Lady Chatterly (Ken Russell/British TV Mini-Series)

 

Picture: C+     Sound: B-     Extras: C+     Episodes: B

 

 

When I kept telling people I was going to watch Ken Russell’s version of D.H. Lawrence’s Lady Chatterly, everyone immediately asked if it was X-rated, NC-17 rated or “how” could he do it.  Few remembered he had already done a controversial film called Whore (1991) with the daring Theresa Russell, which did get an NC-17.  When I continued that this adaptation would be a British mini-series, the shock caused no answer.  The tale of the title lady, whose husband cannot make love to her, and goes to find another man to have sex with at his behest is still a shocker to many to this day.  It is also a literary classic.

 

Had any other filmmaker approached this for TV, it would have been a disaster, but Russell’s 1992 version runs four hour-long episodes (50 minutes average each for commercials, co-written by Russell with Michael Haggiag) and is a remarkable work that manages to show and evoke strong erotic content without being sleazy or a spoof of itself.  There is serious suggested sex and nudity, but Russell is a master filmmaker and takes advantage of the length a feature film would not afford him to expound upon the literary classic in way that proves he may have been Stanley Kubrick’s only true peer in filming such works.

 

Joely Richardson is in great form as the title character, a woman who loves her husband (James Wilby, underplaying his role perfectly) and scoffs at his proposal.  He wants her to be happy and maybe hear about her “adventures” as a sad substitute for what they no longer have.  In her search, she meets gamekeeper Mellors (Sean Bean) whom she feels she could go with that would be safe and suitable.  However, the chemistry between the two turns out to be much stronger and her choice more dead-on than she ever expected.  A very hot, erotic connection instantly develops that throws all properness and Britishness right out the window.

 

Bean and Richardson are truly electric in their scenes together and everyone is totally convincing, as Russell keeps a consistent tone that makes you fell you are there.  The costume design, production design and locations are as dense as any filmmaker could bring together and deliver.  This is a difficult, tricky work to bring to life, especially now with so much sexuality out in the open, but Russell knows the body images in advertising and media are more of a shallow fashion statement than about anybody being free and human.  His Lady Chatterly proves how and why, while remaining strongly faithful to the original source material.  Russell is one of those elder filmmakers who has simply kept his touch.

 

The full frame image was shot on film by Robin Vidgeon, B.S.C., and the work looks very good.  The DVD offers more image quality than a TV broadcast at the time ever could and is only limited by the format itself.  The Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo has some good Pro Logic surround information and classical-like pieces composed by Jean Claude Petit.  That makes for a good combination.  Extras include a TV preview, behind the scenes stills, text on author D.H. Lawrence, cast/crew filmography text and 2/19/03 interview with Russell on tape in 16 X 9 letterboxed video running about 24 minutes.  It is insightful and shows one of the world’s most neglected directors speaking wisely throughout.  Acorn Media has released this as a double DVD set definitely worth your time.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo