Edgar Allen Poe's horror story The Fall of the
House of Usher from 2002, and other tales, done as a
horror-comedy musical.
An initial attempt to film it fell through when the backers
didn't like Russell's original choice of stars, Roger Daltry and Twiggy.
Further attempts at financing always led to actors being forced on him.
So Ken is now in the underground film business where he has
total control of all aspects. After making Lion's Mouth to try out
the technology, Ken filmed Louse in eight episodes using a Camcorder and
assisted by his son Alex Russell and various friends. When part
one was complete excerpts were shown on British television. This
site once included an advert for props- a stuffed black cat and twenty
inflatable sex dolls. The dolls are for the walls of the padded cell.
The poster for Louse features Ken Russell in a doctor’s smock
wearing a pair of pink glasses with a large plastic penis on his nose.
Says Ken “But absolutely true to the spirit of his stories. All I’ve
done is bring him up to date.”
Site visitor Jaidn (thanks Jaidn) says:
"It was a bit odd as he was filming some stuff in the Intrepid Fox pub,
and I was drinking downstairs and looking a bit odd. This was Sunday eve
and I'd been out all night. So about twenty of us were asked if we would
like to come upstairs and be in the background for the film. Actually I
thought it was going to be for Bravo's thing as they use the Fox a lot.
But it when we got there Ken was there running about. He wasn't dressed
as a Nun for that bit though and he was filming himself. But it took a
few goes then he said we could go but sent one of the girls, Actress
Assistant who made sure we all had fresh drinks on him. Basically we
just watched as Alex did a bit of singing though I think he reshot it as
in the South Bank documentary he was doing the same song to a room of nuns".
people
James Johnson of the underground group Gallon Drunk
stars as Roddy Usher. The Mediaeval Babes appear.
Alex Russell, Ken's son, works on camera, as well as sets, as well as
playing a doctor and a gorilla.
Tulip Junkie, also
in Lion's Mouth, plays Nurse ABC Smith, a character out of Poe. Russell
himself plays Dr Calahari
best image
The fish in the tank at the museum.
The mummy with fingers bent back when thinking.
best scene
he video sequences with James Johnson performing.
The dog (nipper) emerging from the body.
themes There is a homage to The Wicker Man (the children in masks).
Films within films.
Incest.
Sensory deprivation.
more
For The Making of Louse
click here
For The Making of (the first) Louse
click here
For photos
click here
For a review
click here
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