Women in Love

I was born the day after this film was released but I only got around to seeing it last week after recording it from a film channel. I knew it had the wonderful Glenda Jackson in it (a distant cousin of my mother!

In Britain's Midlands in the 20's, an aspiring bisexual, upstream without a paddle, escapes one tyrannical affair only to be bogged down in an also unsatisfactory marriage with a well intentioned fishwife. A well heeled Mommie's boy, however scorned by both parents, and unable to express love, denies his latent homosexuality and is cast asunder.

I was engaged right from the off as it still looks and feels fresh which is praise indeed for a film over 50years old now. The script too is engaging but does become repetitive, pretentious and ponderous the longer the films goes on and it does go on too long.

Yes this movie can be slow and dull at times but don't deny yourself the gift of watching the great Glenda Jacksons Kate Bush-esque dance with highland cows.

The battle of the sexes and relationships among the elite of Britian's industrial Midlands in the 1920s. Gerald Crich (Oliver Reed) and Rupert Berkin (Alan Bates) are best friends who fall in love with a pair of sisters: Gudrun the sculptress (Glenda Jackson) and Ursula the schoolteacher (Jennie Linden).

Those who write scripts based on "classic novels" often complain that huge amounts of the text/scenes has to be junked in order to make it fit within the standard two hour movie window. This, I suppose, is why a television series can often be more satisfactory.

Ken Russell always was a unique director with a style unlike any other. He was also a very controversial one with some great films but also ones where his excesses tended to get in the way too much(Lisztomania being a primary example).

This is still a classic literary adaptation which succeeds in not playing safe. Great screenplay by Larry Kramer and controversial director Ken Russell's most successful film.

This film is a masterpiece. DH Lawrence has provided a wonderful story world for Ken Russellto explore modern notions of romance, monogamy -- sex and the beast.