Dance of the Seven Veils (1970)
Russell’s composer biopics were usually labours of love. This was the opposite: he regarded Strauss’s music as 'bombastic, sham and hollow', and despised the composer for claiming to be apolitical while cosying up to the Nazi regime. Strauss is depicted in a variety of grotesquely caricatured situations: attacked by nuns after adopting Nietzsche’s philosophy, duels with jealous husbands, literally batters his critics into submission with his music, and glorifies the women in his life and fantasies.
Director: Ken Russell
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Christopher Gable as Richard Strauss |
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Judith Paris as |
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Kenneth Colley as |
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James Mellor as |
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Vladek Sheybal as |
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Imogen Claire as |
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Sally Bryant as |
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Maggy Maxwell as |
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Otto Diamant as |
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Gala Mitchell as |
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Anna Sharkey as |
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Rita Webb as |
| Directing | Ken Russell | Director |
| Sound | Richard Strauss | Music |
| Writing | Ken Russell | Writer |