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{{Infobox film
{{distinguish|Seven Veils (film)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
| name = Dance of the Seven Veils
{{Infobox television
⚫
| image =
| alt =
| image =
| caption =
| alt =
⚫
| caption =
| native_name = <!-- {{Infobox name module|language|title}} or {{Infobox name module|title}} -->
| director = [[Ken Russell]]
| screenplay = [[Henry Reed (poet)|Henry Reed]]<br />Ken Russell
| producer = Ken Russell
| director = [[Ken Russell]]
⚫
| starring = [[Christopher Gable]]<br />Judith Paris<br />[[Kenneth Colley]]
| writer =
| music = [[Richard Strauss]]
| screenplay = [[Henry Reed (poet)|Henry Reed]]<br />Ken Russell
| story =
| country = United Kingdom
⚫
| language = English<br />German
| based_on = <!-- {{Based on|title of the original work|creator of the original work|additional creator(s), if necessary}} -->
| producer = Ken Russell
⚫
| starring = [[Christopher Gable]] <br />Judith Paris<br />[[Kenneth Colley]]
| narrator =
| cinematography = Peter Hall
| music = [[Richard Strauss]]
| editor = Dave King
⚫
| runtime = 59 minutes
| cinematography = [[Peter Hall (cinematographer)|Peter Hall]]
| editing = Dave King
| company = [[BBC]]
| studio = BBC
| network = [[BBC1]]
| released = {{Start date|1970|2|15|df=y}}
| distributor = BBC
| released = 15 February 1970
⚫
| runtime = 59 minuntes
| country = UK
⚫
| language =
| budget =
| gross =
}}
}}
'''''Dance of the Seven Veils''''' is a 1970 British TV film about German composer [[Richard Strauss]]. The film, which was directed by [[Ken Russell]], was only shown publicly once. After it was condemned for its gratuitous sex scenes and the depiction of the composer as a [[Nazi]] sympathiser, the Estate of Richard Strauss took out a legal injunction banning the use of the composer's music on the film's soundtrack. In February 2020, with the expiration of the composer's copyright after 70 years since Strauss died, the film was shown at a special screening event in [[Cumbria]], England hosted by Ken Russell's widow.
'''''Dance of the Seven Veils''''' is a 1970 British [[television film]] about German composer [[Richard Strauss]]. The film, directed and produced by [[Ken Russell]], was only screened once by the BBC. Following condemnation for its gratuitous sex scenes and the depiction of the composer as a [[Nazi]] sympathiser, Strauss' estate took out a legal injunction, banning the use of the composer's music on the film's soundtrack.
In February 2020, with the expiration of the composer's copyright after more than 70 years since Strauss died, the film was shown at a special screening event in [[Cumbria]], England hosted by Russell's widow.


==Plot==
==Plot==
{{expand section|date=February 2020}}
{{no plot|date=March 2022}}


==Cast==
==Cast==
*[[Christopher Gable]] ... Richard Strauss
*[[Christopher Gable]] as Richard Strauss
*Judith Paris ... Pauline Strauss
*Judith Paris as Pauline Strauss
*[[Kenneth Colley]] ... Hitler
*[[Kenneth Colley]] as Hitler
*[[Vladek Sheybal]] ... Joseph Goebbels
*[[Vladek Sheybal]] as Joseph Goebbels
*[[James Mellor]] ... Goering
*James Mellor as Goering
*Sally Bryant ... 'Life'
*Sally Bryant as 'Life'
*Gala Mitchell ... Fallen Woman
*Gala Mitchell as Fallen Woman
*[[Rita Webb]] ... Salome
*[[Rita Webb]] as Salome
*Imogen Claire ... Salome (dancer)
*Imogen Claire as Salome (dancer)
*Maggy Maxwell ... Potiphar's Wife
*Maggy Maxwell as Potiphar's Wife
*Otto Diamant ... Jewish Man
*Otto Diamant as Jewish Man


==Production==
==Production==
⚫
The film was made on location near Russell's home at [[Skiddaw]] in the [[Lake District]].<ref name="BBC"/> "One of the purposes of making the film was to shock complacent critics and viewers who sit in front of their sets for hours on end watching cocoa advertisements. I was simply setting out to make a film about Richard Strauss, and I felt that everything I showed was necessary for presenting my idea of this man," Russell told Peter Waymark of ''[[The Times]]'' in February 1970. "I wanted strong, hard outlines to bring out aspects of this man and his work that to my mind have been overlooked." The composer "was a self advertising, vulgar, commercial man."<ref name="times19700217">{{cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/archive/article/1970-02-17/8/3.html|title=Russell's Seven Veils shocks critics|last=Waymark|first=Peter|newspaper=[[The Times]]| date=17 February 1970|page=8}}</ref>
The film was made on location near Russell's home at [[Skiddaw]] in the [[Lake District]].<ref name="BBC"/>


==Release==
==Release and reception==
The film was only shown once by the BBC in February 1970 because of the controversy if generated.<ref name="BBC">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cumbria-51676381|title=Banned Dance of the Seven Veils gets second airing|publisher=BBC NEWS|date=29 February 2020}}</ref> The Strauss estate was so outraged by the film that an injunction was taken out, banning the use of Strauss's music on the soundtrack, effectively preventing any further broadcasts because the film can be seen but it cannot be heard.<ref name="BBC"/> With copyright expired, the film was reshown at [[Keswick Film Festival]] in Cumbria's [[Theatre by the Lake]]. The evening was hosted Russell's widow, Lisi.<ref name="BBC"/><ref>{{cite news |last1=Blakely |first1=Rhys |title=Banned Ken Russell film Dance of the Seven Veils screened after 50 years |url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/banned-ken-russell-film-dance-of-the-seven-veils-screened-after-50-years-qlz0d229g |accessdate=1 March 2020 |date=1 March 2020 |language=en}}</ref>
The film was shown on BBC1 on 15 February 1970. It created a sufficient outcry for 20 Conservative backbenchers to table a motion objecting to it after the television screening. It was shown at the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]] the following month. <!-- Not knighted until 1976. -->[[Huw Wheldon]], then managing director of BBC Television who was present at the screening, defended the film.<ref>{{cite news|last=Clark|first=George|url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/archive/article/1970-03-05/3/4.html|title=Russell Film Defended by BBC Chief|newspaper=The Times|date=5 March 1970|access-date=4 June 2022}}</ref> It was only shown once by the BBC.<ref name="BBC">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cumbria-51676381|title=Banned Dance of the Seven Veils gets second airing|publisher=BBC News|date=29 February 2020}}</ref> The Strauss estate was so outraged by the film that an injunction was taken out, banning the use of Strauss's music on the soundtrack, effectively preventing any further broadcasts because the film can be seen but it cannot be heard.<ref name="BBC"/>


"I hated it so much" said ''The Observer''.<ref>{{cite news|title=War between Russell and Strauss: Two views of Ken Russell's controversial television film|last=Heyworth|first= Peter|newspaper=[[The Observer]]|date= 22 February 1970|page= 31}}</ref> "I don't deny its power," wrote [[Nancy Banks-Smith]] in ''The Guardian''.<ref>{{cite news|title=Review: Dance of the Seven Veils on BBC-1|last=Banks-Smith|first= Nancy|newspaper= [[The Guardian]]|date=16 February 1970|page= 8}}</ref> The campaigner [[Mary Whitehouse]] commented: "There was gratuitous sex and violence of the most outlandish kind".<ref name="times19700217" />
==Reception==


When the copyright of Strauss' music expired, the film was reshown at [[Keswick Film Festival]] in Cumbria's [[Theatre by the Lake]]. The evening was hosted by Russell's widow, Lisi.<ref name="BBC" /><ref>{{cite news |last1=Blakely |first1=Rhys |title=Banned Ken Russell film Dance of the Seven Veils screened after 50 years |url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/banned-ken-russell-film-dance-of-the-seven-veils-screened-after-50-years-qlz0d229g |accessdate=1 March 2020 |date=1 March 2020 |language=en}}</ref>
"I hated it so much" said ''The Observer''.<ref>{{cite news|title=War between Russell and Strauss: Two views of Ken Russell's controversial television film|last=Heyworth|first= Peter|newspaper=[[The Observer]]|date= 22 February 1970|page= 31}}</ref>

"There was gratuitous sex and violence of the most outlandish kind", said [[Mary Whitehouse]].<ref name="times"/> "I don't deny its power," said ''The Guardian''.<ref>{{cite news|title=Review: DANCE OF THE SEVEN VEILS on BBC-1|last=Banks-Smith|first= Nancy|newspaper= [[The Guardian]]|date=16 February 1970|page= 8}}</ref>

==Legacy==
⚫
Russell said: "One of the purposes of making the film was to shock complacent critics and viewers who sit in front of their sets for hours on end watching cocoa advertisements. I was simply setting out to make a film about Richard Strauss, and I felt that everything I showed was necessary for presenting my idea of this man. My intention was to paint in broad strokes," he said. "I wanted strong, hard outlines to bring out aspects of this man and his work that to my mind have been overlooked. Strauss was a self advertising, vulgar, commercial man."<ref name="times">{{cite news|title=Russell's Seven Veils shocks critics|last=Waymark|first=Peter|newspaper=[[The Times]]| date=17 February 2001|page= 27}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
Line 62: Line 53:


