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Ken Russell

Ken Russell

Directing·1927–2011·90 films

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.

As Director

Altered States
Altered States (1980)
The Devils
The Devils (1971)
Tommy
Tommy (1975)
The Lair of the White Worm
The Lair of the White Worm (1988)
Crimes of Passion
Crimes of Passion (1984)
Gothic
Gothic (1987)
Women in Love
Women in Love (1969)
Billion Dollar Brain
Billion Dollar Brain (1967)
Whore
Whore (1991)
The Music Lovers
The Music Lovers (1971)
Trapped Ashes
Trapped Ashes (2006)
Mahler
Mahler (1974)
Aria
Aria (1987)
Valentino
Valentino (1977)
The Boy Friend
The Boy Friend (1971)
Lisztomania
Lisztomania (1975)
The Rainbow
The Rainbow (1989)
Salome's Last Dance
Salome's Last Dance (1988)
Savage Messiah
Savage Messiah (1972)
Prisoner of Honor
Prisoner of Honor (1991)
Dante's Inferno
Dante's Inferno (1967)
French Dressing
French Dressing (1964)
Amelia and the Angel
Amelia and the Angel (1958)
The Debussy Film
The Debussy Film (1965)
Dogboys
Dogboys (1998)
Women and Men: Stories of Seduction
Women and Men: Stories of Seduction (1990)
Tales of Erotica
Tales of Erotica (1996)
The Fall of the Louse of Usher
The Fall of the Louse of Usher (2002)
Song of Summer
Song of Summer (1968)
Elgar
Elgar (1962)
A Kitten for Hitler
A Kitten for Hitler (2007)
Isadora Duncan, the Biggest Dancer in the World
Isadora Duncan, the Biggest Dancer in the World (1966)
A British Picture: Portrait of an Enfant Terrible
A British Picture: Portrait of an Enfant Terrible (1989)
The Insatiable Mrs. Kirsch
The Insatiable Mrs. Kirsch (1995)
A House in Bayswater
A House in Bayswater (1960)
The Planets
The Planets (1983)
Always on Sunday
Always on Sunday (1965)
Mindbender
Mindbender (1996)
London Moods
London Moods (1961)
Alice in Russialand
Alice in Russialand (1995)
In Search of the English Folk Song
In Search of the English Folk Song (1997)
Dance of the Seven Veils
Dance of the Seven Veils (1970)
Elgar: Fantasy of a Composer on a Bicycle
Elgar: Fantasy of a Composer on a Bicycle (2002)
Pop Goes the Easel
Pop Goes the Easel (1962)
The Secret Life of Arnold Bax
The Secret Life of Arnold Bax (1992)
Antonio Gaudí
Antonio Gaudí (1961)
Shelagh Delaney's Salford
Shelagh Delaney's Salford (1960)
Treasure Island
Treasure Island (1995)
Il Mefistofele
Il Mefistofele (1989)
Bela Bartók
Bela Bartók (1964)
The Light Fantastic
The Light Fantastic (1960)
Variations on a Mechanical Theme
Variations on a Mechanical Theme (1959)
Lotte Lenya Sings Kurt Weill
Lotte Lenya Sings Kurt Weill (1961)
Prokofiev
Prokofiev (1961)
The Diary of a Nobody
The Diary of a Nobody (1964)
Faust
Faust (1985)
The Preservation Man
The Preservation Man (1962)
Ken Russell's ABC of British Music
Ken Russell's ABC of British Music (1988)
Vaughan Williams: A Symphonic Portrait
Vaughan Williams: A Symphonic Portrait (1984)
From Spain to Streatham
From Spain to Streatham (1959)
The Lonely Shore
The Lonely Shore (1962)
Pandora's Box: It's All Coming Back to Me Now
Pandora's Box: It's All Coming Back to Me Now (1989)
John Betjeman: A Poet in London
John Betjeman: A Poet in London (1959)
Scottish Painters
Scottish Painters (1959)
Portrait of a Goon
Portrait of a Goon (1959)
Gordon Jacob
Gordon Jacob (1959)
A Bedlington Miners' Picnic
A Bedlington Miners' Picnic (1960)
Mr Chesher’s Traction Engines
Mr Chesher’s Traction Engines (1962)

