OBITUARIES

'Tommy' and 'Women in Love' Director Ken Russell Has Passed Away

by Ethan Anderton
November 28, 2011
Source: The Guardian

Though the product of his unique filmmaking eye hasn't been prominent on the big screen for many years, director Ken Russell has certainly left his mark on filmmaking with his groundbreaking adaptation D.H. Lawrence's novel Women in Love and his take on The Who's rock opera Tommy. However, we have sad news for our return from the long Thanksgiving break as The Guardian reports Russell has passed away at age 84. Russell is best known for the controversy his films stirred, especially following the male wrestling scene in Women in Love which featured full frontal male nudity, but that didn't stop Oscar nominations.

The film received nominations for Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography and resulted in an Oscar win for actress Glenda Jackson. Other films included such adult dramas as The Music Lovers, The Devils and Altered States. British TV personality Jonathan Ross honored Russell via Twitter calling him a "filmmaker of rare vision and unique talent [and] a lovely man to spend time with." His later years didn't see much exposure in the United States, and with his last widely publicized film being called Whore, it's not hard to see why, but his legacy in cinema will last forever. Rest in peace, sir.

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