Russell’s composer biopics were usually labours of love. This was the opposite: he regarded Strauss’s music as 'bombastic, sham and hollow', and despised the composer for claiming to be apolitical while cosying up to the Nazi regime. Strauss is depicted in a variety of grotesquely caricatured situations: attacked by nuns after adopting Nietzsche’s philosophy, duels with jealous husbands, literally batters his critics into submission with his music, and glorifies the women in his life and fantasies.
Directed by Ken Russell
composer
biography
IMDB
N/A
Letterboxd
3.5 / 5
Cast
Christopher Gable
Richard Strauss
Judith Paris
Kenneth Colley
Vladek Sheybal
Imogen Claire
Rita Webb
Crew
Ken Russell
Director
Ken Russell
Writer
Richard Strauss
Music
Popular Reviews
1 review
Kieran
6.0★ · 07/10/24
Ken Russell’s version of a diss track.
More or less the first time Russell’s substance was outweighed by his style. But what a glorious tipping of the scales it is, a premonition of the work he went on to do with Mahler and a small warning of what he would do with Gothic.
Ken Russell’s version of a diss track.
More or less the first time Russell’s substance was outweighed by his style. But what a glorious tipping of the scales it is, a premonition of the work he went on to do with Mahler and a small warning of what he would do with Gothic.
