Bob Draper ([log in to unmask]) wrote:

>Russell could have carried on making big return films like "Tommy" all his
>life.  I reckon, therefore, that we should be grateful for his contribution
>to the promotion of classical music even if we do not always like his
>output.

I think I may have missed a message here, but I can recall Russell tv
documentaries in the '60s on Debussy (played, almost incredibly, IIRC,
by Oliver Reed), Prokofiev and of course the classic Elgar and A Song
of Summer on Delius.

The latter, BTW, broadcast in 1970 I think, was the first time the BBC
had allowed actors to speak in a biographical documentary.  Although actors
had portrayed Debussy and I think Prokofiev, and voiceovers were used for
letters etc, ASOS was the first time that dramatic methods were used.

For anyone who's never seen this BTW, it represents the BBC at its finest:
the actors absolutely look the part (compare Max Adrian with photos of
Delius late in life, or Christopher Gable - a principal with the Royal
Ballet who had never acted before - with the young Fenby) the script is
totally sensitive and the whole is both educational and moving.  What more
could one ask of television?

This was Russell's last tv production for some time, the moved into cinema
beginning with either The Boyfriend (Twiggy and Gable again) or The Devils
and then goin on from there.

I'm pretty sure I saw part of a tv bio on Martinu when I was in England
in 1992, so he doesn't work exclusively in the cinema any more.

Deryk Barker
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