The Music Lovers (1971)

Good movie but grossly overrated

good back-story, and good acting

Simple and well acted, it has tension enough to knot the stomach.

Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.

I just watched The Music Lovers for the first time in decades and thought it still very enjoyable. Glenda Jackson does a wonderful job, and Richard Chamberlain does OK -- the script doesn't give him a huge amount to work with. Full marks to three individuals - Ken Russell for superb direction, Melvyn Bragg for a script which gets a lot across about Tchaikovsky and his times, and Andre Previn (with the LSO) delivering large chunks of the music. Russell put a lot of work into his locations with the Queen's House at Greenwich standing in for St Petersburg and a splendid studio set for Moscow. The country house scenes were filmed at Wilton House and High Wycombe House. All very effective. The music includes lengthy snippets from the fourth and sixth symphonies, the first piano concerto, the Nutcracker and Swan Lake ballets, the Romeo and Juliet and 1812 overtures, Eugene Onegin, one of the string quartets and other pieces which slipped by me. That is a very impressive list! Unlike many people I love the 1812 fantasy sequence though could have done with less of the lunatic asylum. The railway carriage scene is one of my all time favourites, making brilliant use of the Pathetique. To my mind this movie and Women in Love are the best Russell films.

It's 19th century Tsarist Russia. Piano teacher Peter Ilych Tchaikovsky (Richard Chamberlain) struggles against his homosexuality by marrying Antonina Miliukova (Glenda Jackson) whom he can never truly satisfy.It's a lavish garish production taking advantage of the London Symphony Orchestra. It's also a rambling affair of long takes and obscure style. Sometimes it's masterful but more often than not, it is over-the-top crazy. The camera moves are all over the place with some very close up work. The music is a constant which gives a surreal dreamlike quality to the viewing. Chamberlain and Jackson have some crazy ridiculous attempted sex scenes. It's all over the top and considering Chamberlain's own secret homosexuality, it's all very poignant camp surrealism. They both leave it all on the screen. As with most biopics, I leave its authenticity to somebody more qualified although I don't accuracy is the main objective in this movie. I do have to admit that I have trouble getting through the whole two hours straight. It's a lot outlandish set pieces to endure.

The films of director Ken Russell certainly aren't known for restraint, and The Music Lovers is no exception. In fact, every ounce of punch it delivers survives to this day. I recently showed this film, and someone present who was only a child when it came out couldn't believe it was released in 1970. In any case, the tortured life of Tchaikovsky (mostly because of his gay closet-case existence), as intensely portrayed by Richard Chamberlain, creates a compelling story that may not be as historically accurate as it could have been. Even so, it's high on entertainment value, and you won't be able to take your eyes off the screen due to the lavish production values, a grand score by the London Symphony Orchestra and one of Glenda Jackson's many astounding performances. This time around, she's Tchaikovsky's neglected wife. In some ways, she ends up stealing the show as her life completely and shockingly unravels. If anything, regardless of how one reacts to the indelible scenes in the The Music Lovers, the one thing it isn't, is forgettable.

How can this film NOT be available on DVD in the U.S.? I'd definitely rank it in the top 3 of ALL Ken Russell films (in the same league as "Tommy" and "Mahler") and the combination of visuals and gorgeous Tchaikovsky music is sumptuous beyond belief.If ever a film deserved a Director's cut (was it a stereo soundtrack ? what's that chance of beefing it up to DD or DTS?) this one is IT!I recall seeing this in Berkeley, CA at the cinema on University and being totally blown away. That audience was highly appreciative and it's a pity that the world never really "discovered" this excellent film. (The film was good enough to make me really like Richard Chamberlain -- of course I already adored the fabulous Glenda Jackson and the supporting case, in general is also superb!)