Lisztomania - DVD

The shaggymaned idol rips into his song and the audience screams with excitement. Some ecstatic fans storm the stage wanting simply to touch him. Some want to bear his child. One adoring woman announces she already has. And outside the hall a horsedrawn carriage waits to whisk the performer away. Meet Franz Liszt Roger Daltrey rock star circa 1840. And great ready for all the glitter groupies and gaudy good times of Lisztomania. The incredible list of frenzied delights goes on and on in this splendiferous extravaganza from writerdirector Ken Russell whose works include Women in Love Altered States and Crimes of Passion. He takes you where no one else does. Or dares. Brace yourself for Lisztomania. Viewers expecting a polite gathering of people neatly posed on Louis XVI furniture are going to be blown out of their chairs but good. This audacious vulgar freewheeling fantasia on the life of pianist Franz Liszt ranks among director Ken Russells most outrageous efforts. Roger Daltrey lead singer for The Who is awkward yet likeable as the flamboyant piano performer with a bevy of fetching mistresses and groupies while Paul Nicholas is completely outlandish as the scheming opera composer Richard Wagner. Theres no nod to reality here: Liszt and Wagner were in fact friends and Liszt who became Wagners fatherinlaw actually assisted in the production of Wagners opulent productions. Russell on the other hand presents Wagner as Liszts jealous rival ready to wreak havoc on the world by unleashing a cryogenic Viking Yes keyboardist Rick Wakeman and a horde of machinegun wielding robot Nazis. In a finale out of Flash Gordon serials Liszt saves the day after surviving a guillotine designed for phallic dismemberment. The film is fast and loud and wildly undisciplined much like one of Liszts Hungarian Rhapsodies. Look fast and youll see Ringo Starr as the pope. Les Stone Rovi. Genre: Musicals and Performing Arts. SubGenre: Musicals Theatrical. Release Date: 11 September 2012. Directed By: Ken Russell. Rated: R. Studio: WHV ARCHIVE WHVA . Running Time: 103. Region: 0. Display: Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV. Audio: PCM Mono English. Discs: 1. Format: NTSC. Cast: Andrew FauldsStrauss Andrew ReillyHans von Bulow Anulka DziubinskaLola Montez Aubrey MorrisManager David EnglishCaptain Felicity DevonshireGoverness Fiona LewisCountess Marie Georgina Hale Imogen ClaireGeorge Sand John JustinCount dAgoult Ken ParryRossini Kenneth ColleyFrederic Chopin Murray MelvinHector Berlioz Nell CampbellOlga Oliver ReedPrincess Carolyns Servant Otto DiamantFelix Mendelsohn Paul NicholasRichard Wagner Peter BrayhamBodyguard Rick WakemanThor Rikki HowardCountess Ringo StarrPope Roger DaltreyFranz Liszt Sara KestelmanPrincess Carolyn Veronica QuilliganCosima. Crew: Art Director:Philip Harrison Cinematographer:Peter Suschitzky Composer Music Score:Rick Wakeman Director:Ken Russell Producer:David Puttnam Producer:Roy Baird Producer:Sandy Lieberson Screenwriter:Ken Russell. Extras: DvdRWs R Clr Dvd Mod. Dimensions: 7.5L x 0.5H x 5.4W.