As Actor

Tommy
Tommy (1975)Cripple (uncredited)
The Russia House
The Russia House (1990)Walter
The Lair of the White Worm
The Lair of the White Worm (1988)Police Radio (voice) (uncredited)
Gothic
Gothic (1987)Tourist
Mr. Nice
Mr. Nice (2010)Russell Miegs
Whore
Whore (1991)Waiter (uncredited)
Colour Me Kubrick
Colour Me Kubrick (2005)The Man In Nightgown
Trapped Ashes
Trapped Ashes (2006)Dr. Lucy (segment "The Girl with Golden Breasts")
Valentino
Valentino (1977)Rex Ingram (uncredited)
The Who: The Kids Are Alright
The Who: The Kids Are Alright (1979)Self
Salome's Last Dance
Salome's Last Dance (1988)Cappadocian
Savage Messiah
Savage Messiah (1972)Passenger getting off train in station (uncredited)
Brothers of the Head
Brothers of the Head (2006)Himself
Hell on Earth: The Desecration & Resurrection of The Devils
Hell on Earth: The Desecration & Resurrection of The Devils (2002)Self
Tales of Erotica
Tales of Erotica (1996)Mr. Kirsch (segment 'The Insatiable Mrs. Kirsch') (uncredited)
The Fall of the Louse of Usher
The Fall of the Louse of Usher (2002)Dr. Calahari
Song of Summer
Song of Summer (1968)Priest
A Kitten for Hitler
A Kitten for Hitler (2007)Santa
Isadora Duncan, the Biggest Dancer in the World
Isadora Duncan, the Biggest Dancer in the World (1966)Captain Patterson
A British Picture: Portrait of an Enfant Terrible
A British Picture: Portrait of an Enfant Terrible (1989)
The Insatiable Mrs. Kirsch
The Insatiable Mrs. Kirsch (1995)Mr. Kirsch
The Real Blue Nuns
The Real Blue Nuns (2006)Self
Twiggy
Twiggy (2025)(archival footage)
Alice in Russialand
Alice in Russialand (1995)
In Search of the English Folk Song
In Search of the English Folk Song (1997)Self
Elgar: Fantasy of a Composer on a Bicycle
Elgar: Fantasy of a Composer on a Bicycle (2002)Narrator (voice)
The Secret Life of Arnold Bax
The Secret Life of Arnold Bax (1992)Sir Arnold Bax
100 Greatest Sexy Moments
100 Greatest Sexy Moments (2003)Self
Celebrity Naked Ambition
Celebrity Naked Ambition (2003)Self - Contributor
Ken Russell: A Bit of a Devil
Ken Russell: A Bit of a Devil (2012)Self (archive footage)
The Who: One Band's Explosive Story
The Who: One Band's Explosive Story (2022)Self (archive footage)
Ken Russell's ABC of British Music
Ken Russell's ABC of British Music (1988)Himself
Music for the Movies: Georges Delerue
Music for the Movies: Georges Delerue (1995)Self
Vaughan Williams: A Symphonic Portrait
Vaughan Williams: A Symphonic Portrait (1984)Self
Vem Var Dracula
Vem Var Dracula (1996)Self
The Aristofrogs
The Aristofrogs (2010)
A Turnip Head's Guide To The British Cinema
A Turnip Head's Guide To The British Cinema (1986)Self
The Real Oliver Reed
The Real Oliver Reed (2000)Self
Director of Devils
Director of Devils (2012)Self
10 Best Elgar
10 Best Elgar (2007)Self (archive footage)
Walk With The Damned
Walk With The Damned (1961)Hood
PuzzleFace
PuzzleFacegod
Your Honour, I Object! Guccione V Russell
Your Honour, I Object! Guccione V Russell (1987)

As Writer