Mahler
Synopsis
Director Ken Russell made a number of biographical films of composers' lives including The Music Lovers, (about Tchaikovsky) and Lisztomania. Russell embellished the other films with certain characteristic flourishes, which include a focus on the composers' sexual obsessions, poetically telling anachronisms, and scenes which show Richard Wagner in a bad light. The story of Mahler is recounted in a much less complex and flamboyant manner and is a relatively reverent study of the life and work of Austrian composer Gustav Mahler, here played by Robert Powell. The film tackles the touchy dilemma of Mahler's Jewishness in the anti-Semitic atmosphere of 19th-century Vienna. He converts to Christianity, which has no effect on his brilliant musical output but which eats away at his physical and mental well-being. Gustav Mahler (1860-1911) was a conductor and composer of the late Romantic era and specialized in huge symphonic works. Though his works were performed widely during his lifetime, they were less and less-often played until Leonard Bernstein's active campaign on their behalf brought him renewed recognition as a composer of the first rank, every bit the peer of Brahms or Stravinsky.~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
Full Credits
- Director:Ken Russell,
- Writer:Ken Russell,
- Producer:Roy Baird,
- Cinematographer:Dick Bush,
- Editor:Michael Bradsell,
- Executive Producer:David Puttnam, Sanford Lieberson,
- Cast:
- Assistant Editor:Stuart Baird,
- Art Direction:Ian Whittaker,
- Costume Design:Shirley Russell,
Technical specifications
- Rating:15
- Country:United Kingdom
- Language:English, italiano
- Release:January 1, 1974
- Duration:115 min
- Genres:Drama, Musical