electricsheep

Ken Russell

Master of excess

Reviews:

  • The Devils: Flamboyant tale of desire, repression, religion and politics in 17th-century France, newly restored
  • Altered States: Russell's psychedelic drug movie made in America
  • Lisztomania: In defence of Ken Russell’s decried rock opera portrayal of the Hungarian composer
  • Savage Messiah: A portrait of the life and art of French sculptor Henri Gaudier-Brzeska
  • Gothic: Ken Russell's take on Byron and Shelley's famous ghost story writing competition
  • Women in Love: As chosen by The Tindersticks' David Boulter
  • Tommy: The rock opera of choice for Delia from The Schla La Las

Article:

Reel Sounds:

Alter Ego:

  • Nick Harkaway is Michael Caine’s Harry Palmer in Billion Dollar Brain

Comic Strip:

Radio:

  • Ken Russell: ‘All art is sex!’ – In a special programme to honour the late Ken Russell, Virginie Sélavy will be joined by Strange Attractor Press editor Mark Pilkington and Electric Sheep contributor Richard Bancroft to discuss the director’s achievements, including The Devils, Altered States, Lair of the White Worm, Lisztomania, Dance of the Seven Veils and Music Lovers. I’m Ready For My Close-Up, Resonance 104.4 FM, Friday 16 March, 5-5:30pm

Screening:

  • Wednesday 14 March, Horse Hospital, London: Electric Sheep and Strange Attractor present a rare outing of Ken Russell’s unjustly neglected horror romp The Lair of the White Worm + talk with Flipside programmers Vic Pratt and Will Fowler. The screening is part of Ken Russell Forever.

Podcasts:

  • Exploring The Lair of the White Worm: Recording of the panel discussion that followed the screening at The Horse Hospital on March 14, which touched on the legend of the Lambton Worm, titillation and absurdity in British cinema and Russell’s three-picture deal with Vestron Pictures in the 1980s.
  • Ken Russell: ‘All art is sex!’ – In a special programme to honour the late Ken Russell, Virginie Sélavy is joined by Strange Attractor Press editor Mark Pilkington and Electric Sheep's Richard Bancroft and Alex Fitch to discuss the director’s achievements, including The Devils, Altered States, Lair of the White Worm, Lisztomania, Dance of the Seven Veils and Music Lovers.

See all Themes & Directors covered in Electric Sheep Magazine

Theme image - March 2012

Illustration by Alex Fitch