Ken Russell

Ken Russell

Personal Info

  • Name:

    Ken Russell

  • Birthday:

    1927-07-03

  • Place of Birth: Southampton, Hampshire, England, UK
  • Gender:

    Male

  • Know For:

    Directing

  • Popularity: 0.7974
  • Also Known As

    Alfred Russell

    Alf Russell

Ken Russell

Biography

Henry Kenneth Alfred "Ken" Russell (3 July 1927 – 27 November 2011) was an English film director. He is known for his pioneering work in television and film, and for his controversial style. He has been criticized as being over-obsessed with sexuality and the church. His subject matter is often about famous composers, or based on other works of art which he adapts loosely. Russell began directing for the BBC, where he did creative adaptations of composers' lives which were unusual for the time. He also directed many feature films independently and for studios.

He is best known for his Oscar-winning romantic drama Women in Love (1969), the notoriously controversial The Devils (1971), the rock musical Tommy (1975), and the science fiction film Altered States (1980).

One noted admirer, British film critic Mark Kermode, attempting to sum up the director's achievement, called Russell; "somebody who proved that British cinema didn't have to be about kitchen-sink realism – it could be every bit as flamboyant as Fellini. He now makes very strange experimental films like Lion's Mouth and Revenge of the Elephant Man, and they are as edgy and out there as the work he made in the 1970s."

Top Movie Cast

Whore
Whoretrue- Waiter (uncredited)

1991-06-21

5.2
Vaughan Williams: A Symphonic Portrait
Vaughan Williams: A Symphonic Portraittrue- Self

1983-01-01

6.0
Gothic
Gothictrue- Tourist

1987-02-27

5.6
The Real Blue Nuns
The Real Blue Nunstrue- Self

2006-10-16

4.5
Tommy
Tommytrue- Cripple (uncredited)

1975-03-19

6.5
Trapped Ashes
Trapped Ashestrue- Dr. Lucy (segment "The Girl with Golden Breasts")

2006-09-12

5.0
Valentino
Valentinotrue- Rex Ingram (uncredited)

1977-09-07

5.7
Isadora Duncan, the Biggest Dancer in the World
Isadora Duncan, the Biggest Dancer in the Worldtrue- Captain Patterson

1966-01-02

4.9
Salome's Last Dance
Salome's Last Dancetrue- Cappadocian

1988-05-06

6.1
The Real Oliver Reed
The Real Oliver Reedtrue- Self

2000-01-13

0.0
The Fall of the Louse of Usher
The Fall of the Louse of Ushertrue- Dr. Calahari

2002-02-02

4.1
A Kitten for Hitler
A Kitten for Hitlertrue- Santa

2007-06-01

4.7
Hell on Earth: The Desecration & Resurrection of The Devils
Hell on Earth: The Desecration & Resurrection of The Devilstrue- Self

2002-11-24

6.4
Music for the Movies: Georges Delerue
Music for the Movies: Georges Deleruetrue- Self

1995-04-04

0.0
Savage Messiah
Savage Messiahtrue- Passenger getting off train in station (uncredited)

1972-06-27

6.1
The Insatiable Mrs. Kirsch
The Insatiable Mrs. Kirschtrue- Mr. Kirsch

1995-01-01

3.8
Mr. Nice
Mr. Nicetrue- Russell Miegs

2010-10-07

6.1
The Who: One Band's Explosive Story
The Who: One Band's Explosive Storytrue- Self (archive footage)

2022-08-26

8.0
Vem Var Dracula
Vem Var Draculatrue- Self

1996-10-02

0.0
Your Honour, I Object! Guccione V Russell
Your Honour, I Object! Guccione V Russelltrue

1987-11-27

0.0
Don’t Shoot the Composer
Don’t Shoot the Composertrue- Himself

1966-01-09

0.0
Brothers of the Head
Brothers of the Headtrue- Himself

2006-07-28

5.4
Ken Russell's ABC of British Music
Ken Russell's ABC of British Musictrue- Himself

1988-02-04

10.0
Director of Devils
Director of Devilstrue- Self

2012-03-19

0.0
A Turnip Head's Guide To The British Cinema
A Turnip Head's Guide To The British Cinematrue- Self

1986-01-01

0.0
10 Best Elgar
10 Best Elgartrue- Self (archive footage)

