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Podcast Episode Notes: The Treatment - Guillermo del Toro
Episode Overview
- Podcast Title: The Treatment
- Episode Title: The Treat: Guillermo del Toro
- Episode Description: Guillermo del Toro discusses his latest Oscar-nominated adaptation of *Frankenstein*, highlighting the beauty and artistry in gothic horror. He shares his admiration for filmmaker Ken Russell, known for his controversial and vibrant work.
Introduction
- Host: Elvis Mitchell
- Guest: Guillermo del Toro
- Main Theme: The beauty found in horror and transgressive filmmaking, with a focus on Guillermo del Toro's creative inspirations and Ken Russell's influential work.
Key Concepts and Discussions
Guillermo del Toro’s Creative Approach
- Del Toro emphasizes his ability to find "new and wild colorations" in well-known stories (e.g., *Pinocchio*, *Frankenstein*).
- His films often balance horror with aesthetic beauty, revealing deeper themes within familiar narratives.
Tribute to Ken Russell
- Significance: Del Toro celebrates Ken Russell as an "unsung hero" of cinema, recognizing his contributions to film that challenge conventions.
- Controversial Works:
- Russell’s film *The Devils* is highlighted as a striking example of transgressive cinema that remains censored, showcasing its impact and the risk associated with its themes.
- Del Toro comments on how Russell’s films provoke thought and evoke strong reactions, which has contributed to their censorship.
Notable Russell Films Cited
- The Devils: Cited for its provocative and gory themes, still not available in full cut on physical media.
- Women in Love: Described by del Toro as an "exclusive piece of filmmaking."
- The Savage Messiah: Noted for capturing the urgency of youth against the backdrop of impending doom.
Russell’s Range as a Filmmaker
- Del Toro asserts that many people only recognize Russell for his shock value, missing his versatility and subtler works.
- He refers to Russell’s black and white BBC films that display a more restrained and nuanced side of his artistry.
Personal Anecdote
- Del Toro shares a humorous and candid encounter with Ken Russell at the Telluride Film Festival, illustrating Russell’s notorious reputation:
- Their brief interaction ended with Russell telling del Toro to "f*** off," emphasizing his irreverent persona.
Conclusion
- Del Toro expresses admiration for Russell, calling him a “savage messiah” of film, highlighting both the beauty and complexity of his work.
- The episode wraps up with credits, noting the production team behind *The Treat*.
Key Takeaways
- Artistry in Horror: Del Toro’s work exemplifies how horror can contain profound beauty and artistic merit.
- Ken Russell’s Legacy: Russell’s films are a testament to the power of transgressive storytelling and its place in cinema history.
- Personal Connection: Del Toro’s anecdotes offer a personal glimpse into the impact of Russell’s work on contemporary filmmakers.
Production Information
- Produced by: Rebecca Mooney
- Mixed by: Katie Gilchrist
- Host: Elvis Mitchell
This episode serves as a rich exploration of artistic inspiration, revealing the layers within horror and the importance of acknowledging influential figures like Ken Russell in the film industry.
Written by AI. May contain mistakes. Listen to the episode to check what was said.
Chapters
Tap a time to open that second in VOCelebrating Ken Russell's Cinematic Genius
0:36 to 3:40
Guillermo del Toro discusses the artistry and impact of director Ken Russell.
“Ken Russell is one of the most savage messiahs of film, and particularly of importance, is one of the few films that are censored in the 21st century.”
Transcript
Automatic transcript. May contain errors.0:00Welcome to The Treat. I'm Elvis Mitchell. An adapting material we think we know, like Pinocchio, or his latest, Frankenstein. Writer-director Guillermo del Toro has discovered new and wild colorations in the familiar. His treat is a filmmaker who took works people thought they know and exploded notions about these subjects with an original and highly energetic approach. Hi, I'm Guillermo del Toro, and this is The Treat.
0:35And I want to talk about an unsung, or not sung enough hero of mine, which is Ken Russell. His majesty has triumphed again.
0:48Ken Russell is one of the most savage messiahs of film, and particularly of importance, is one of the few films that are censored in the 21st century. Shh! It's sacrilege! There he is. There's a man well worth going to hell for, eh?
1:12You know, when you have savage pieces of filmmaking, transgressive pieces of filmmaking, like, you know, that are just gory or grotesque, his film The Devils, which is exquisitely turgid and crazy and unbridled, is still censored by the studio. Warner Brothers will not release it on any physical media and certainly has never released the full cut of Russell. And those who witness it never forget it. Take away my hump. Take away my hump. Take away my hump. Christ, let me find a way to you. Take me in your sacred arms. Let the blood flow between us, uniting us. I think Women in Love is an exclusive piece of filmmaking, and The Savage Messiah, it captures the real urgency of youth with the ticking clock of war impending doom.
2:17It's really, really poignant. The proper way to eat a fig in society is to split it in four, holding it by the stump and open it so that it is a glittering, rosy, moist, honeyed, heavy-petaled, four-petaled flower. Then you throw away the skin. The thing with Russell is people that know only a few of his movies don't have a sense of his range. You know, he's always the shocking outre filmmaker that dares to break convention. His camera work is, by the way, phenomenal. and unbridled and technically very complex. But if you know his history and you know his black and white BBC films, you can see a much more sedate, a much more, I know this word is not often associated with his name, a much more subtle Ken Russell, even laconic sometimes.
3:14When Elgar was a boy, he spent hours on his own riding on his father's pony along the ridges of the Malvern Hills.
3:23The only time I met him, he lived to his reputation, I approached him in Telluride and I said, hello Mr. Russell, I'm Guillermo Toro, I'm a big fan and you're going to have to believe that, what I'm going to say. And he turned to me and said, f*** off. So that's my treat for you. Have a good day.
3:58Frankenstein director and Oscar nominee Guillermo del Toro on the shocking artistry of the late British director Ken Russell. The Treat is produced by Rebecca Mooney and mixed by Katie Gilchrist. I'm Elvis Mitchell. It's The Treat.
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From the publisher
Guillermo del Toro’s films often show the beauty even in their, at times, gothic horror. His latest is the Oscar nominated adaptation of Frankenstein, which is up for nine awards next month, including Best Picture. For del Toro’s treat, he celebrates the late director Ken Russell. Russell’s work often stoked controversy and was even censored, but as del Toro notes, it was also filled with dazzling beauty and craft.