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Ken Russell gorsewood

 

 

The Fall of the Louse of Usher

 
Edgar Allen Poe's horror story The Fall of the House of Usher from 2002, and other tales, done as a horror-comedy musical.

Ken Russell The Fall of the Louse of Usher

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.

Ken Russell The Fall of the Louse of Usher Ken Russell The Fall of the Louse of Usher

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.

Ken Russell The Fall of the Louse of Usher Ken Russell The Fall of the Louse of Usher

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".

Ken Russell The Fall of the Louse of Usher

Ken Russell The Fall of the Louse of Usher Ken Russell The Fall of the Louse of Usher
Ken Russell The Fall of the Louse of UsherKen Russell The Fall of the Louse of Usher

 people

James Johnson of the underground group Gallon Drunk stars as Roddy Usher.  The Mediaeval Babes appear.

Ken Russell The Fall of the Louse of Usher     Ken Russell The Fall of the Louse of Usher


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
Ken Russell The Fall of the Louse of Usher
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).

Ken Russell The Fall of the Louse of Usher

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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