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Ken Russell Biography
Birth Name:Henry Kenneth Alfred Russell
Birth Place:Southampton, United Kingdom
Profession Director, Actor, Writer, Producer, Soundtrack, Camera department
Fast Facts
- The Yugoslav Cinematheque presented him with a Golden Seal Award for his complete work and contributions to cinema and film
- As a teenager, he joined the Royal Air Force and the Merchant Navy, and after wartime, he led short careers in dance and photography before turning to television
- Quote: "This is not the age of manners․ This is the age of kicking people in the crotch and telling them something and getting a reaction․ I want to shock people into awareness․ I don't believe there is any virtue in understatement․"
- Often uses religious imagery, such as snakes, baptisms and fire, and extreme facial close-ups, moving camera shots and outré camera angles
- His subject matter was often based loosely on the lives of famous composers or works of art, and his films fought against the subtlety and realism prevalent in British cinema at the time
- During his time in the navy, he was once forced to stand watch for Japanese midget submarines for hours, despite the fact that the war was over
- Was originally set to direct the film version of "Evita," but stepped down when the producers refused to give Liza Minnelli the lead
Awards
- 1963Writers' Guild of Great Britain Award-Best British Documentary Script: winner
- 1966Writers' Guild of Great Britain Award-Best British Documentary TV Script: winner
- 1967Writers' Guild of Great Britain Award-Best British Documentary TV Script: winner
- 1968Writers' Guild of Great Britain Award-Best British Documentary Script: winner
- 1969Writers' Guild of Great Britain Award-Best British Documentary Script: nominated
- 1970BAFTA Film Award-Best Direction: nominated
- 1971Oscar-Best Director: nominated
- 1971BAFTA TV Award-Best Specialised Production: nominated
- 1971Golden Globe-Best Director: nominated
- 1971NBR Award-Best Director: winner
- 1971Pasinetti Award-Best Foreign Film: winner
- 1972Silver Ribbon-Best Foreign Director (Regista del Miglior Film Straniero): winner
- 1972WGA Award (Screen)-Best Comedy Adapted from Another Medium: nominated
- 1974Palme d'Or-: nominated
- 1974Technical Grand Prize-: winner
- 1975Writers' Guild of Great Britain Award-Best British Original Screenplay: winner
- 1981Saturn Award-Best Director: nominated
- 1987Grand Prize-: nominated
- 1987Palme d'Or-: nominated
- 1987International Fantasy Film Award-Best Film: nominated
- 1989Grand Prize-: nominated
- 1989ACE-Directing a Music Series: nominated
- 1989ACE-Writing a Music Special or Series: winner
- 1989International Fantasy Film Award-Best Film: nominated
- 1989Golden St. George-: nominated
- 1995CableACE-Writing a Dramatic Series: nominated
- 2009Alexander Lifka Achievement Award-Contribution to World Cinema: winner