Over five days in August (Wednesday 23rd – Sunday 27th) The Cinema Museum will be celebrating the life and work of a visionary genius – a groundbreaking pioneer in TV and film making – the flamboyant, unconventional, controversial, and one of the last great British romantics, Ken Russell.

Ken’s work includes biopics, horror, musicals, documentaries and thrillers, and during this exciting event we will be showing a selection of his most celebrated movies, TV films and rare shorts.

Mark Kermode introduces a special screening of The Devils (1971).

Ken Russell’s reputation as the enfant terrible of British film was assured with this drama about the 17th century French priest Urbain Grandier, who is accused of ‘bewitching’ a convent of nuns. Based on John Whiting’s play and Aldous Huxley’s book The Devils of Loudon, and with a set designed by Derek Jarman, the film contains stunning performances from Vanessa Redgrave and Oliver Reed.

Mark Kermode is famous for his film criticisms for the BBC and his championing of Ken Russell, and especially of The Devils. As he says himself of the film, “it remains a genuinely breathtaking work, the jewel in the crown of Russell’s magnificent career; a film which was ahead of its time forty years ago, and which (like its creator) never lost the power to entral and enrage in equal measure.”

Doors open at 18.00, for a 19.00 start.

Refreshments will be available in our licensed cafe/bar.

TICKETS & PRICING

Tickets in advance £14 (£13 concessions), on the door £15 (£14 concessions). Or get a season ticket – entry to all five Ken Russell events – £60 (£55 concessions).

Advance tickets may be purchased from Billetto, or direct from the Museum by calling 020 7840 2200 in office hours.