The Devil Rides Out (1968)

Devil worshipers plan to convert two new victims.

Director:

Terence Fisher

Writers:

Richard Matheson (screenplay), Dennis Wheatley (novel)

Stars:

Christopher Lee, Charles Gray, Nike Arrighi

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Christopher Lee	...	Duc de Richleau
Charles Gray	...	Mocata
Nike Arrighi	...	Tanith Carlisle (as Niké Arrighi)
Leon Greene	...	Rex Van Ryn
Patrick Mower	...	Simon Aron
Gwen Ffrangcon Davies	...	Countess
Sarah Lawson	...	Marie Eaton
Paul Eddington	...	Richard Eaton
Rosalyn Landor	...	Peggy Eaton
Russell Waters	...	Malin

Storyline

In the countryside of England, the Duc de Richleau a.k.a Nicholas welcomes his old friend Rex Van Ryn that has flown to meet him and Simon Aron, who is the son of an old friend of them that had passed away but charged them the task of watching the youngster. Nicholas and Rex unexpectedly visit Simon that is receiving twelve mysterious friends. Sooner Nicholas, who is proficient in black magic, learns that the guests are member of a satanic cult and Simon and his friend Tanith Carlisle will be baptized by the powerful leader Mocata to serve the devil. The two friends abduct Simon and Tanith expecting to save their souls but Mocata summons the Angel of Death and the Goat of Mendes to help him in a battle between the good and the forces of evil.

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Plot Keywords:

baphomet | satanic goat | damsel in distress | butler | kidnapping | 

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Taglines:

The beauty of woman... the demon of darkness... the unholy union of "The Devil's Bride"!

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Genres:

Horror

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Certificate:

G

Details

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 July 1968 (UK)

Also Known As:

The Devil Rides Out

Filming Locations:

Elstree Studios, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Associated British-Pathé, Hammer Films, Seven Arts Productions

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Released as the main feature on a double bill with Prehistoric Women (1967).

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Goofs

The story is said to take place in April 1929, the green Bentley was not registered until September 11th 1931.

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Quotes

Marie Eaton: [watching Mocata prepare to sacrifice her daughter, Peggy] Those words you said before, say them again.
Duc de Richleau: [helplessly] I cannot!
Marie Eaton: [urgently] You must! My baby is going to die if you don't. You must speak those words again.
Mocata: [carrying on with the ritual] The bride of chaos.
[coven repeats]
Mocata: The rider upon the beast.
[coven repeats]
Mocata: With this knife, do I draw out the blood, which is thy life.
Marie Eaton: [possessed by the spirit of Tanith] Only they who love without desire, shall have power granted them in their darkest...
[...]

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Alternate Versions

The 2012 UK Blu-ray Disc released by Studio Canal features digitally enhanced special effects. The makers of the Blu-ray claim to complete shots which had never been finished due to budget reasons:

• Matte shot of Simon's mansion with the Observatory dome has been replaced with a CGI background.
• During the ritual at the climax of the movie a lightning has been replaced with a new CGI lightning.
• Spider sequence: Shadow for the spider has been added, some matte shots enhanced, and digital smoke added when the spider is sprayed with holy water.
• The Angel of Death sequence: A light effect is illuminating the door to cover the poor original optical effect when the angel rides through the door. The close up of the Angel of Death has a new background with flames as the original intended shot was never finished.
• The matte shots of Charley Grey's death in the fire have been digitally corrected as there were optical errors in the layers of the matte shots.
• Several other matte shots have been improved by removing matte lines.

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Connections

Featured in The Culture Show: Me, You and Doctor Who (2013)

User Reviews

glorious, non-stop, thrill of an adventure

Watching this on DVD after gap of a couple of years, more or less immersed in the horror of Italian giallo and the product of Japan, I am surprised at just how good this is. Has to be hot candidate for the best Hammer and one of the best Christopher Lee performances. He actually seemed to enjoy this role as an upper class Brit struggling to pit himself against the powers of evil. This reminded me a little of Night of the Demon and certainly shares with that film the 'ordinariness' of the chums struggling against the devil himself and the believable power of that 'dark side'. For me this just fails to get 100% due to what I reckon is the only disappointment; Leon Greene and it is a bit unfair because its probably more the way his part is written. This very English tradition of having a bumbling Dr Watson type character to help the lead to explain what's happening to the audience and also to show how very clever he is. Still, it's a minor gripe when this is such a glorious, non-stop, thrill of an adventure which I should also mention includes a most effective and key performance from Nike Arrighi who is most convincing as 'the possessed'. Excellent.