Ken Russell 1927- 2011

One of cinemas most controversial directors has now passed on. Part of a gang of directors that influenced me greatly in my youth (others are Nicholas Roeg, and Herzog) his death for me symbolizes the slow end to the people whose films thrill me 10, 20, 30 even 40 years after they were made. We just rarely see the types of films where the film makers personal obsessions and tastes are not crushed b the system that makes films now. Someone like Russell, with his catholic sex fetishes just wouldn’t make it in today’s world.

This is not to say I love everything the man did. I am not a fan of “Gothic”, “Tommy” (I know, sue me) or even “Lair of the White Worm”. I do watch “Salome’s Last Dance” at least once a year and “The Devils”, “The rainbow” and “Crimes of Passion” have a special place in my DVD collection. I am still angry that his film “Whore” couldn’t even put it’s title on the cover of the box.