1971 - THE MUSIC LOVERS, another life of a composer story courtesy of Ken Russell

I generally enjoy Ken Russell's over the top films on the lives of composers but this one may be a little too over the top even for me. Russell has been quoted as saying The Music Lovers was "about a homosexual who fell in love with a nymphomania," and that's probably not far from the truth in this version of the life of Tchaikovsky.

With over the top visuals, lots of nudity although no gay stuff, (which I'm certain no audience could have handled in 1971) and lots of Tchaikovsky's music, it's certainly a very unusual experience watching it. The film could have almost been shot as a silent film with the composer's music as the soundtrack.

As always in a Ken Russell film the actors are encouraged to go for it.  Richard Chamberlain plays Tchaikovsky as a very tortured artist.  Glenda Jackson is his crazed wife.  Jackson is really a fearless performer in this film exposing her self in just about every conceivable manner physically and emotionally.

Usually Ken Russell for all his craziness stays reasonably close to the facts in the lives of the composers however this time he plays a little loosey-goosey with the life of Tchaikovsky even for him. Still the film is a visual treat.  Nobody knows how to combine music and image like Russell did when he was in his prime.

 

The screenplay was by Melvyn Bragg who had worked with Ken Russell before so he must have known what he was getting into.  The running time is 124 minutes