Review of Lisztomania (1975) by Stuart K — 17 Jan 2012

A prime example of a film so bad, it's brilliant. Ken Russell does another film of a classical composer, but giving it the same bonkers, modern attitude he'd used in Tommy (1975), which had become one of his biggest financial successes, if The Music Lovers (1970) and Mahler (1974) were for the connoisseurs, then this was made for the lowest common denominator, and proud of it!! Franz Liszt (Roger Daltrey) is a Hungarian/Cockney composer, the rock star of the classical world, the film focuses on a supposed rivalry between him and Vampire Nazi Richard Wagner (Paul Nicholas) who marries Franzie's daughter Cosima (Veronica Quilligan), how he tried to win the affections of Princess Carolyn of Russia (Sara Kestelman) and tries to marry her too, and even encounters The Pope, (Ringo Starr).

That's it as far as plot is concerned, and it's probabily the most bonkers film ever made, it's also the biggest load of incoherent twaddle ever made, BUT I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT!! :D It's visually beautiful, but it shows Russell at his very best with the mad imagery and over the top performances, including a 19th Century swordfighting duel done to a Texas hoedown, a Chaplin influenced flashback, an example of Liszt's 'Genius' and a grand piano that shoots flames, a Frankenstein Nazi, a church organ space ship and lots of sex & nudity.

But, it has some moments in it which beggar belief. Plus, it has a score by Rick Wakeman of Yes, and this is what we've come to love from Ken Russell.