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.

• DirectorKen Russell
• Release15 February 1970
• Genre
  TV Movie / Comedy
• Duration0h 59m
• Budget?
• Revenue?
• Rate
  

  8.0
  2 reviews
• Productions

  BBC