Phallic Frenzy: Ken Russell and His Films (Cappella Books)
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It seems inevitable that any conversation about Ken Russell is going to involve penises, and Phallic Frenzy: Ken Russell and his Films by Joseph Lanza gets to the point, as it were, from the outset. Russell's film life has been a bacchanal in which burlesque is used to shape serious cinematic ideas. To enjoy him is to surrender to a voluptuary and not worry about the end-of-the-pier acting, so it's no wonder that critic Pauline Kael thought the man was mad. Had Russell been Italian he would be as revered as Fellini. Instead, it's still impossible to see many of his films. At least we have the next best thing in an enjoyable biography of a frustrating visionary who could create haunting scenes of passion and decay, but could do nothing to help a bad actor. By Christopher Fowler, Independent on Sunday, 16th December 2007. --Christopher Fowler, Independent on Sunday, 16th December 2007.
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This is a biography of director Ken Russell that details the wild ideas, surreal moments, personal faith, and cavalcade of colourful personalities surrounding this eccentric filmmaker - on and off the set. Best known for the acclaimed movies "Altered States", "The Devils", "Gothic", "The Music Lovers", "Tommy", and "Women in Love", Russell redefined cinema in the 1960s, 70s and 80s, working with magnetic actors like Jack Nicholson, Michael Caine, Ann-Margret, William Hurt, Gabriel Byrne, and Vanessa Redgrave. Moments of Russell's career are highlighted in this intimate biography, including how creative differences between Russell and producer Robert Stigwood stopped production of a movie version of "Evita", how he creatively staged the love duet between Faust and Helen over a bowl of pasta in the opera "Mephistopheles", and how Alan Bates and Oliver Reed compared their penis size for the nude wrestling scene in "Women in Love".
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
Format:Hardcover
Everything you've ever wanted to know about the lover of kitsch and vaudeville imagery but were unable to ask. It functions as a biography of his early years which helps shed light on the reasons for some of his adulthood fixations. Later, it dissects and gives some juicy behind the scenes info on all his films. Film fans will find this latter part of most interest. I had to selectively skip some paragraphs because I've not had the pleasure of viewing certain films yet. Take note: SPOILERS APLENTY IN THIS BOOK.
The biography part charts Ken's (slow) rise from his days quietly challenging the uptight BBC TV system, through his enfant terrible days, and finally to his New Forest films. The book is arranged mostly chronologically which helps understand the progression and reasons for his changing beliefs, and how he integrated them into his filmic works. Whether you find him offensive or seductive is unimportant, you can't deny his auteur status.
Author Lanza rightly identifies that one of Russell's "...strongest metaphors is nature, both its majestic and hidden sides." Watch any of his films and you'll come to the same conclusion. That affinity for nature defines Russell just as much as the religious / sexual imagery that he flaunts. Together, they form something both glorious and vulgar. Like the man himself.
The biography part charts Ken's (slow) rise from his days quietly challenging the uptight BBC TV system, through his enfant terrible days, and finally to his New Forest films. The book is arranged mostly chronologically which helps understand the progression and reasons for his changing beliefs, and how he integrated them into his filmic works. Whether you find him offensive or seductive is unimportant, you can't deny his auteur status.
Author Lanza rightly identifies that one of Russell's "...strongest metaphors is nature, both its majestic and hidden sides." Watch any of his films and you'll come to the same conclusion. That affinity for nature defines Russell just as much as the religious / sexual imagery that he flaunts. Together, they form something both glorious and vulgar. Like the man himself.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
2 reviews
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Best book yet on this Film Maker
18 Oct 2007
Format:Hardcover
"Phallic Frenzy is the book that was screaming to be written. Lanza does with words what Russell does with imagery. Not an easy task. All with the same tongue-in-cheek, wink-of-an-eye humor."
-- Leonard Pollack, Ken Russell's former stills photographer and costume designer
-- Leonard Pollack, Ken Russell's former stills photographer and costume designer
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Along with A British Picture/Altered States this is the DEFINITIVE Work!
30 Sep 2011
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
A MUST READ FOR KEN RUSSELL FANS!!! This is the ONE. I would recommend this over many of the earlier biographies and if you want information on Ken's recent days this is full of em!
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