The Music Lovers

1971
R
2h 3m

IMDb RATING

7.2/10

3.1K

YOUR RATING

Richard Chamberlain and Glenda Jackson in 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

74 Photos

Period Drama Biography Comedy Drama Music

Piano teacher Peter Ilych Tchaikovsky struggles against his latent homosexuality by getting married. Unfortunately he chooses nymphomaniac Antonina Milyukova, a depressed former student whom... Read allPiano teacher Peter Ilych Tchaikovsky struggles against his latent homosexuality by getting married. Unfortunately he chooses nymphomaniac Antonina Milyukova, a depressed former student whom he cannot satisfy.Piano teacher Peter Ilych Tchaikovsky struggles against his latent homosexuality by getting married. Unfortunately he chooses nymphomaniac Antonina Milyukova, a depressed former student whom he cannot satisfy.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.2/10

3.1K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 1 nomination

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 reviews53

Review

Featured review

7/10

A few boring moments, many terrific ones.

Although this film is difficult to follow at times (and, reportedly, historically inaccurate, too; I wouldn't know), there are still several reasons to see it:

1) Glenda Jackson's outstanding performance (you won't believe that the actress we see at the final stages of the film is the same one who played Tchaikovsky's wife early on, but it is - her transformation is amazing).

2) Some truly impressive sequences; be sure to watch this movie on tape, so you can rewind it and watch them again.

3) Tchaikovsky's music, of course.

4) Lush sets and costumes.

Ken Russell is a very unpredictable director; just when you think the film is about to start boring you, he'll give you a wonderful moment out of nowhere.