Mahler (1974)

79% of users liked it
(620 ratings)

Director Ken Russell made a number of biographical films of composers' lives including The Music Lovers, (about Tchaikovsky) and Lisztomania. Russell embellished the other films with certain characteristic flourishes, which include a focus on the composers' sexual obsessions, poetically telling… More Director Ken Russell made a number of biographical films of composers' lives including The Music Lovers, (about Tchaikovsky) and Lisztomania. Russell embellished the other films with certain characteristic flourishes, which include a focus on the composers' sexual obsessions, poetically telling anachronisms, and scenes which show Richard Wagner in a bad light. The story of Mahler is recounted in a much less complex and flamboyant manner and is a relatively reverent study of the life and work of Austrian composer Gustav Mahler, here played by Robert Powell. The film tackles the touchy dilemma of Mahler's Jewishness in the anti-Semitic atmosphere of 19th-century Vienna. He converts to Christianity, which has no effect on his brilliant musical output but which eats away at his physical and mental well-being. Gustav Mahler (1860-1911) was a conductor and composer of the late Romantic era and specialized in huge symphonic works. Though his works were performed widely during his lifetime, they were less and less-often played until Leonard Bernstein's active campaign on their behalf brought him renewed recognition as a composer of the first rank, every bit the peer of Brahms or Stravinsky. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: PG, 1 hr. 55 min.
Directed By: Ken Russell
Written By: Ken Russell
Genres: Musical & Performing Arts, Drama

In Theaters: Jan 1, 1974 Wide
On DVD: Jul 4, 2006

Critic Reviews

Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
This is filmmaking -- and filmmaking of a kind we've rarely seen.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Though the film like Mahler's music is clearly not for everyone it, nevertheless, rises in a crescendo of brilliant spectacle to overwhelm the usual timid biopic.
Shane Burridge, rec.arts.movies.reviews
MAHLER's preponderance with visuals reminds us that Russell is more of a technical director than an actor's director

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

No Featured Audience Ratings Found…

Cast

            Robert Powell as Gustav Mahler

            Georgina Hale as Alma Mahler

            Richard Morant as Max

            Lee Montague as Bernhard Mahler

            Rosalie Crutchley as Marie Mahler

            Antonia Ellis as Cosima Wagner

            Kenneth Colley as Krenek

            David Collings as Hugo Wolfe

            George Coulouris as Dr. Roth

            Otto Diamant as Prof. Sladky

            Peter Eyre as Otto

            Andrew Faulds as Doctor On Train

            Dana Gillespie as Anna von Mildenburg

            Miriam Karlin as Aunt Rosa

            Terry O'Quinn
            
            Ronald Pickup as Nick

            Oliver Reed as Train Conductor

            David Trevena as Dr. Richter

            Angela Down as Justine

            Benny Lee as Uncle Arnold

            Elaine Delmar as Princess

            Claire McLellan as Glucki

            Sarah McLellan as Putzi

            Gary Rich as Young Mahler

            Michael Southgate as Alois Mahler

            Arnold Yarrow as Grandfather

            Bernard Haitink
            
            Sylvia McNair
            
See full cast