==External links==
==External links==
* {{IMDb title|0065608}}
*[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0065608/ Dance of the Seven Veils] at [[IMDb]]
*[https://letterboxd.com/film/dance-of-the-seven-veils/ Dance of the Seven Veils] at Letterbox DVD
*[https://letterboxd.com/film/dance-of-the-seven-veils/ ''Dance of the Seven Veils''] at Letterbox DVD
*[http://www.screenonline.org.uk/tv/id/482892/ Dance of the Seven Veils] at [[BFI Screenonline]]
*[http://www.screenonline.org.uk/tv/id/482892/ ''Dance of the Seven Veils''] at [[BFI Screenonline]]

{{Ken Russell}}
{{Ken Russell}}


[[Category:1970 in television]]
[[Category:1970 television films]]


{{TV-movie-stub}}
[[Category:Films about composers]]
[[Category:Films about composers]]
[[Category:British television films]]
[[Category:Films directed by Ken Russell]]

Latest revision as of 11:39, 26 May 2024

Not to be confused with Seven Veils (film).

Dance of the Seven Veils
Screenplay byHenry Reed
Ken Russell
Directed byKen Russell
StarringChristopher Gable
Judith Paris
Kenneth Colley
Music byRichard Strauss
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languagesEnglish
German
Production
ProducerKen Russell
CinematographyPeter Hall
EditorDave King
Running time59 minutes
Production companyBBC
Original release
NetworkBBC1
Release15 February 1970 (1970-02-15)

Dance of the Seven Veils is a 1970 British television film about German composer Richard Strauss. The film, directed and produced by Ken Russell, was only screened once by the BBC. Following condemnation for its gratuitous sex scenes and the depiction of the composer as a Nazi sympathiser, Strauss' estate took out a legal injunction, banning the use of the composer's music on the film's soundtrack.

In February 2020, with the expiration of the composer's copyright after more than 70 years since Strauss died, the film was shown at a special screening event in Cumbria, England hosted by Russell's widow.

Plot

[edit]

Cast

[edit]
  • Christopher Gable as Richard Strauss
  • Judith Paris as Pauline Strauss
  • Kenneth Colley as Hitler
  • Vladek Sheybal as Joseph Goebbels
  • James Mellor as Goering
  • Sally Bryant as 'Life'
  • Gala Mitchell as Fallen Woman
  • Rita Webb as Salome
  • Imogen Claire as Salome (dancer)
  • Maggy Maxwell as Potiphar's Wife
  • Otto Diamant as Jewish Man

Production

[edit]

The film was made on location near Russell's home at Skiddaw in the Lake District.[1] "One of the purposes of making the film was to shock complacent critics and viewers who sit in front of their sets for hours on end watching cocoa advertisements. I was simply setting out to make a film about Richard Strauss, and I felt that everything I showed was necessary for presenting my idea of this man," Russell told Peter Waymark of The Times in February 1970. "I wanted strong, hard outlines to bring out aspects of this man and his work that to my mind have been overlooked." The composer "was a self advertising, vulgar, commercial man."[2]

Release and reception

[edit]

The film was shown on BBC1 on 15 February 1970. It created a sufficient outcry for 20 Conservative backbenchers to table a motion objecting to it after the television screening. It was shown at the House of Commons the following month. Huw Wheldon, then managing director of BBC Television who was present at the screening, defended the film.[3] It was only shown once by the BBC.[1] The Strauss estate was so outraged by the film that an injunction was taken out, banning the use of Strauss's music on the soundtrack, effectively preventing any further broadcasts because the film can be seen but it cannot be heard.[1]

"I hated it so much" said The Observer.[4] "I don't deny its power," wrote Nancy Banks-Smith in The Guardian.[5] The campaigner Mary Whitehouse commented: "There was gratuitous sex and violence of the most outlandish kind".[2]

When the copyright of Strauss' music expired, the film was reshown at Keswick Film Festival in Cumbria's Theatre by the Lake. The evening was hosted by Russell's widow, Lisi.[1][6]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d "Banned Dance of the Seven Veils gets second airing". BBC News. 29 February 2020.
  2. ^ a b Waymark, Peter (17 February 1970). "Russell's Seven Veils shocks critics". The Times. p. 8.
  3. ^ Clark, George (5 March 1970). "Russell Film Defended by BBC Chief". The Times. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
  4. ^ Heyworth, Peter (22 February 1970). "War between Russell and Strauss: Two views of Ken Russell's controversial television film". The Observer. p. 31.
  5. ^ Banks-Smith, Nancy (16 February 1970). "Review: Dance of the Seven Veils on BBC-1". The Guardian. p. 8.
  6. ^ Blakely, Rhys (1 March 2020). "Banned Ken Russell film Dance of the Seven Veils screened after 50 years". Retrieved 1 March 2020.
[edit]
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