"Omnibus" Dante's Inferno (TV Episode 1967)

"Omnibus" Dante's Inferno (TV Episode 1967). 1h 30m | Not Rated

“To begin with, this is not an adaptation of the First Book of u0026quot;The Divine Comedyu0026quot; by Italyu0026#39;s foremost poet (though the subject would no doubt have fired the directoru0026#39;s imagination) but the life of obscure poet/painter Dante Gabriel Rossetti – played by Oliver Reed (whose abrasive personality was perfectly suited to Russellu0026#39;s over-the-top approach to cinema, which makes him very much an acquired taste but undeniably reveals a fiercely original talent at work). Even so, the style here is not yet the all-stops-out excess the film-maker is known for; incidentally, his celebrated programs for the BBC on the lives of various figures from the art and music world seemed to range in length from mini-features (running anywhere in the vicinity of an hour) to 90 minutes and, since this one falls in the latter category, does feel somewhat overlong for its purpose. The overall tone of the program is also rather highbrow (maybe I was just watching it at too late an hour!) due to the constant reciting of the undeniably sensitive poetry.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe end result is nevertheless impressive – being especially beautifully-shot (in monochrome) – yet, while Reed is characteristically imposing (attesting also to the depth he was capable of), the filmu0026#39;s most haunting contributions are those of two (out of the three) females Rossetti is involved with throughout. These are Judith Paris (as the pretty muse/wife he saved from prostitution and who herself later dabbles in the arts) and Gala Mitchell (a striking-looking model who later married one of his associates, dubbed collectively as the u0026quot;Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhoodu0026quot;). Oddly enough, I had just seen both in Russellu0026#39;s controversial Richard Strauss u0026#39;biopicu0026#39; DANCE OF THE SEVEN VEILS (1970) but neither had caught my eye to this extent, with the two films comprising Mitchellu0026#39;s entire body of work whereas Paris did other stuff (including more work for Russell, such as his notorious THE DEVILS {1971})! With this in mind, Mitchellu0026#39;s on-screen husband (Andrew Faulds) – who also left a good impression – seemed like a very familiar face but could not give it a name until I saw him listed in the end credits! u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eTo get back to the film, apart from Parisu0026#39; own stalling, her relationship with Reed is jeopardized by the influence his snobbish sister exerts over the protagonist. Later on, there is also the fact that Parisu0026#39; own paintings (taught by Rossetti) are preferred by a potential promoter! Other setbacks to their happiness include Parisu0026#39; tubercular condition and, as mentioned, Reedu0026#39;s dallying with other women (his spouse even accuses him of having fathered a child with Mitchell). When Paris dies, Reed buried his published poems with her but, told by the promoter they would fetch a good price, he unearths her casket after 7 years to retrieve them (Russellu0026#39;s hand is most evident during this scene, a teaser for which actually opens the film, but also a fantasy jousting sequence representing the bohemian camaraderie – set to a u0026#39;modernu0026#39; score that includes Irving Berlinu0026#39;s u0026quot;Thereu0026#39;s No Business Like Show Businessu0026quot;! – and Rossettiu0026#39;s derangement, brought on by a guilty conscience, following the exhumation). In fact, he even attempts suicide by laudanum – a substance Paris had abused of herself in an effort to cure her ailment – but is restored to health by yet another earthier model (looking a bit like u0026quot;Carry Onu0026quot; stalwart Barbara Windsor!) who had regularly sat for him…despite being, more often than not, mistreated at the volatile artistu0026#39;s hands.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eP.S. I was surprised that an elderly acquaintance of mine – who owns a garage stacked with 16mm and 35mm editions of hundreds of titles – included a copy of this one in his collection during one of my visits to his quaint home theater u0026#39;arrangementu0026#39;…although he was far from enthusiastic when I asked him about it!”