This audacious, vulgar, freewheeling fantasia on the life of pianist Franz Liszt ranks among director Ken Russells most outrageous efforts. Roger Daltrey, lead singer for The Who, is awkward yet likeable as the flamboyant piano performer with a bevy of fetching mistresses and groupies, while Paul Nicholas is completely outlandish as the scheming opera composer Richard Wagner. Theres no nod to reality here: Liszt and Wagner were in fact friends, and Liszt, who became Wagners father-in-law, actually assisted in the production of Wagners opulent productions. Russell, on the other hand, presents Wagner as Liszts jealous rival ready to wreak havoc on the world by unleashing a cryogenic Viking (Yes keyboardist Rick Wakeman) and a horde of machine-gun wielding robot Nazis. In a finale out of Flash Gordon serials, Liszt saves the day after surviving a guillotine designed for phallic dismemberment. The film is fast and loud and wildly undisciplined, much like one of Liszts Hungarian Rhapsodies. Look fast and youll see Ringo Starr as the pope.~ Les Stone, All Movie Guide