Question 1

True or false: Russell directed the rock opera film 'Tommy', starring The Who's Roger Daltrey.

Accepted Answer

True. His 1975 film 'Tommy' adapted The Who's rock opera and featured Daltrey, Ann-Margret, and Elton John.

Question 2

True or false: Ken Russell turned down the opportunity to direct the first 'Harry Potter' film.

Accepted Answer

False. Russell retired from mainstream directing in the 1990s and never expressed interest in or was offered 'Harry Potter'.

Question 3

True or false: Russell's film 'Altered States' was based on a novel by his frequent collaborator, Paddy Chayefsky.

Accepted Answer

False. Chayefsky wrote the novel and screenplay, but they clashed fiercely; Chayefsky disowned the film and used a pseudonym.

Question 4

True or false: Russell's film 'The Devils' was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Picture.

Accepted Answer

False. Despite its notoriety, 'The Devils' received no Oscar nominations; it was too controversial for the Academy.

Question 5

True or false: Ken Russell was fired from directing the film 'The Who's Tommy' halfway through production.

Accepted Answer

False. Russell completed 'Tommy' without incident; he was never fired from any major film project during production.

Question 6

True or false: Ken Russell made a biopic about Tchaikovsky that included a scene with a giant penis.

Accepted Answer

True. His 1970 film 'The Music Lovers' featured a notorious scene of a giant, ejaculating penis during the 1812 Overture.

Question 7

True or false: Russell once made a film about the life of the composer Gustav Mahler, starring Robert Powell.

Accepted Answer

True. His 1974 film 'Mahler' starred Powell and was a surreal, biographical fantasy typical of Russell's style.

Question 8

True or false: Ken Russell was a classically trained ballet dancer before becoming a filmmaker.

Accepted Answer

True. He studied ballet and danced professionally in the 1950s, which influenced his visually dynamic film style.

Ken Russell Trivia Questions