Ian is joined by Dr Matt Melia to discuss one of Britain's most prolific, influential and contoversial filmmakers, Ken Russell. On this opening episode we discuss three of his trademark composer biographies as he made the transtion from the small to the big screen. 

Song of Summer (1968). Directed by Ken Russell. From the book by Eric Fenby. Starring Max Adrian, Christopher Gable and Maureen Pryor,

Dance of the Seven Veils (1970). Directed by Ken Russell. Written by Russell and Henry Reed. Starring Christopher Gable, Judith Paris and Kenneth Colley,

The Music Lovers (1971). Directed by Ken Russell. Written by Melvyn Bragg. Starring Richard Chamberlain and Glenda Jackson 

Matt Melia is a senior lecturer in Literature, Film and Media at Kingston University, London. He is the editor of Refocus: The Films of Ken Russell