Ken Russell

Personal Info

Known For

Directing

Known Credits

4.976

Gender

Male

Birthday

03-Jul-1927

Age

(97 years old)

Place of Birth

Southampton, Hampshire, England, UK

Also Known As
  • Alfred Russell
  • Alf Russell

Ken Russell

Biography

Henry Kenneth Alfred "Ken" Russell (3 July 1927 – 27 November 2011) was an English film director. He is known for his pioneering work in television and film, and for his controversial style. He has been criticized as being over-obsessed with sexuality and the church. His subject matter is often about famous composers, or based on other works of art which he adapts loosely. Russell began directing for the BBC, where he did creative adaptations of composers' lives which were unusual for the time. He also directed many feature films independently and for studios. He is best known for his Oscar-winning romantic drama Women in Love (1969), the notoriously controversial The Devils (1971), the rock musical Tommy (1975), and the science fiction film Altered States (1980). One noted admirer, British film critic Mark Kermode, attempting to sum up the director's achievement, called Russell; "somebody who proved that British cinema didn't have to be about kitchen-sink realism – it could be every bit as flamboyant as Fellini. He now makes very strange experimental films like Lion's Mouth and Revenge of the Elephant Man, and they are as edgy and out there as the work he made in the 1970s."


Credits

Walk With The Damned Walk With The Damned (1961) Character: Hood
Gangsters run rampant until they encounter a gutsy minister.
Russell at Work Russell at Work (1966) Character: N/A
Documentary shows Ken Russell at work on various BBC TV documentaries, with clips from Diary of a Nobody, The Debussy Film, Always on Sunday, Don't Shoot the Composer, Elgar and behind the scenes directing of Isadora Duncan. He discusses his working methods and filmmaking philosophy and is also shown at home entertaining his daughter Victoria.
A Kitten for Hitler A Kitten for Hitler (2007) Character: Santa
The result of a challenge from Melvyn Bragg to write a film that Ken Russell himself would be eager to see banned, was A Kitten For Hitler – a 10-minute short in which a plucky young Jewish boy traverses the globe on a quest to warm the Führer's heart with the gift of a cuddly feline.
The Aristofrogs The Aristofrogs (2010) Character: N/A
A short promotional film for the 2010 Oldenburg Film Festival consisting of various actors and film personalities telling a joke about an exceptionally talented frog.
A British Picture A British Picture (1989) Character: N/A
The updated autobiography of Britain’s most controversial film director, the maker of Women in Love, The Devils, The Music Lovers, Tommy and The Rainbow, is as unconventional and brilliant as his best films. Moving with astonishing assurance through time and space, Russell recreates his life in a series of interconnected episodes – his thirties childhood in Southampton, his first sexual experience (watching Disney’s Pinocchio), his schooldays at the Nautical College, Pangbourne, early careers in the Merchant Marine and the Royal Air Force, dancing days at the Shepherds Bush Ballet Club and of course his career as a film-maker, beginning with an extraordinary interview with Huw Weldon for a job on Monitor. Full of marvellously funny anecdotes and fascinating insights into the realities of the film director's life, A British Picture is a remarkable autobiography.
The Real Blue Nuns The Real Blue Nuns (2006) Character: Self
An investigation into nunsploitation, and why men find images of nuns involved in sexual situations erotic. The programme also controversially covers the Muslim hibab and burka.
Ken Russell: In Search of the English Folk Song Ken Russell: In Search of the English Folk Song (1997) Character: Himself
This documentary begins with Ken Russell posing the question: "What is a true English folk song, if there is such a thing?" After recieving an indifferent response from his dog, Ken journeys around the countryside of England searching for an answer. He bumps into and interviews such famous artists as; Donovan, Fairport Convention, Osibisa, Eliza Carthy, So What, Edward II and The Albion Band among others.
Ken Russell: A Bit of a Devil Ken Russell: A Bit of a Devil (2012) Character: Self (archive footage)
Following the recent death of Ken Russell, Alan Yentob looks back over the career of the flamboyant film director responsible for Women In Love, Tommy and The Devils. Friends and admirers - including Glenda Jackson, Terry Gilliam, Twiggy, Melvyn Bragg, Robert Powell and Roger Daltrey - recall a pioneering documentary-maker, talented photographer and fearless film director.
The Devils Original on-set footage The Devils Original on-set footage (2012) Character: N/A
On-set footage of the film The Devils (1971) with commentary by editor Mike Bradsell
In Search of Dracula In Search of Dracula (1996) Character: Self
A look at "Dracula" in the arts and his supposed real-life inspiration Vlad Tepes.
Your Honour, I Object! Guccione V Russell Your Honour, I Object! Guccione V Russell (1987) Character: N/A
