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Ken Russell

Ken Russell

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."

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Twiggy

Twiggy

2025

as (archival footage)

The Who: One Band's Explosive Story

The Who: One Band's Explosive Story

2022

as Self (archive footage)

Director of Devils

Director of Devils

2012

as Self

Ken Russell: A Bit of a Devil

Ken Russell: A Bit of a Devil

2012

as Self (archive footage)

The Devils Original on-set footage

The Devils Original on-set footage

2012

Mr. Nice

Mr. Nice

2010

as Russell Miegs

The Aristofrogs

The Aristofrogs

2010

Boudica Bites Back

Boudica Bites Back

2009

as Roman Senator

A Kitten for Hitler

A Kitten for Hitler

2007

as Santa

10 Best Elgar

10 Best Elgar

2007

as Self (archive footage)

The Real Blue Nuns

The Real Blue Nuns

2006

as Self

Trapped Ashes

Trapped Ashes

2006

as Dr. Lucy (segment "The Girl with Golden Breasts")

Brothers of the Head

Brothers of the Head

2006

as Himself

Colour Me Kubrick

Colour Me Kubrick

2005

as The Man In Nightgown

Agatha Christie's Marple

Agatha Christie's Marple

2004

as Rev Caleb Dane Calthrop

Revenge of the Elephant Man

Revenge of the Elephant Man

2004

Hell on Earth: The Desecration & Resurrection of The Devils

Hell on Earth: The Desecration & Resurrection of The Devils

2002

as Self

Elgar: Fantasy of a Composer on a Bicycle

Elgar: Fantasy of a Composer on a Bicycle

2002

as Narrator (voice)

The Fall of the Louse of Usher

The Fall of the Louse of Usher

2002

as Dr. Calahari

Waking the Dead

Waking the Dead

2001

as Gerry Raistrick

Celebrity Big Brother

Celebrity Big Brother

2001

as Self

The Real Oliver Reed

The Real Oliver Reed

2000

as Self

Lion's Mouth

Lion's Mouth

2000

as Ken

Ken Russell: In Search of the English Folk Song

Ken Russell: In Search of the English Folk Song

1997

as Himself

In Search of Dracula

In Search of Dracula

1996

as Self

Tales of Erotica

Tales of Erotica

1996

Empire of the Censors

Empire of the Censors

1995

as Self

Music for the Movies: Georges Delerue

Music for the Movies: Georges Delerue

1995

as Self

The Insatiable Mrs. Kirsch

The Insatiable Mrs. Kirsch

1995

as Mr. Kirsch

Frank Stubbs Promotes

Frank Stubbs Promotes

1993

as Self

Lady Chatterley

Lady Chatterley

1993

as Sir Michael Reid

The Secret Life of Arnold Bax

The Secret Life of Arnold Bax

1992

as Sir Arnold Bax

Whore

Whore

1991

as Waiter (uncredited)

The Russia House

The Russia House

1990

as Walter

Plunder

Plunder

1990

A British Picture

A British Picture

1989

The Lair of the White Worm

The Lair of the White Worm

1988

as Police Radio (voice) (uncredited)

Salome's Last Dance

Salome's Last Dance

1988

as Cappadocian

Ken Russell's ABC of British Music

Ken Russell's ABC of British Music

1988

as Himself

Your Honour, I Object! Guccione V Russell

Your Honour, I Object! Guccione V Russell

1987

Gothic

Gothic

1986

as Tourist

A Turnip Head’s Guide To The British Cinema

A Turnip Head’s Guide To The British Cinema

1986

as Self

Vaughan Williams: A Symphonic Portrait

Vaughan Williams: A Symphonic Portrait

1983

as Self

The Kids Are Alright

The Kids Are Alright

1979

The South Bank Show

The South Bank Show

1978

as Self

Valentino

Valentino

1977

as Rex Ingram (uncredited)

Tommy

Tommy

1975

as Cripple (uncredited)

Savage Messiah

Savage Messiah

1972

as Passenger getting off train in station (uncredited)

Song of Summer

Song of Summer

1968

as Priest

Don’t Shoot the Composer

Don’t Shoot the Composer

1966

as Himself

Isadora Duncan, the Biggest Dancer in the World

Isadora Duncan, the Biggest Dancer in the World

1966

as Captain Patterson

Russell at Work

Russell at Work

1966

Walk With The Damned

Walk With The Damned

1961

as Hood

PuzzleFace

PuzzleFace

as god