The Devil Rides Out (1968)

User Rating:

7.2/10   

Director:

Terence Fisher

Writers:

Richard Matheson (writer)
Dennis Wheatley (novel)

Release Date:

20 July 1968 (UK)

Genre:

Horror

Tagline:

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

Plot:

Some followers of Satan want to sacrifice the niece of the Duke of Richeleau. But they did not think...

Plot Keywords:

Sacrifice | Car Chase | Black Magic | Blood | Giant Spider

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

Also Known As:

The Devil's Bride (USA)

Runtime:

Spain:96 min | USA:95 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Certification:

UK:15 | Finland:K-16 | USA:G

Filming Locations:

Black Park Country Park, Wexham, Buckinghamshire, England, UK

Company:

Associated British-Pathé

Trivia:

Patrick Allen also did the voiceover for the UK trailer of this film.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Rex arrives at the forest to witness the Black Mass, it is almost totally dark. Later in the evening when he phones de Richleau, however, the view outside de Richleau's window shows it is broad daylight.

Quotes:

Duc de Richleau: [watching as Rex and Tanith, now restored to life, walks toward the house] Come in my friends.
Marie Eaton: [rushes into the room with husband Richard carrying Peggy] She's alright!
[Sees Tanith standing there]
Marie Eaton: Tanith!
Duc de Richleau: Time itself has been reversed for us. Tanith's death; Peggy's abduction; the ride to Chilbury; the ritual in the cellar... all these things happened. But now, they have not happened. We're back. We are all safe again.
Simon Aron: And is Mocata also safe?
Duc de Richleau: You will also remember, Simon, what I said to you about the Angel of Death once being summoned...
Simon Aron: ...cannot return empty handed!
Duc de Richleau: Exactly. Tanith has been restored to us. But the age old law demands a life for a life, a soul for a soul. And there is only one man in all this world who could replace her life, her soul. The man who invoked the Angel of Death. Mocata *is* dead.
Simon Aron: Thank God!
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Scream Greats, Vol. 2: Satanism and Witchcraft (1986)

Grand Battle of Good Versus Evil

One of Terrence Fisher's greatest directorial efforts certainly is this stylish, witty, thrilling adaptation of a Dennis Wheatley novel. Richard Matheson did the screenwriting honors, ad like most of what he touches, it turns to gold. This film has a wonderful score throughout, some superior set pieces and some pretty novel special effects for its day. But behind all of this is the central, universal battle between the forces of good and evil, represented by the characters of Christopher Lee and Charles Gray. Both actors do an excellent job. This may indeed be Christopher Lee's finest performance, which is all the more surprising since he not only plays a good man but also is in a role that Peter Cushing would have devoured. Lee, from the very onset of the film, plays a man well-versed in knowledge of the occult and whose presence literally steals scene after scene. His counterpart, the malevolent Charles Gray, is just as good as Lee's antithesis. Gray is an underrated actor whose presence also illuminates and transcends the screen. The film boasts some great scenes including the much heralded Angel of Death scene, and there is a great scene between Gray and Lee's niece. A tremendous film in many respects and one of Lee's best, Fisher's best and Hammer's best!