Based on an ancient Scottish folk song, an older woman uses witchcraft to keep her young jet-set friends.
Executive producer Dave Erickson tells IMDb what fans can learn from the new Season 1 Special Edition DVD commentary and serves up some key tidbits about Season 2.
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Title: The Devil's Widow (1970)
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Cast
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| Ava Gardner | ... |
Michaela Cazaret
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| Ian McShane | ... |
Tom Lynn
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Richard Wattis | ... |
Elroy
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| Cyril Cusack | ... |
Vicar Julian Ainsley
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| Stephanie Beacham | ... |
Janet Ainsley
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David Whitman | ... |
Oliver
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Fabia Drake | ... |
Miss Gibson
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| Sinéad Cusack | ... |
Rose
(as Sinead Cusack)
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| Joanna Lumley | ... |
Georgia
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Jenny Hanley | ... |
Caroline
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Madeline Smith | ... |
Sue
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| Bruce Robinson | ... |
Alan
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Victoria Fairbrother | ... |
Vanna
(as Pamela Farbrother)
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Rosemary Blake | ... |
Kate
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Michael Bills | ... |
Michael
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Plot Summary
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Plot Synopsis
See All (3) »
Storyline
Based on the ancient Scottish ballad "Tam Lin" (one of it's many titles), the plot concerns an aging, beautiful woman who uses her wealth (and occasionally, witchcraft) to control a decadent pack of attractive young people she surrounds herself with. But when her latest young stud falls for the local vicar's daughter, she vows revenge. Written by phillindholm
Plot Keywords:
grande dame guignol | older woman younger man relationship | independent film |Taglines:
the story of a kind of woman few people even exist... See more »Genres:
HorrorMotion Picture Rating (MPAA)
Rated PG-13 for some sexuality/nudity, thematic elements, violence and smoking | See all certifications »Parents Guide:
View content advisory »
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See full technical specs »
Details
Country:
UKLanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
September 1972 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
The Devil's Widow See more »Filming Locations:
Traquair House, Innerleithen, Peebles, Scottish Borders, Scotland, UKCompany Credits
Show detailed
company contact information
on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
MonoColor:
Color (Technicolor)Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1
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Written by Bert Jansch, Jacqui McShee, Terry Cox, John Renbourn and Danny Thompson
Performed by The Pentangle
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
It was due to his directing this movie that Roddy McDowall was unable to reprise his role as Cornelius in Beneath the Planet of the Apes (1970). See more »Soundtracks
The Best Part of YouWritten by Bert Jansch, Jacqui McShee, Terry Cox, John Renbourn and Danny Thompson
Performed by The Pentangle
See more »
One should be a fan of British cinema, retro pop culture, fantasy/folklore, and personal auteur-ship for maximum enjoyment of this likable but format-challenged film from the late 1960's/early 70's. I sure am, and as such quite savored this cinematic retelling of the Tam Lin ballad.
It's sufficiently enjoyable that I immediately transferred the VHS tape to DVD for future viewings. One suspects it had been slated for same, what with its 17 minute director's introduction, but remained lost in the ether of Republic Pictures' post-demise assorted distribution deals. One further suspects that its release under of aegis of an Ava Gardner tribute series was the ticket for its seeing light of day at all post theatrical debut. It's been written that Roddy McDowell lost control of this, his only directed film, with it subsequently languishing in drive-ins of the 1970's under such noms-du-exploitation as "The Devil's Widow!" As McDowell's sole direction job, this is a movie one ever so wants to be as good as Charles Laughton's similar solo effort "Night of the Hunter," which it isn't and cannot be, as few films can match "Hunter's" expert, mannerist weirdness. McDowell's is a B+ to Laughton's A+. What is it does share is the quirkiness of a singular vision, seeming unlike anything else of its respective era while still conforming to mainstream requisites, and the retelling of a dreamy but occasionally frightening fairy tale in modern clothes, with assorted decidedly odd touches. A true loss to cinema that both actors never directed another film.
Simply put, it's the ballad of Tam Lin (its original title in fact) retold with late '60's characters, and peopled with a cast of still working, familiar British names like Ian McShane (representing the titular captured knight Tam Lin,) Joanna Lumley and Stephanie Beacham (the Hammer horror ingénue, here as the ballad's Janet) with both Cyril and Sinead Cusack in tow. Gardner as the controlling "Faerie Queen" seems an apt focus of the swirling debaucheries and cruelties rationalized as group activity fun. This, strangely, isn't so much part of the fantasy as modern viewers might conclude: some of us who were adolescents in the '60's remember the genuine, wealthy older types lending their mansions to us young'uns in order to share in the decadent fun, whether vicariously or actively.
In "Tam Lin" you'll find a little seen but quite good updated fairy story, plus amusing music from jazz to the Pentangle, great costuming, retro period fun, gorgeous Scottish border scenery and an always great to watch cast. Time for whoever owns Republic's split assets this week to fund that DVD release.