Looking Back: 'The Music Lovers'

'the music lovers' has always been a favorite of mine. finally here is someone, director bernard rose,  who agrees with me. we both think it is glorious and moving. it was ken russell's follow up to 'women in love' and he again used the wonderful, well brilliant, glenda jackson to play the nympho wife to richard chamberlain's so gay but terrifically acted tchaikovsky. it was killed by the critics at large. frack them. it is currently available on netflix streaming but never got an official dvd release. it deserves a blu ray release.

Finally Someone Who Agrees with Me about 'The Music Lovers'

 i actually love most of the madness of director ken russell. this is madness personified in visual lushness. this film should have made richard chamberlain a 'star'. glenda jackson is brilliantly courageous. it is not for the weak of heart, mind or spirit.

Ken Russell's 'The Music Lovers'

1970's The Music Lovers' is a bizarre yet intriguing film by Ken Russell. It should have made Richard Chamberlain a film star. sadly it did not. Perhaps the then closeted actor played it just 'too gay' for hollywood's comfort. glenda jackson (two time oscar winner) as always gave a brilliant performance as his nymphomaniac wife nina. it's all too much fun really and any russell fan would admit though not his best it's his second best. 

it's never been released on dvd but for those of you with netflix and have the ability to watch their streaming films it's currently available. between the music of Tchaikovsky and dazzling visuals it's pure entertainment. if you are puritanical move on it's not for you.

some highlights:

In Ken Russell's own words: "It's the story of the marriage between a homosexual and a nymphomaniac."