Release CalendarTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV News
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb SpotlightFamily Entertainment GuideIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsCannes Film FestivalStar WarsAsian Pacific American Heritage MonthSummer Watch GuideSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • Language
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Watchlist
Sign In
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Use app
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
IMDbPro

The Secret Life of Arnold Bax

  • TV Movie
  • 1992
  • 1h
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
67
YOUR RATING
Ken Russell and Glenda Jackson in The Secret Life of Arnold Bax (1992)
Drama

A biopic about the eminent composer Sir Arnold Bax.A biopic about the eminent composer Sir Arnold Bax.A biopic about the eminent composer Sir Arnold Bax.

  • Director
    • Ken Russell
  • Writer
    • Ken Russell
  • Stars
    • Alan Arthur
    • Hetty Baynes
    • Maurice Bush
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.3/10
    67
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Ken Russell
    • Writer
      • Ken Russell
    • Stars
      • Alan Arthur
      • Hetty Baynes
      • Maurice Bush
    • 1User review
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 1 nomination total

    Photos

    Top cast8

    Edit
    Alan Arthur
    • The Waiter
    Hetty Baynes
    Hetty Baynes
    • Annie
    Maurice Bush
    • The Doorman
    Kenneth Colley
    Kenneth Colley
    • John Ireland
    Melissa Docker
    • Sybil Chadwick
    Glenda Jackson
    Glenda Jackson
    • Harriet Cohen
    Maureen Murray
    Maureen Murray
    • The Manageress
    Ken Russell
    Ken Russell
    • Sir Arnold Bax
    • Director
      • Ken Russell
    • Writer
      • Ken Russell
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews1

    7.367
    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10

    Featured reviews

    rondo898

    The Real Life of a Composer

    A cheaply-made TV movie about the romantic life of English composer Arnold Bax (1883-1953). Set in 1948, it is remarkably accurate, as Bax loved women and had many affairs, including a long relationship with virtuoso pianist Harriet Cohen (1895-1967) played here by Glenda Jackson. As in the movie, Cohen expected Bax to marry her once his wife died, but he never mentioned his wife's death or proposed, as he preferred to chase after younger women.

    Directed by Ken Russell (1927-2011), who plays the lead role (and bears a remarkable similarity to the elderly Bax), the plot is rather dull but might appeal to lecherous old men. Some brief nudity featuring Russell's wife at the time, Hetty Baynes, as Annie.

    One example of the quality of production occurs when Bax follows Annie from the theater, and the London street is parked full of autos of the1990s.

    More like this

    Isadora
    7.3
    Isadora
    The Rainbow
    6.3
    The Rainbow
    The Fall of the Louse of Usher: A Gothic Tale for the 21st Century
    4.2
    The Fall of the Louse of Usher: A Gothic Tale for the 21st Century
    The Strange Affliction of Anton Bruckner
    7.5
    The Strange Affliction of Anton Bruckner
    The Mystery of Dr Martinu
    7.3
    The Mystery of Dr Martinu
    Dogboys
    4.7
    Dogboys
    Il Mefistofele
    7.1
    Il Mefistofele
    A British Picture
    6.6
    A British Picture
    Alice in Russialand
    7.9
    Alice in Russialand
    Mindbender
    3.8
    Mindbender
    Prisoner of Honor
    6.5
    Prisoner of Honor
    Women in Love
    7.1
    Women in Love

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      This was the final screen appearance of Glenda Jackson for nearly three decades, until Elizabeth Is Missing (2019). She quit acting to enter politics, serving as a Member of Parliament from 1992 to 2015.

    Top picks

    Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
    Sign in

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 22, 1992 (United Kingdom)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Das Doppelleben des Arnold Bax
    • Filming locations
      • Highcliffe Castle, Dorset, England, UK
    • Production companies
      • Dreamgrange
      • London Weekend Television (LWT)
      • RM Arts
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    • IMDb Answers: Help fill gaps in our data
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb app
    Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
    Follow IMDb on social
    Get the IMDb app
    For Android and iOS
    Get the IMDb app
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • License IMDb Data
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2025 by IMDb.com, Inc.