Savage Messiah (1972)

User Rating:

6.8/10   

Director:

Ken Russell

Writers:

Christopher Logue (screenplay)
H.S. Ede (book)

Release Date:

September 1972 (UK)

Genre:

Biography | Drama

Tagline:

All art is sex!

Plot Keywords:

France | Paris | Female Nudity | WWI | Lovers Posing As Siblings

Awards:

Nominated for BAFTA Film Award.

Cast

Dorothy Tutin	...	Sophie Brzeska
Scott Antony	...	Henri Gaudier
Helen Mirren	...	Gosh Boyle
Lindsay Kemp	...	Angus Corky
Michael Gough	...	M. Gaudier
John Justin	...	Lionel Shaw
Aubrey Richards	...	Mayor
Peter Vaughan	...	Museum Attendant
Ben Aris	...	Thomas Buff
Eleanor Fazan	...	Mdme. Gaudier
Otto Diamant	...	Mr. Saltzman
Imogen Claire	...	Mavis Coldstream
Maggy Maxwell	...	Tart
Susanna East	...	Pippa
Judith Paris	...	Kate

Runtime:

103 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

UK:X | Sweden:Btl | USA:R

Filming Locations:

England, UK

Company:

Russ-Arts

Trivia:

In order to save money, copies of uncopyrighted Soviet recordings of Claude Debussy and Alexander Scriabin were made.

Movie Connections:

Featured in A British Picture (1989) (TV)

Soundtrack:

TWO FLEAS

Savage Messiah (1972) *** (out of four)- Uneven yet moving drama

This is perhaps the only Ken Russell film where one might find themselves moved to tears. Savage Messiah is about the life and death of Henry Gaudier, and it is one of the best films ever made about art and the process of creating it. Unfortunately the movie falls short of greatness because Savage Messiah has such a quick and frenzied pace that it is distracting from the story and characters. Many of the scenes feel like they are being rushed through, and many of the characters, including Gaudier, seem like they are on speed. Scott Anthony is quite good as the young sculptor Gaudier, and Dorothy Tutin shines as Gaudier's mother-figure and lover. She is believable in every second of her performance.

Russell packs an emotional wallop for the finale. He uses an interesting technique throughout the film by not showing much of the artist's work. Only after we discover that Gaudier has been killed in World War I is his work revealed in what must be one of the most beautiful montages in Ken Russell's filmography. Savage Messiah is a moving film that must be given the full DVD treatment.

(A young Helen Mirren has a role as one of Gaudier's models/lovers. Ms. Mirren has (had) what I consider to be the most perfect female form I have ever laid my eyes upon. I feel it is my duty to thank Mr. Russell for literally showing us everything.)

***(out of four)