A courtroom 'drama' featuring Bob Guccione versus Ken Russell in a breach of contract case regarding disagreements over a script for a film version of Daniel De foe's "Moll Flanders" which Guccione hired Russell to direct.
A Turnip Head’s Guide To The British Cinema A Turnip Head’s Guide To The British Cinema (1986) Character: Self
Documentary presenting Alan Parker’s view of British cinema with comments from Richard Lester and others and location report from King’s Lynn on the making of Hugh Hudson’s Revolution, starring Al Pacino, Donald Sutherland, and Nastassja Kinski.
The Real Oliver Reed The Real Oliver Reed (2000) Character: Self
A documentary portrait about the life and times of the infamous hellraiser, who died in May 1999, having starred in more than 100 films.
Ken Russell's ABC of British Music Ken Russell's ABC of British Music (1988) Character: Himself
An irreverent survey of British Music.
Director of Devils Director of Devils (2012) Character: Self
Behind the scenes of the making of Ken Russell's 1971 film 'The Devils. Shown are the construction of the sets, filming of the courtroom scene, the performance of the musical score for the execution scene.
Boudica Bites Back Boudica Bites Back (2009) Character: Roman Senator
A cine-opera retelling of the legend of Boudica, warrior queen and her uprising against the Roman occupiers of Britain.
Lion's Mouth Lion's Mouth (2000) Character: Ken
A short musical directed by Ken Russell.
The Secret Life of Arnold Bax The Secret Life of Arnold Bax (1992) Character: Sir Arnold Bax
A biopic about the eminent composer Sir Arnold Bax.
Revenge of the Elephant Man Revenge of the Elephant Man (2004) Character: N/A
A short directed by Ken Russell.
Vaughan Williams: A Symphonic Portrait Vaughan Williams: A Symphonic Portrait (1983) Character: Self
South Bank Show documentary concerning the life and music of Ralph Vaughn Williams.
Don’t Shoot the Composer Don’t Shoot the Composer (1966) Character: Himself
DON’T SHOOT THE COMPOSER is far from an ordinary profile of Georges Delerue. It also serves as a calling card for Ken Russell, whose work would define the 1970s as Delerue’s did in the 1960s. It begins with a sly work of pastiche, parodying the conventions of French noir. It goes onto encompass slapstick, verité scenes of the Delerue family and a harrowing montage of the Vietnam War. This eclectic approach gives us a sense of the different facets of Delerue’s life- his love of cinema, his home life, his work ethic. It also prefigures Russell’s feature length biopics of Mahler and Liszt, though in a more modest- and lucid- fashion.
Empire of the Censors Empire of the Censors (1995) Character: Self
The history of film and video censorship in Great Britain.
Elgar: Fantasy of a Composer on a Bicycle Elgar: Fantasy of a Composer on a Bicycle (2002) Character: Narrator (voice)
Ken Russell revisits the life of Elgar, with musical background provided by the composer's works.
Music for the Movies: Georges Delerue Music for the Movies: Georges Delerue (1995) Character: Self
Documentary covering the career of French composer Georges Delerue, famous for film scores for such films as Platoon, Contempt, Shoot the Piano Player, and Jules and Jim.
Hell on Earth: The Desecration & Resurrection of The Devils Hell on Earth: The Desecration & Resurrection of The Devils (2002) Character: Self
Hell on Earth is a documentary about Ken Russell's 1971 film, The Devils. Film critic Mark Kermode chats to Russell as well as two of the film’s stars, Georgina Hale and Murray Melvin. Also included are scenes that were cut from the released film for being too controversial.
Song of Summer Song of Summer (1968) Character: Priest
The last five years of Frederick Delius's life through the eyes of a young composer and aide, Eric Fenby.
Isadora Duncan, the Biggest Dancer in the World Isadora Duncan, the Biggest Dancer in the World (1966) Character: Captain Patterson
The outrageous life of the American dancer of the 1920s, Isadora Duncan, whom Ken Russell described as "part genius and part charlatan".
Savage Messiah Savage Messiah (1972) Character: Passenger getting off train in station (uncredited)
In the Paris of the 1910s, brash young sculptor Henri Gaudier begins a creative partnership with an older writer, Sophie Brzeska. Though the couple is 20 years apart in age, Gaudier finds that his untamed work is complemented by the older woman's cultural refinement. He then moves to London with Brzeska, where he falls in with a group of avant-garde artists. There, Gaudier encounters yet another artistic muse in passionate suffragette Gosh Boyle.
Salome's Last Dance Salome's Last Dance (1988) Character: Cappadocian
London, England, November 5th, 1892, Guy Fawkes Night. The famous playwright Oscar Wilde and his lover Lord Alfred Douglas discreetly go to a luxury brothel where the owner, Alfred Taylor, has prepared a surprise for the renowned author: a private and very special performance of his play Salome, banned by the authorities, in which Taylor himself and the peculiar inhabitants of the exclusive establishment will participate.
