Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly
The controversial British filmmaker ( Women in Love ; The Devils ) takes an extravagant stream-of-consciousness trip through his life, swinging between present and past so rapidly that readers may occasionally lose their footing. Russell, now 64, describes problems on his film sets, the frequent periods when he has seemed to be persona non grata in the movie business, and his two marriages; also provided are flashbacks to his childhood in a working-class neighborhood of Southhampton, his years at a nautical college and his start in filmmaking with the BBC. Some of his recollections, especially those of his outspoken Mum, are funny, and a few are poignant. This memoir, peppered with accounts of madcap experiences, biting comments about associates in the film world and hallucinatory scenes, has the same shock value as Russell's movies. Photos not seen by PW. (Dec.)
Altered States: The Autobiography of Ken Russell
by Ken A. RussellEditorial Reviews
Library Journal - Library Journal
British filmmaker Russell virtually defines the word ``iconoclast'' with a career in television and motion pictures studded with controversy, mainly over his interpretations of the lives of famous artists. Isadora Duncan, Tchaikovsky, Liszt, Mahler, and Delius have all received ``the Russell treatment,'' provoking howls of outrage from critics and lovers of their art. Russell has also been attracted to sources as diverse as D.H. Lawrence ( Women in Love , 1969), Sandy Wilson ( The Boy Friend , 1971), and Paddy Chayevsky ( Altered States , 1980). In this freewheeling self-portrait, Russell wanders through his life and career, offering few apologies or explanations. In spots his book can be as entertaining as his best work, but like many of his films it is ultimately less than satisfying. For large col* lections.-- Thomas Wiener, formerly with * ``American Film,'' Washington, D.C.
Product Details
- ISBN-13:
- 9780553078312
- Publisher:
- Random House Publishing Group
- Publication date:
- 10/01/1991
- Pages:
- 352
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