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IMDbPro

The Music Lovers

  • 19711971
  • RR
  • 2h 3m
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
2.7K
YOUR RATING
The Music Lovers (1971)
Piano teacher Peter Ilych Tchaikovsky struggles against his homosexuality by marrying, but unfortunately he chooses a nymphomaniac whom he cannot satisfy.
Play trailer1:18
1 Video
20 Photos
  • Biography
  • Comedy
  • Drama
Piano teacher Peter Ilych Tchaikovsky struggles against his homosexuality by marrying, but unfortunately he chooses a nymphomaniac whom he cannot satisfy.Piano teacher Peter Ilych Tchaikovsky struggles against his homosexuality by marrying, but unfortunately he chooses a nymphomaniac whom he cannot satisfy.Piano teacher Peter Ilych Tchaikovsky struggles against his homosexuality by marrying, but unfortunately he chooses a nymphomaniac whom he cannot satisfy.
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
2.7K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Ken Russell
  • Writers
    • Melvyn Bragg(screenplay)
    • Catherine Drinker Bowen(book "Beloved Friend")
    • Barbara von Meck(book "Beloved Friend")
  • Stars
    • Richard Chamberlain
    • Glenda Jackson
    • Max Adrian
Top credits
  • Director
    • Ken Russell
  • Writers
    • Melvyn Bragg(screenplay)
    • Catherine Drinker Bowen(book "Beloved Friend")
    • Barbara von Meck(book "Beloved Friend")
  • Stars
    • Richard Chamberlain
    • Glenda Jackson
    • Max Adrian
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 48User reviews
    • 36Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination

    Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 1:18
    Trailer

    Photos20

    14 x 22 movie poster
    The Music Lovers (1971)
    The Music Lovers (1971)
    The Music Lovers (1971)
    Glenda Jackson in The Music Lovers (1971)
    Glenda Jackson in The Music Lovers (1971)
    Richard Chamberlain in The Music Lovers (1971)
    Richard Chamberlain in The Music Lovers (1971)
    Glenda Jackson in The Music Lovers (1971)
    Richard Chamberlain and Glenda Jackson in The Music Lovers (1971)
    Richard Chamberlain in The Music Lovers (1971)
    Richard Chamberlain and Glenda Jackson in The Music Lovers (1971)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Richard Chamberlain
    Richard Chamberlain
    • Peter Tchaikovskyas Peter Tchaikovsky
    Glenda Jackson
    Glenda Jackson
    • Nina (Antonina Milyukova)as Nina (Antonina Milyukova)
    Max Adrian
    Max Adrian
    • Nicholas Rubinsteinas Nicholas Rubinstein
    Christopher Gable
    Christopher Gable
    • Count Anton Chiluvskyas Count Anton Chiluvsky
    Kenneth Colley
    Kenneth Colley
    • Modeste Tchaikovskyas Modeste Tchaikovsky
    Izabella Telezynska
    Izabella Telezynska
    • Madame Nadedja von Meckas Madame Nadedja von Meck
    Maureen Pryor
    • Nina's Motheras Nina's Mother
    Sabina Maydelle
    • Sasha Tchaikovskyas Sasha Tchaikovsky
    Andrew Faulds
    Andrew Faulds
    • Davidovas Davidov
    Bruce Robinson
    Bruce Robinson
    • Alexei Sofronovas Alexei Sofronov
    Ben Aris
    • Young Lieutenantas Young Lieutenant
    Xavier Russell
    • Koyolaas Koyola
    Dennis Myers
    • Von Meck, twinas Von Meck, twin
    John Myers
    • Von Meck, twinas Von Meck, twin
    Joanne Brown
    • Olga Bredskaas Olga Bredska
    Alexei Jawdokimov
    • Dmitri Shubelovas Dmitri Shubelov
    Alex Russell
    • Von Meck childas Von Meck child
    • (as Alexander Russell)
    Clive Cazes
    Clive Cazes
    • Doctoras Doctor
    • Director
      • Ken Russell
    • Writers
      • Melvyn Bragg(screenplay)
      • Catherine Drinker Bowen(book "Beloved Friend")
      • Barbara von Meck(book "Beloved Friend")
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Some of the interior scenes of Madame Nadedja von Meck's estate would later be used in Stanley Kubrick's Barry Lyndon (1975).
    • Quotes

      Antonina Milyukova: He's never loved another woman, has he, mother? No one else. But I, but I have so *many* lovers, so many lovers, so many, so many! See how many lovers, mother! See how many, how many, how many . . .

    • Connections
      Featured in Without Walls: The Obituary Show - Ken Russell (1991)
    • Soundtracks
      Polovtsian Dances
      (uncredited)

      from "Prince Igor"

      Composed by Aleksandr Borodin (as Alexander Borodin)

      Played as background to one of Nina's romantic encounters.

    User reviews48

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    Over the Top and not altogether accurate - what else would you expect!
    As startling and entertaining a piece of cinema The Music Lovers is, on the whole it will disappoint those who (not unreasonably) may be expecting an accurate (if typically melodramatic) biopic.

    Rife with inaccuracies, The Music Lovers however occasionally elicits tantalising moments of truth which will be familiar to those who might have studied the great man and his music. The moment of madness during the composition of the violin concerto, Tchaikovsk'y mixing fact and fiction during the composition of Eugene Onegin; (resulting in his disastrous marriage), the brief glimpse of his benefactress during a stay at her apartments, the failed suicide attempt etc etc. However, these fascinating glimpses into well documented occurrences are undeveloped, and in their place we are left with a pastiche either of overly romanticised or histrionic scenes of theatrical fantasy.

    The real strength here lies in the actor's performances, even Richard Chaimberlain's stuffy and occasionally irritating performance has its moments and Glenda Jackson is wonderful as the vulnerable, unloved wife. The cinematography too is wonderful, evocative and colourful - perfectly in tune with the music of Tchaikovsk'y which also is used to great effect.

    If you can take Ken Russel's notorious penchant for the ridiculous (and at times, distasteful) and are not expecting the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, then The Music Lovers is worth watching if only for its being so gloriously over the top!
    helpful•18
    1
    • hoggaglust-1
    • Aug 21, 2007

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 17, 1971 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Languages
      • English
      • French
    • Also known as
      • The Lonely Heart
    • Filming locations
      • Pump Room, Roman Baths, Bath, Somerset, England, UK
    • Production companies
      • Russ-Arts
      • Russ Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • £1,600,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 3 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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