Ken Russell's View Of The Planets

Ken Russell, Oscar winner and at the same time one of the most controversial British directors of the 70/80s follows Godfrey Reggio's 'Koyaanisqatsi' with THE PLANETS, including all Russell obsessions from nudity to crucifixion to Nazism. THE PLANETS was Russell's first film after 'Altered States' (1980) and shares some of that film's cosmic moments, especially in the Neptune section. While Reggio linked unique footage to a score by Philip Glass, Russell produced a radically inexpensive collage that matches stock footage with each chapter of Gustav Holst's The Planets op.32. With THE PLANETS, Russell again crosses boundaries of taste, and it is left to viewers to decide the seriousness or irony of what is shown.

Keywords

  • Sooner Exclusives
  • Art
  • classical
  • media

Actors

  • Eugene Ormandy
  • Melvyn Bragg
  • The Philadelphia Orchestra

Director

  • Ken Russell

Timeless


50min


6 FSK

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
1983
Nazis, nudity, Neptune: Ken Russell mixes Holst with stock footage and crosses every boundary of taste in his garish PLANETS collage.

Nazis, nudity, Neptune: Ken Russell mixes Holst with stock footage and crosses every boundary of taste in his garish PLANETS collage.


Ken Russell, Oscar winner and at the same time one of the most controversial British directors of the 70/80s follows Godfrey Reggio's 'Koyaanisqatsi' with THE PLANETS, including all Russell obsessions from nudity to crucifixion to Nazism.


THE PLANETS was Russell's first film after 'Altered States' (1980) and shares some of that film's cosmic moments, especially in the Neptune section. While Reggio linked unique footage to a score by Philip Glass, Russell produced a radically inexpensive collage that matches stock footage with each chapter of Gustav Holst's The Planets op.32.


With THE PLANETS, Russell again crosses boundaries of taste, and it is left to viewers to decide the seriousness or irony of what is shown.

Cast & Crew