John Baxter, Jack Fisher and Joseph A. Gomez, 1976. Good sections on the early television work. "His best work combines the graphic immediacy and simplicity of the comic strip with the subtlety and suggestiveness of music". "Like Hitchcock he is one of the few directors whose name usually guarantees lines at the box office".
by Joseph Gomez, 1976. Gomez looks at the adaptations of Russell from the first amateur films up to Lisztomania.
By Colin Wilson, 1974. A Short book based on the interview Wilson carried out with Russell for Westward Television. In the film Wilson is introduced as a close friend of Russell but in the book it is clear he has never met Russell before, and has only recently seen his films. The interview with Russell is made up of well known anecdotes, and the film criticism is poor. Russell wears enormous rings, the same as John Justin in Savage Messiah, being filmed at the time.
By John Baxter, 1973. This covers the early television and films up to Savage Messiah. About half is made up of an interview with Ken including some good insights. There is also an interview with Huw Weldon, Russellīs supervisor at the BBC. The title, An Appalling Talent, is a phrase used by critic Dilys Powell about Russell. |
