I've just ordered Joseph Lanza's book PHALLIC FRENZY: THE FILMS OF KEN RUSSELL. It seems this is the first book that analyzes the complete oeuvre of Ken Russell, and being a big Russell fan I'm looking forward to it very much. The only review I've read was quite favourable.

Anyone here who has read it??

I did. You can read my review here.

Thanks Tim for the review.
It seems that old Ken remains an enigma even by his admirers, Lanza included ;) .

I'm too busy reading that Bava book...

You may have heard of it...

Yes, I have heard of it, as a friend of mine (Henrik Hemlin) is mentioned within it's pages, when Tim discusses LISA and the music by Rodrigo.

I received my copy a week ago. I haven't started reading it yet, it is a book that you can very well read in parts.

Mr. Lanza is going to be reading from his book here in Philly this weekend, part of a mini-festival of Russell's stuff. While not especially interested in the book I will check out the night Lanza's there, because they're showing THE MUSIC LOVERS that night, which I've never seen and sounds pretty rad, frankly. If Lanza or the audience says anything interesting I'll let y'all know.

doug

I heard Lanza interviewed at length on WFMU years ago regarding his Elevator Music book and he's an entertaining speaker. Probably worth seeing even if what he has to say doesn't seem worthwhile, if you get my drift.

One minor quibble about the book is the photos from the films, which are b/w, too small and fuzzy. I don't like the graphic lay-out either which looks like it was designed for a book about Terry Gilliam (the pattern somehow gives me Gilliamesque associations, though I like Gilliam very much).

Also there are no colour images at all :(