Monitor

The Preservation Man

The Preservation Man is about useless objects but here they're part of the artist Bruce Lacey's collection of random junk that is incorporated into his art with their original function is irrelevant. Sensibly, Russell and commentator Huw Wheldon keep analysis to a minimum, preferring to use the film as an excuse to spend a quarter of an hour in Lacey's amiable company.

Elgar

An astonishing documentary of the life of classical composer Sir Edward Elgar. This partly dramatised account is remarkable for its sensitive portrayal of the rise of a young musician from an underprivileged background to international fame.

Lotte Lenya Sings Kurt Weill

Ken Russell directed a short document of German actress (and widow of famed composer Kurt Weill) Lotte Lenya performing many of Weill's best known compositions for BBC TV series "Monitor."

The Lonely Shore

One of the most conceptually original of all the films that Ken Russell made for Monitor, this imagines an expedition of alien archaeologists (represented only by the soundtrack commentary) examining various artefacts strewn along a stretch of Britain's coastline and musing on their possible significance.

Variations on a Mechanical Theme

An illustration of various mechanical instruments, from the musical-box to 1950s electronica.

Orson Welles' Sketch Book

Orson Welles' Sketch Book is a series of six short television commentaries by Orson Welles for the BBC in 1955. Written and directed by Welles, the 15-minute episodes present the filmmaker's commentaries on a range of subjects. Welles frequently draws from his own experiences and often illustrates the episodes with his own sketches.

Antonio Gaudí

A study of Antoni Gaudí's architecture (especially the Church of the Holy Trinity in Barcelona), his sources of inspiration and his influence on Picasso. (BFI)

Bela Bartók

A portrait of the life and work of the great Hungarian composer Béla Bartók, exploring both his music and his passionate interest in his country's folklore.

Prokofiev

Subtitled 'Portrait of a Soviet Composer', this is the second of Ken Russell's composer biopics.

The Alchemists of Sound

A documentary about the BBC Radiophonic Workshop, responsible for creating some of the most memorable television and radio music in British popular culture, including "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" and Doctor Who (1963).

Pop Goes the Easel

Pop Goes the Easel was Ken Russell’s first full-length documentary for the BBC’s arts series Monitor. It focused on 4 British Pop Artists - Peter Blake, Peter Philips, Pauline Boty and Derek Boshier.

Larkin and Betjeman: Down Cemetery Road

Philip Larkin talks to John Betjeman about his life, his poetry and the city of Hull where he lived and worked as university librarian.

Portrait of a Goon

Portrait of Spike Milligan, then part of The Goon Show examining his views on comedy,

Destination D-Day

On a cold February night in 1944, two British frogmen crawled on to a Normandy beach from the freezing sea to take samples of sand for scientific analysis from under the noses of German sentries. It was one of the most audacious of all the incredible operations that went into the planning of the Allied invasion of Europe. Throughout Britain during the 12 months before June 1944, men had been searching for the weak points in the vast German defences - all to ensure that D-Day, when it came, would be successful. The late Sir Huw Wheldon, then a major in the 6th Airborne Division, landed with his unit on 6 June to help defend the left flank of the invasion force against counter-attack. In this programme he tells the story of the Allied plans and preparations which helped ensure the success of Operation Overlord.

JB: A Portrait of Sir John Barbirolli

Interviews with and performance footage of conductor Sir John Barbirolli.

Drama Out of a Crisis: A Celebration of Play for Today

Marking Play for Today’s 50th anniversary, Drama Out of a Crisis is a compelling exploration of the series, its origins, achievements, controversies and legacies. Featuring a rich and surprising range of archive extracts and original interviews with many who created the series, including producers Kenith Trodd, Margaret Matheson and Richard Eyre, and directors Mike Leigh, David Hare and Ken Loach.