Elgar

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Film Description

First shown in 1962 as the 100th programme in the BBC's Monitor series, this partly dramatised account of the composer's life has long been regarded as a classic in the field of television documentaries. It is a sensitive portrait of the rise of a young musician from a relatively poor background to international fame, as well as being Russell's own tribute to music he loved. The film also heralded the revival of interest in Elgar's music and the rehabilitation of his reputation as England's greatest composer since Purcell.

Film Information

DVD Extras

Audio commentary by Michael Kennedy and Ken Russell; footage of Elgar at the Three Choirs Festival; live recording of Land of Hope and Glory; stills gallery.

Technical Details

Film Media

1 Still

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Reviews & Articles

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Review by Jamie Smith on 18th July 2002

'As Ken Russell's acclaimed 1962 documentary shows, Elgar's life was a roller coaster of ups and downs, reflecting the contours of the Malvern Hills to which he would always return when in need of spiritual solace. It took a long time for England to recognise this composer's brilliance, and in fact it was in Germany that his talent was first appreciated. It was ironic then that the melody that became Elgar's most famous composition - Land of
Hope and Glory - turned into literally a second national anthem for Britain during the First World War. Elgar loved Germany, and yet here was his piece being used as a marching song for the soldiers fighting the Germans. The
composer also disapproved of the words - not his - which he felt were too pompous and overblown.

The film is also as much a tribute to Elgar's wife Alice, who nurtured her beloved's talent through the most trying of times. Unable to afford manuscript paper after their ill-fortuned trip to London, Alice wrote out by
hand scroll for her husband to write on, and slowly his genius unfolded.
The beauty of the Worcestershire countryside is another great theme in this film, and for anyone who has trodden the Malvern peaks it is easy to understand just why Elgar returned here again and again - the only place in
which he felt truly alive and where he professed all his best compositions were dreamt up.

View more reviews by Jamie Smith

Review by bfi on 17th May 2002

Russell's film is a sensitive portrait of the rise of a young musician from a relatively poor background to international fame, as well as being Russell's own tribute to music he loved. The film also heralded the revival of interest in Elgar's music and the rehabilitation of his reputation as England's greatest composer since Purcell.

View more reviews by bfi

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Article - "Ken Russel - Mahler, Delius and Elgar" by Michael Brooke
Tuesday 1st March 2005

John Ford used to sum up his career with a laconic “I make Westerns”, and though “My name’s Ken Russell, I make composer biopics” isn't quite as succinct, it's certainly true that man and genre are indivisibly connected. Since 1959, Russell has made sixteen films ab...  View article in full

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