Russell’s composer biopics were usually labours of love. This was the opposite: he regarded Strauss’s music as 'bombastic, sham and hollow', and despised the composer for claiming to be apolitical while cosying up to the Nazi regime. Strauss is depicted in a variety of grotesquely caricatured situations: attacked by nuns after adopting Nietzsche’s philosophy, duels with jealous husbands, literally batters his critics into submission with his music, and glorifies the women in his life and fantasies.

Rating: 8

Cast:

Maggy

Maxwell

Otto

Diamant

Gala

Mitchell

Anna

Sharkey

Rita

Webb

Christopher

Gable

Judith

Paris

Kenneth

Colley

James

Mellor

Vladek

Sheybal

Imogen

Claire

Sally

Bryant

Maggy

Maxwell

Otto

Diamant

Gala

Mitchell

Anna

Sharkey

Rita

Webb

Christopher

Gable

Judith

Paris

Kenneth

Colley

James

Mellor

Vladek

Sheybal