The read
It runs a compact 1h 14m.
Synopsis
A feat that fully matches its title, an alphabetical trawl through both the history of British music and Russell's own likes and dislikes, the latter summed up by a scene in which he takes a phone call and listens for a bit before concluding that 'it's either an obscene call or the beginning of Michael Tippett's Fourth Symphony.' Gleefully exploiting an already contrived format, Russell uses alphabetical coincidence as an excuse to throw wildly disparate material together: Elgar is fused with Elton John, Holst with Heavy Metal and Punk with Purcell.
Ratings
IMDb8.7/10
1 audience votes
Key crew
- Ken RussellWriter
- Ken RussellDirector
Cast
- Ken RussellHimself
- Benjamin BrittenSelf (archive)
- John LennonSelf (archive)
- Thomas DolbySelf
- Edward ElgarSelf (archive)
- Elton JohnSelf (archive)
- Kate BushSelf (archive)
- Janet BakerSelf (archive)
- Noël CowardSelf (archive)
- Vernon HandleySelf (archive)