The Debussy Film

There are scenes in this film when the characters stop talking and act in silence, accompanied by Debussy's music. I got the impression of a silent film seeping into a talkie, analogous to the film's dual narratives. A beautiful exercise in style.

One of the best more or less "mainstream" examples of Ken Russell's art. His genius for marrying the visual to music, and Oliver Reed at his smoldering hottest are ample reason to see this. By using the almost-cliche (but not in these hands) of a movie-about-making-a-movie, Russell wisely downplays what a shit Debussy was. And who else but K.R. could pull off a mock swordfight between Debussy and Maeterlinck staged to Wagner's "Ride of the Valkyries" (combining heavy-handedness with subtlety).