Mahler (1974)
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80% of users liked it
(636 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… 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
- Directed By
- Ken Russell
- Written By
- Ken Russell
- Genres
- Musical & Performing Arts, Drama
PG,
- In Theaters
- Jan 1, 1974 Wide
- Studio
- Criterion Collection
Critic Reviews
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Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
This is filmmaking -- and filmmaking of a kind we've rarely seen.
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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.
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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
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Robert Powell
as Gustav Mahler
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Georgina Hale
as Alma Mahler
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Richard Morant
as Max
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Lee Montague
as Bernhard Mahler
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Rosalie Crutchley
as Marie Mahler
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Antonia Ellis
as Cosima Wagner
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Kenneth Colley
as Krenek
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David Collings
as Hugo Wolfe
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George Coulouris
as Dr. Roth
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Otto Diamant
as Prof. Sladky
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Peter Eyre
as Otto
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Andrew Faulds
as Doctor On Train
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Dana Gillespie
as Anna von Mildenburg
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Miriam Karlin
as Aunt Rosa
- Terry O'Quinn
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Ronald Pickup
as Nick
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Oliver Reed
as Train Conductor
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David Trevena
as Dr. Richter
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Angela Down
as Justine
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Benny Lee
as Uncle Arnold
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Elaine Delmar
as Princess
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Claire McLellan
as Glucki
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Sarah McLellan
as Putzi
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Gary Rich
as Young Mahler
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Michael Southgate
as Alois Mahler
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Arnold Yarrow
as Grandfather
- Bernard Haitink
- Sylvia McNair