2007-04-27

0.0
The Russia House
The Russia Housetrue- Walter

1990-12-21

6.1
Ken Russell: A Bit of a Devil
Ken Russell: A Bit of a Deviltrue- Self (archive footage)

2012-01-14

8.0
Song of Summer
Song of Summertrue- Priest

1968-09-15

6.2
Colour Me Kubrick
Colour Me Kubricktrue- The Man In Nightgown

2005-10-06

5.7
The Lair of the White Worm
The Lair of the White Wormtrue- Police Radio (voice) (uncredited)

1988-09-21

5.9
Walk With The Damned
Walk With The Damnedtrue- Hood

1961-06-02

0.0
The Secret Life of Arnold Bax
The Secret Life of Arnold Baxtrue- Sir Arnold Bax

1992-11-22

6.0
The Aristofrogs
The Aristofrogstrue

2010-08-19

0.0
A British Picture: Portrait of an Enfant Terrible
A British Picture: Portrait of an Enfant Terribletrue

1989-03-20

5.8
PuzzleFace
PuzzleFacetrue- god

Release Date

0.0
Ken Russell: In Search of the English Folk Song
Ken Russell: In Search of the English Folk Songtrue- Himself

1997-11-14

6.5
The Who: The Kids Are Alright
The Who: The Kids Are Alrighttrue- Self

1979-06-15

7.3
Twiggy
Twiggytrue- (archival footage)

2025-03-07

7.9
Elgar: Fantasy of a Composer on a Bicycle
Elgar: Fantasy of a Composer on a Bicycletrue- Narrator (voice)

2002-09-22

7.5
Alice in Russialand
Alice in Russialandtrue

1995-01-01

0.0
100 Greatest Sexy Moments
100 Greatest Sexy Momentstrue- Self

2003-11-29

3.5
Tales of Erotica
Tales of Eroticatrue- Mr. Kirsch (segment 'The Insatiable Mrs. Kirsch') (uncredited)

1996-01-01

3.4
Celebrity Naked Ambition
Celebrity Naked Ambitiontrue- Self - Contributor

2003-07-19

0.0

Top Movie Crew

French Dressing
French Dressingtrue

Directing

1964-04-10

5.3
Billion Dollar Brain
Billion Dollar Braintrue

Directing

1967-11-16

5.6
Tommy
Tommytrue

Directing

1975-03-19

6.5
Tommy
Tommytrue

Writing

1975-03-19

6.5
Tommy
Tommytrue

Production

1975-03-19

6.5
The Lair of the White Worm
The Lair of the White Wormtrue

Directing

1988-09-21

5.9
The Lair of the White Worm
The Lair of the White Wormtrue

Writing

1988-09-21

5.9
The Lair of the White Worm
The Lair of the White Wormtrue

Production

1988-09-21

5.9
Whore
Whoretrue

Directing

1991-06-21

5.2
Ken Russell: In Search of the English Folk Song
Ken Russell: In Search of the English Folk Songtrue

Directing

1997-11-14

6.5
Altered States
Altered Statestrue

Directing

1980-12-25

6.7
The Devils
The Devilstrue

Directing

1971-07-16

7.5
The Devils
The Devilstrue

Writing

1971-07-16

7.5
The Boy Friend
The Boy Friendtrue

Directing

1971-12-16

6.5
The Boy Friend
The Boy Friendtrue

Writing

1971-12-16

6.5
Gothic
Gothictrue

Directing

1987-02-27

5.6
Crimes of Passion
Crimes of Passiontrue

Directing

1984-10-19

6.3
The Rainbow
The Rainbowtrue

Writing

1989-05-05

5.5
The Rainbow
The Rainbowtrue

Directing

1989-05-05

5.5
Trapped Ashes
Trapped Ashestrue

Directing

2006-09-12

5.0
Valentino
Valentinotrue

Directing

1977-09-07

5.7
The Boy Friend
The Boy Friendtrue

Production

1971-12-16

6.5
Women in Love
Women in Lovetrue

Directing

1969-09-13

6.6
Lisztomania
Lisztomaniatrue

Directing

1975-10-10

5.9
Lisztomania
Lisztomaniatrue

Writing

1975-10-10

5.9
Salome's Last Dance
Salome's Last Dancetrue

Directing

1988-05-06

6.1
Salome's Last Dance
Salome's Last Dancetrue

Writing

1988-05-06

6.1
The Music Lovers
The Music Loverstrue

Directing

1971-02-12

6.5
Mahler
Mahlertrue

Directing

1974-04-04

6.7
Mahler
Mahlertrue

Writing

1974-04-04

6.7
Whore
Whoretrue

Writing

1991-06-21

5.2
Whore
Whoretrue

Camera

1991-06-21

5.2
