The Music Lovers

 

 

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This is probably Ken Russell's best film after "Women In Love." It is truly unfortunate that only a pan-and-scan video is available; the brilliant opening "Winter Carnival" sequence, which introduces all the main characters - AND establishes their relationships, without a word of dialogue! - is particularly damaged by the cropped aspect ratio. Chamberlain was never better, and still in his physical prime, and Jackson is briliant as always. This is worth the price just for the drunken honeymoon train-ride scene. Why in God's name this isn't on DVD is beyond me- Chamberlain's fans alone would put this one in the black! Hellooo MGM, WB or whoever owns this title now, we're waiting for a widescreen transfer!

Ken Russell is one of the most underrated directors in cinema, and although his later output does not reflect the great potential he possesses, it is his earlier films that showcased his true talents in their unique and controversial style.
Russell was instrumental, along with directors like Lindsay Anderson and Nic Roeg,in giving British cinema its own more subtle version of 'nouvelle vague' in the early 70s.
His great passion for literature and classical music was a constant source of inspiration,from his adaptation of D.H Lawrence's 'Women in Love' his most acclaimed film to date, to his biographies of Elgar,Liszt, Mahler and Tchaikovsky.
The British film establishment along with almost all critics liked nothing better than to dismiss Russell and his films as pompous and over indulgent.Micheal Winner has always had his share of these snide reviews and remarks, but although he is a remarkable socialite and bon vivant, his direction talents can not be compared to Russell's at all ,thus making the cold shoulder the latter received totally unjustified.
Music Lovers, was one of the first films I ever saw, and it was largely responsible for two main developments in my life,
my love and appreciation of classical music on one hand, and a passion for cinema that remains as strong and vibrant to this day on the other.
It is a biography of this greatest of composers,Tchaikovsky, like nothing you are likely to see..Amadeus was majestic and grand..Beethoven's Immortal Beloved was too polished...Russell in Music Lovers gives us a biography that is troubled, anxious, raw and unashamedly personal.
The crazy camera movements, the use of music both as part of the plot and as a background, the emphasis on an aspect of the great composer's life rarely written about or known:
Russell in Music Lovers was able to show the viewers the human with his failings, successes and indulgences that were behind the creative genius, and the agony, despair as well as joy behind the music.
Critics have slammed the film as an bombastic emphasis on Tchaikovsky's homosexuality, but they did miss the point totally..for I believe Russell was not trying to talk about the composer's sexual orientation, rather more about the demons that haunted him and the confusions and anxiousness that followed him throughout his life, his loves, disappointments, and friendships and from which many masterpieces came to life.
I loved the fact how cleverly Russell uses the music to enhance the drama and the mood of the his film: in a way the music of Tchaikovsky speaks in itself the story of its composer..this Russell I believe understood very well and used it to his benefit.And of course it is safe to say that Richard Chamberlain as the Russian composer gave his best performance to date, while actress turned politician Glenda Jackson who worked with Russell on Women In love,is one of the best actresses in the world, in the Rampling-Dench-Redgrave league, and had she not chosen a different career, I am certain she would have delighted cinema lovers with many more great performances.
The sad fact that Music Lovers is not yet released on DVD just confirms how underrated that great director is. At a time when really awful films get a two disc releases with tons of extras, classic films such as Music Lovers, remain out of stock and out of sight to cinema lovers everywhere to be seen again or rediscovered. It is time to give this film a proper release, and its director the recognition that he truly deserves.

When is this little gem* going to come out on DVD ?

*for the squared minant.

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5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic!
I must say this is about the best movie I saw that I never knew that it existed. The whole thing is a masterpeice from beginning to end. Read more

Published on Mar 12 2003 by Frank Solowczuk

1.0 out of 5 stars This is not a movie about Tchaikovsky
The movie it self is not that bad, but the person they portrait is not P.I Tchaikovsky. I've read biographies, diary, and letters of Tchaikovsky, the way the main character... Read more

Published on Feb 27 2003 by cg art

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best 100 movies of all time
An average rating of just 3 stars for Ken Russell's cinematic masterpiece? Scandalous! From beginning to end, this film is an extravaganza of visual delights and narrative verve,... Read more

Published on July 25 2001

1.0 out of 5 stars CONTINUOUS EMASCULATION .....a slight correction please.
Whoops!

So sorry - I meant to call this movie a "large, calorie filled English TRIFLE" - there's obviously no such thing as an English Triple [unless it's... Read more

Published on Jun 20 2001

1.0 out of 5 stars A Poor Movie on Tchaikovsky's Life.
This movie is boring. The director seems more interested in how he can visually direct a scene than he is in Tchaikovsky. Read more

Published on April 7 2001

4.0 out of 5 stars Not quite as soothing as "Swan Lake"!
As you plunge headlong into ANY Ken Russell film, know this: It's strictly a "love 'em or hate 'em" scenario. Read more

Published on Nov 13 2000 by D. Hartley

4.0 out of 5 stars Not a masterpiece, but certainly an excellent film
No film critics seem to like THE MUSIC LOVERS, and Cinebook even scored this film 'zero', claiming that this film should be avoided by all 'music lovers'. Read more

Published on April 17 2000

5.0 out of 5 stars Over-the-top filmmaking at its best
A wonderful film. It's a mistake to criticize the overblown style. Russell was directing in the style of the MUSIC. Read more

Published on Nov 4 1999 by Brian Taylor (bri_s_taylor@hot...

3.0 out of 5 stars Visually striking, although a bit bizarre in places
You shouldn't expect a straightforward, orthodox approach from director Ken Russell. The imagery is quite striking, and the combination of images with music (conducted by Andre... Read more

Published on Dec 4 1998

5.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous Cinema!
If you want to surprise someone, including yourself, you should watch this film.It's simply yet another masterpiece by Ken Russell which has been kept away from the public... Read more

Published on Dec 4 1998

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