Review of The Music Lovers (1971) by Robben M — 09 Sep 2008
The great Ken Russell serves up another biopic of one of the great composers, this time, it's about Tchaikovsky (played by Richard Chamberlain), who once had a homosexual relationship with Count Anton Chiluvsky (Christopher Gable), but ended up marrying Antonina Milyukova (Glenda Jackson), the marriage becomes the cause of a creative block for Tchaikovsky, and it drives him and his wife to madness.
Described by our Ken as "The story of the marriage between a homosexual and a nymphomaniac", he delivers style, visual beauty and good performances in an abundance. With a good script by Melvyn Bragg, (yes, that one), and beautiful cinematography by the great Douglas Slocombe.
It's got imagery typical of Russell, (such as Jackson getting felt up by asylum inmates through a grate), but it brings out the best in Tchaikovsky's music.
This review of The Music Lovers (1971) was written by Robben M on 09 Sep 2008.
The Music Lovers has generally received positive reviews.
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