Savage Messiah
Savage Messiahtrue

Directing

1972-06-27

6.1
The Fall of the Louse of Usher
The Fall of the Louse of Ushertrue

Directing

2002-02-02

4.1
Dante's Inferno
Dante's Infernotrue

Directing

1967-12-22

6.9
Song of Summer
Song of Summertrue

Directing

1968-09-15

6.2
Dogboys
Dogboystrue

Production

1998-04-04

5.5
Dogboys
Dogboystrue

Directing

1998-04-04

5.5
A Kitten for Hitler
A Kitten for Hitlertrue

Directing

2007-06-01

4.7
A Kitten for Hitler
A Kitten for Hitlertrue

Writing

2007-06-01

4.7
The Secret Life of Arnold Bax
The Secret Life of Arnold Baxtrue

Writing

1992-11-22

6.0
Dance of the Seven Veils
Dance of the Seven Veilstrue

Directing

1970-02-15

8.0
Amelia and the Angel
Amelia and the Angeltrue

Directing

1958-05-12

6.4
Elgar
Elgartrue

Directing

1962-11-11

7.0
Tales of Erotica
Tales of Eroticatrue

Directing

1996-01-01

3.4
Mindbender
Mindbendertrue

Directing

1996-10-02

3.5
Mindbender
Mindbendertrue

Writing

1996-10-02

3.5
Prisoner of Honor
Prisoner of Honortrue

Directing

1991-11-02

6.2
The Insatiable Mrs. Kirsch
The Insatiable Mrs. Kirschtrue

Directing

1995-01-01

3.8
The Insatiable Mrs. Kirsch
The Insatiable Mrs. Kirschtrue

Writing

1995-01-01

3.8
Savage Messiah
Savage Messiahtrue

Production

1972-06-27

6.1
The Diary of a Nobody
The Diary of a Nobodytrue

Directing

1964-12-12

6.0
The Diary of a Nobody
The Diary of a Nobodytrue

Writing

1964-12-12

6.0
Ken Russell: In Search of the English Folk Song
Ken Russell: In Search of the English Folk Songtrue

Writing

1997-11-14

6.5
A House in Bayswater
A House in Bayswatertrue

Directing

1960-08-26

6.0
Pop Goes the Easel
Pop Goes the Easeltrue

Directing

1962-03-25

5.5
The Devils
The Devilstrue

Production

1971-07-16

7.5
The Fall of the Louse of Usher
The Fall of the Louse of Ushertrue

Production

2002-02-02

4.1
The Fall of the Louse of Usher
The Fall of the Louse of Ushertrue

Crew

2002-02-02

4.1
The Fall of the Louse of Usher
The Fall of the Louse of Ushertrue

Editing

2002-02-02

4.1
The Fall of the Louse of Usher
The Fall of the Louse of Ushertrue

Writing

2002-02-02

4.1
The Light Fantastic
The Light Fantastictrue

Directing

1960-12-18

3.0
Vaughan Williams: A Symphonic Portrait
Vaughan Williams: A Symphonic Portraittrue

Directing

1983-01-01

6.0
Vaughan Williams: A Symphonic Portrait
Vaughan Williams: A Symphonic Portraittrue

Production

1983-01-01

6.0
Vaughan Williams: A Symphonic Portrait
Vaughan Williams: A Symphonic Portraittrue

Writing

1983-01-01

6.0
London Moods
London Moodstrue

Directing

1961-11-05

6.0
From Spain to Streatham
From Spain to Streathamtrue

Directing

1959-06-07

6.0
The Preservation Man
The Preservation Mantrue

Directing

1962-05-20

0.0
The Lonely Shore
The Lonely Shoretrue

Directing

1962-01-14

0.0
Bela Bartók
Bela Bartóktrue

Directing

1964-05-24

6.0
Bela Bartók
Bela Bartóktrue

Writing

1964-05-24

6.0
The Debussy Film
The Debussy Filmtrue

Directing

1965-05-18

7.6
The Debussy Film
The Debussy Filmtrue

Writing

1965-05-18

7.6
Kitsune
Kitsunetrue

Crew

2016-10-29

5.0
Isadora Duncan, the Biggest Dancer in the World
Isadora Duncan, the Biggest Dancer in the Worldtrue

Directing

1966-01-02

4.9
Always on Sunday
Always on Sundaytrue

Directing

1965-06-28

6.0
Antonio Gaudí
Antonio Gaudítrue

Directing

1961-03-12

6.5
Shelagh Delaney's Salford
Shelagh Delaney's Salfordtrue

Directing

1960-09-25

5.5
Gordon Jacob
Gordon Jacobtrue

Directing

1959-03-29

0.0
Don’t Shoot the Composer
