Release Date

04 Feb, 1988

Runtime

01:14: (HH:MM)

Synopsis

A feat that fully matches its title, an alphabetical trawl through both the history of British music and Russell's own likes and dislikes, the latter summed up by a scene in which he takes a phone call and listens for a bit before concluding that 'it's either an obscene call or the beginning of Michael Tippett's Fourth Symphony.' Gleefully exploiting an already contrived format, Russell uses alphabetical coincidence as an excuse to throw wildly disparate material together: Elgar is fused with Elton John, Holst with Heavy Metal and Punk with Purcell.

Original Title

Ken Russell's ABC of British Music

Photos

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Actors

Ken Russell

Benjamin Britten

John Lennon

Thomas Dolby

Edward Elgar

Elton John

Kate Bush

Janet Baker

Noël Coward

Vernon Handley

Crew

Ken Russell

Melvyn Bragg

Ken Russell