The Devils (1971)

User Rating:

7.7/10   

Director:

Ken Russell

Writers:

Aldous Huxley (novel)
Ken Russell (writer)

Release Date:

16 July 1971 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | History | Horror

Tagline:

Hell holds no surprises for them.

Plot:

This film focuses on an outspoken priest and a group of sexually repressed nuns in 17th-century France.

Plot Keywords:

Priest | France | 17th Century | Nun | Cardinal

Awards:

2 wins

Cast

Vanessa Redgrave	...	Sister Jeanne
Oliver Reed	...	Urbain Grandier
Dudley Sutton	...	Baron De Laubardemont
Max Adrian	...	Ibert
Gemma Jones	...	Madeleine
Murray Melvin	...	Mignon
Michael Gothard	...	Father Barre
Georgina Hale	...	Philippe
Brian Murphy	...	Adam
Christopher Logue	...	Cardinal Richelieu
Graham Armitage	...	Louis XIII
John Woodvine	...	Trincant
Andrew Faulds	...	Rangier
Kenneth Colley	...	Legrand
Judith Paris	...	Sister Judith

Also Known As:

Ken Russell's Film of The Devils (UK) (long title)
The Devils of Loudun

Runtime:

111 min | USA:103 min (cut version)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Canada:18+ (Quebec) | Canada:PA (Manitoba) | Canada:R (Ontario) | Italy:VM18 (re-rated) | Finland:(Banned) (1971) (theatrical release) | Finland:(Banned) (1985) (video release) | Finland:K-18 (2002) (self applied) | France:-18 | Australia:M (video rating) | Australia:R (original rating) | Ireland:(Banned) | Italy:(Banned) | Norway:18 | Sweden:15 | USA:R (edited for re-rating) (1979) | USA:X (original rating) | UK:X (theatrical rating, heavily cut) | UK:18 (video rating)

Filming Locations:

Bamburgh Beach, Bamburgh, Northumberland, England, UK

Company:

Russo Productions

Trivia:

This film was banned from Italy and its stars Vanessa Redgrave and Oliver Reed were threatened with three years' jail time if they set foot in that country. Reed described this as his best performance ever.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: Judith Paris's character is referred to as Sister Agnes in the film but listed as Sister Judith in the credits.

Quotes:

Jeanne: Oh, Christ, let me find a way to you. Take me in your sacred arms. Let the blood flow between us uniting us. (moans) Grandier. Grandier!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Behind the Mask: The Story of 'The Phantom of the Opera' (2005) (V)

One of the top ten films of the Seventies

This film never got the credit it deserved. It's both a savage socio-political critique in the vein of Millers "The Crucible" and a crazed excerise in Grand Guignol. Only Russell could have pulled this one out. Also features Oliver Reed in one his greatest roles. Father Grandier was Reeds Maximus.