Don’t Shoot the Composertrue

Directing

1966-01-09

0.0
Don’t Shoot the Composer
Don’t Shoot the Composertrue

Production

1966-01-09

0.0
Scottish Painters
Scottish Painterstrue

Directing

1959-10-25

0.0
Variations on a Mechanical Theme
Variations on a Mechanical Themetrue

Directing

1959-04-21

6.0
Lotte Lenya Sings Kurt Weill
Lotte Lenya Sings Kurt Weilltrue

Directing

1961-04-21

4.0
Mr Chesher’s Traction Engines
Mr Chesher’s Traction Enginestrue

Directing

1962-07-01

0.0
Faust
Fausttrue

Directing

1985-06-01

6.0
Isadora Duncan, the Biggest Dancer in the World
Isadora Duncan, the Biggest Dancer in the Worldtrue

Writing

1966-01-02

4.9
Alice in Russialand
Alice in Russialandtrue

Directing

1995-01-01

0.0
The Planets
The Planetstrue

Directing

1983-01-30

7.2
A British Picture: Portrait of an Enfant Terrible
A British Picture: Portrait of an Enfant Terribletrue

Directing

1989-03-20

5.8
Ken Russell's ABC of British Music
Ken Russell's ABC of British Musictrue

Writing

1988-02-04

10.0
Ken Russell's ABC of British Music
Ken Russell's ABC of British Musictrue

Directing

1988-02-04

10.0
Prokofiev
Prokofievtrue

Directing

1961-03-13

6.0
Song of Summer
Song of Summertrue

Writing

1968-09-15

6.2
Valentino
Valentinotrue

Writing

1977-09-07

5.7
Always on Sunday
Always on Sundaytrue

Writing

1965-06-28

6.0
Always on Sunday
Always on Sundaytrue

Production

1965-06-28

6.0
Treasure Island
Treasure Islandtrue

Directing

1995-09-27

5.5
Pandora's Box: It's All Coming Back to Me Now
Pandora's Box: It's All Coming Back to Me Nowtrue

Directing

1989-07-01

0.0
Aria
Ariatrue

Directing

1987-05-27

5.3
Aria
Ariatrue

Writing

1987-05-27

5.3
The Secret Life of Arnold Bax
The Secret Life of Arnold Baxtrue

Directing

1992-11-22

6.0
Elgar: Fantasy of a Composer on a Bicycle
Elgar: Fantasy of a Composer on a Bicycletrue

Directing

2002-09-22

7.5
Il Mefistofele
Il Mefistofeletrue

Directing

1989-01-01

5.0
The Music Lovers
The Music Loverstrue

Production

1971-02-12

6.5
A British Picture: Portrait of an Enfant Terrible
A British Picture: Portrait of an Enfant Terribletrue

Writing

1989-03-20

5.8
Treasure Island
Treasure Islandtrue

Writing

1995-09-27

5.5
John Betjeman: A Poet in London
John Betjeman: A Poet in Londontrue

Directing

1959-03-01

0.0
Amelia and the Angel
Amelia and the Angeltrue

Writing

1958-05-12

6.4
Amelia and the Angel
Amelia and the Angeltrue

Crew

1958-05-12

6.4
Amelia and the Angel
Amelia and the Angeltrue

Writing

1958-05-12

6.4
The Rainbow
The Rainbowtrue

Production

1989-05-05

5.5
A Bedlington Miners' Picnic
A Bedlington Miners' Picnictrue

Directing

1960-07-03

0.0
Portrait of a Goon
Portrait of a Goontrue

Directing

1959-08-28

0.0
Women and Men: Stories of Seduction
Women and Men: Stories of Seductiontrue

Directing

1990-04-02

4.1
Lourdes
Lourdestrue

Directing

1958-01-01

0.0
Dance of the Seven Veils
Dance of the Seven Veilstrue

Writing

1970-02-15

8.0
A House in Bayswater
A House in Bayswatertrue

Writing

1960-08-26

6.0
Elgar: Fantasy of a Composer on a Bicycle
Elgar: Fantasy of a Composer on a Bicycletrue

Production

2002-09-22

7.5
Elgar: Fantasy of a Composer on a Bicycle
Elgar: Fantasy of a Composer on a Bicycletrue

Writing

2002-09-22

7.5
Elgar
Elgartrue

Writing

1962-11-11

7.0
The Fall of the Louse of Usher
The Fall of the Louse of Ushertrue

Camera

2002-02-02

4.1
Tales of Erotica
Tales of Eroticatrue

Writing

1996-01-01

3.4

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