Mr. Nice Mr. Nice (2010) Character: Russell Miegs
Biopic about 1970s Welsh marijuana trafficker Howard Marks, whose inventive smuggling schemes made him a huge success in the drug trade, as well as leading to dealings with both the IRA and British Intelligence. Based on Marks' biography with the same title.
The Kids Are Alright The Kids Are Alright (1979) Character: N/A
Through concert performances and interviews, this film offers us a comprehensive look at the British pioneer rock group, The Who. It captures their zany craziness and outrageous antics from the initial formation of the group in 1964 to 1978. It notably features the band's last performance with long-term drummer Keith Moon, filmed at Shepperton Studios in May 1978, three months before his death.
The Fall of the Louse of Usher The Fall of the Louse of Usher (2002) Character: Dr. Calahari
Rock star Roddy Usher is confined to an insane asylum after murdering his wife. There, he is given various shock treatments by Nurse Smith and Dr Calahari, resulting in a series of bizarre and nightmarish adventures.
The Who : pile et faces – La double vie d'un groupe anglais de légende The Who : pile et faces – La double vie d'un groupe anglais de légende (2022) Character: Self (archive footage)
The story of Roger Daltrey (vocals), Pete Townshend (guitar), John Entwistle (bass) and Keith Moon (drums): The Who, one of the most original, creative and relevant British bands of the sixties and of the entire history of pop music.
Tales of Erotica Tales of Erotica (1996) Character: N/A
A series of erotic short films, all with similar unexpected endings.
Brothers of the Head Brothers of the Head (2006) Character: Himself
In the 1970s a music promoter plucks Siamese twins from obscurity and grooms them into a freakish rock'n'roll act. A dark tale of sex, strangeness and rock music.
The Lair of the White Worm The Lair of the White Worm (1988) Character: Police Radio (voice) (uncredited)
On a farm owned by Eve Trent and her sister Mary, young archaeologist Angus Flint discovers a large and inexplicable skull, which he soon deduces belonged to the D'Ampton Worm, a mythical beast supposedly slain generations ago by the ancestor of the current Lord D'Ampton. The predatory Lady Sylvia Marsh soon takes an interest in both Flint and the virginal Eve, hinting that the vicious D'Ampton Worm may still live.
Valentino Valentino (1977) Character: Rex Ingram (uncredited)
In 1926 the tragic and untimely death of a silent screen actor caused female moviegoers to riot in the streets and in some cases to commit suicide...
Trapped Ashes Trapped Ashes (2006) Character: Dr. Lucy
Trapped in a house of horror, seven people discover that the only way they'll get out alive is to tell their scariest stories.
Gothic Gothic (1986) Character: Tourist
Living on an estate on the shores of Lake Geneva, Lord Byron is visited by Percy and Mary Shelley. Together with Byron's lover Claire Clairmont, and aided by hallucinogenic substances, they devise an evening of ghoulish tales. However, when confronted by horrors, ostensibly of their own creation, it becomes difficult to tell apparition from reality.
Whore Whore (1991) Character: Waiter (uncredited)
This melodrama investigates the life of a sex worker, in a pseudo-documentary style.
The Insatiable Mrs. Kirsch The Insatiable Mrs. Kirsch (1995) Character: Mr. Kirsch
A writer taking a rest in a country hotel is obsessed with a strange woman in the same hotel. The woman seems to observe him in provocative ways, but he does not dare to approach her. One day he follows her to her room and listens to strange “erotic” sounds from inside, and begins to have erotic thoughts.
Twiggy Twiggy (2025) Character: (archival footage)
Twiggy takes a comprehensive look at the life story of UK model and cultural icon Twiggy, real name Lesley Lawson, whose career kickstarted in the 1960s. It features interviews with Twiggy and her husband Leigh Lawson, as well as commentary from Erin O’Connor, Paul McCartney, Lulu, Poppy Delavigne, Brooke Shields, Pattie Boyd and Zandra Rhodes.
Colour Me Kubrick Colour Me Kubrick (2005) Character: The Man In Nightgown
The true story of a man who posed as director Stanley Kubrick during the production of Kubrick's last film, Eyes Wide Shut, despite knowing very little about his work and looking nothing like him.
10 Best Elgar 10 Best Elgar (2007) Character: Self (archive footage)
A line up of star performers celebrate the very best of Edward Elgar's music in the 150th anniversary year of his birth.
Tommy Tommy (1975) Character: Cripple (uncredited)
After a series of traumatic childhood events, a psychosomatically deaf, dumb and blind boy becomes a master pinball player and the object of a religious cult.
The Russia House The Russia House (1990) Character: Walter
Barley Scott Blair, a Lisbon-based editor of Russian literature who unexpectedly begins working for British intelligence, is commissioned to investigate the purposes of Dante, a dissident scientist trapped in the decaying Soviet Union that is crumbling under the new open-minded policies.



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