Rent Ken Russell: The Great Composers (1968)
3.5 of 5 from 21 ratings
3h 31min
- General info
- Available formats
- Synopsis:
These astonishing documentaries, by groundbreaking director Ken Russell (Valentino, The Devils), were originally broadcast in the BBC TV arts documentary strands Monitor and Omnibus. 'Elgar' (1962), Russell's tribute to the music he loved, is remarkable for its sensitive portrayal of the rise of a young musician from an underprivileged background to international fame. 'The Debussy Film' (1965), co-written by Melvyn Bragg, is a truly experimental work that culminates in a sublimely ethereal finale. Perhaps the finest of Russell's 1960s biographical BBC productions, 'Song of Summer' (1968) is an immensely moving story of sacrifice, idealism and musical genius which charts the final five years in the life of Frederick Delius. - Actors:
- Ken Russell, Peter Brett, Rowena Gregory, George McGrath, Carmen Dene, Oliver Reed, Vladek Sheybal, Annette Robertson, Vernon Dobtcheff, Iza Teller, Penny Service, Yvonne Antrobus, Yvette Rees, Alison Fiske, Fred Taylor, Victoria Russell, Janet Fairhead, Keith Smith, Audrey Searle, Max Adrian
- Directors:
- Ken Russell
- Producers:
- Humphrey Burton, Ken Russell
- Voiced By:
- Huw Wheldon
- Writers:
- Ken Russell, Huw Wheldon, Melvyn Bragg, Eric Fenby
- Aka:
- Elgar / The Debussy Film / Song of Summer
- Studio:
- BFI Video
- Genres:
- Music & Musicals, Special Interest, British TV, TV Classics, TV Documentaries
- BBFC:
- Release Date:
- 28/03/2016
- Run Time:
- 211 minutes
- Languages:
- English LPCM Mono
- Subtitles:
- English Hard of Hearing
- Formats:
- Pal
- Aspect Ratio:
- Full Screen 1.33:1 / 4:3
- Colour:
- B & W
- BLU-RAY Regions:
- B
- Bonus:
- Land of Hope and Glory (1931, 3 mins): footage of Sir Edward Elgar conducting the LSO at the opening of the new HMV (now Abbey Road) Studios
- Elgar and the Three Choirs Festival (Harold Brooke, 1929-1932, 9 mins): amateur footage of Elgar at home and at the Three Choirs Festival
- Michael Bradsell Interview (2015, 10 mins): the film editor talks about working with Ken Russell
- Ken Russell and Michael Kennedy audio commentary for Elgar (2002)
- Kevin M Flanagan audio commentary for The Debussy Film
- Ken Russell audio commentary for Song of Summer (2002)
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Reviews (1) of Ken Russell: The Great Composers
Truly superb - Ken Russell: The Great Composers review by CB
Disc 1, all I have seen thus far, consists of films about Elgar and Debussy. the Elgar film is more conventional and narrative based, which I preferred, and was a mine of information, most of which was completely unknown to me. The Debussy Film stars Oliver Reed and is more what one would expect from Russell. The self referential nature of the film didn't appeal to me but it is still absorbing. I hate to state the obvious but the BBC was so radical and open in those days and we didn't realise how lucky we were to see such programmes. A really great disc to watch.
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