

Famed composer Gustav Mahler reflects on the tragedies of his life and failing marriage while traveling by train.
Direction
Russell's hallucinatory set pieces that would make Fellini nervous.
Acting
Robert Powell's thousand-yard stare of creative torment.
Production
The Così fan tutte flashback — pure operatic madness.

Director
Ken Russell
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Russell originally wanted Mick Jagger as Mahler. The mind reels.
Part of Russell's unofficial 'composer destruction' trilogy alongside The Music Lovers and Lisztomania — the 70s were WILD for classical music cinema.