Ken Russell: The Great Composers: Elgar; The Debussy Film; Song of Summer

Synopsis

This collection brings together three of Ken Russell’s films which were made at the BBC during the sixties, for award-winning arts documentary series Monitor and Omnibus.

The first of the three films, ELGAR (1962), portrays in vigorous style the life of the English composer Sir Edward Elgar, with Huw Wheldon narrating his life story over beautiful mountain scenery.

The DEBUSSY FILM (1965), Russell’s penultimate film for Monitor, was an ambitious work about the composer’s life, written by Melvyn Bragg and starring Oliver Reed as Claude Debussy.

DELIUS: SONG OF SUMMER (1968) is generally regarded (not least by its director) as Russell’s best television film; with many critics citing it as his finest work in any medium. The story traces the life of Eric Fenby and is based on his memoirs of being amanuensis to the blind and paralysed composer Frederick Delius.

Extras include: LAND OF HOPE AND GLORY (1931, 3 mins) footage of Sir Edward Elgar conducting the LSO at the opening of the new HMV (now Abbey Road) studios; ELGAR AND THE THREE CHOIRS FESTIVAL (Harlod Brooke, 1929-1932): amateur footage of Elgar at home and at the Three Choirs Festival;
MICHAEL BRADSELL INTERVIEW (2015, 10 mins). The film editor talks about working with Ken Russell; Ken Russell and Michael Kennedy audio commentary for ELGAR (2002); Newly commissioned commentary by Kevin M. Flanagan for The DEBUSSY FILM; Ken Russell audio commentary for Song of Summer (2002);
Illustrated booklet with new essays by Kevin M Flanagan, John Hill, John C Tibbetts, Paul Sutton and Michael Brooke, and full film credits.

Language

English

Country

Great Britain

Year of release

2016

Year of production

1962; 1965; 1968

Subjects

Music; Television studies

Keywords

Delius, Frederick; documentary films; music - classical; Elgar, Edward; Debussy, Claude

Credits

Director

Ken Russell

Writer

Ken Russell; Melvyn Bragg

Distribution Formats

Type

DVD

Format

Region 2 PAL, Blu-Ray DVD

Price

£29.99

Availability

Sale

Duration/Size

56 minutes + 82 minutes + 73 minutes

Year

2016

Production Company

Name

BBC

Notes

The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Distributor

Name

BFI Video

Email

video.films@bfi.org.uk

Web

http://www.bfi.org.uk External site opens in new window

Phone

020 7957 8957

Fax

020 7957 8968

Address

21 Stephen Street
London
W1T 1LN