The Devils (1971)

Director:

Ken Russell

Writers:

Aldous Huxley (novel)
Ken Russell (writer)
(more)

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
Catherine Willmer	...	Sister Catherine
Iza Teller	...	Sister Iza
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Imogen Claire	...	Nun (uncredited)
Selina Gilbert	...	Nun (uncredited)
Alex 'Alien' Russell	...	(uncredited)
Doremy Vernon	...	Nun (uncredited)

Directed by
Ken Russell

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Aldous Huxley		novel "The Devils of Loudon"
Ken Russell		writer
John Whiting		play

Produced by
Roy Baird	....	associate producer
Ken Russell	....	producer
Robert H. Solo	....	producer

Original Music by
Peter Maxwell Davies

Cinematography by
David Watkin

Film Editing by
Michael Bradsell

Production Design by
Derek Jarman

Art Direction by
Robert Cartwright

Costume Design by
Shirley Russell

Makeup Department
Ramon Gow	....	hair stylist
Charles E. Parker	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Graham Ford	....	unit manager
Neville C. Thompson	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Ted Morley	....	assistant director
Nicolas Hippisley-Coxe	....	second second assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Terry Apsey	....	construction manager
George Ball	....	property manager
Derek Jarman	....	set designer
Alan Tomkins	....	assistant art director
Ian Whittaker	....	set dresser
Bryn Siddall	....	property buyer (uncredited)

Sound Department
Gordon K. McCallum	....	sound mixer
Terry Rawlings	....	dubbing editor
Brian Simmons	....	sound recordist
John Hayward	....	sound re-recording mixer (uncredited)

Special Effects by
John Richardson	....	special effects

Camera and Electrical Department
Peter Ewens	....	assistant camera
John Swan	....	electrical supervisor
Ronnie Taylor	....	camera operator
Robin Browne	....	director of photography: second unit (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Tiny Nicholls	....	wardrobe supervisor

Editorial Department
Stuart Baird	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Peter Maxwell Davies	....	conductor
David Munrow	....	period music arranger and director

Other crew
Harry Benn	....	production controller
Terry Gilbert	....	choreographer
Ann Skinner	....	continuity
Geoff Freeman	....	unit publicist (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Russo Productions

Distributors

• Warner Bros. Pictures (1971) (USA) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (1971) (France) (theatrical)
• Cinefear (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (????) (USA) (VHS)

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) (1985) (video release) | Finland:(Banned) (1971) (theatrical 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:

While preparing for the climactic demolition of the city walls, a technician mistook a signal from Ken Russell and detonated the explosives before the cameras were rolling. A large chunk of the set had to be rebuilt.

Goofs:

Continuity: Early in the movie when Urbain Grandier (Oliver Reed) is seen grooming his hair. It is a close-up of him supposedly looking at a mirror in the upper left hand corner of the screen, behind the viewer. Obviously there is no mirror as he consistently misses combing the more egregiously messed up parts of his hair and instead repeatedly combs the portions that are already groomed. In fact when he is done, his hair is still messed up.

Quotes:

Grandier: My lords, I am innocent of the charges. And I am afraid. But I have the hope in my heart that, before this day ends, Almighty God will glance aside and let my suffering atone for my vain and disordered life. Amen.

Movie Connections:

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

A Beautifully disturbing film

Ken Russell is one of those filmmakers whose work you can immediately identify. Whether your first was "Altered States" or (like me) "The Devils," you learn early on that if Mr. Russell's name is listed as director and/or writer, you can expect to be at least a little disturbed.

"The Devils" is, in my humble opinion, one of the best films ever made. I wish I hadnt been born so late because I can imagine how truly intense an experience it must've been to view "The Devils" in theater.

This film is the only film I've ever seen, regardless of genre, to take the viewer into the pit of hell and to hold her/him there unrelenting, uncompromising, and to make the viewer feel as s/he has actually experienced hell. I can only imagine how much difficulty Mr. Russell must have had when MPAA members saw this film. It's bleak, horrifying, shocking, disgusting and thoroughly delicious. Aldous Huxley (the author of the book on which this film was based) would have been proud to see that his true story of a Satanic Catholic church translated very well to film.

One last thing: I have never really been able to sit through the entire film since the first time I saw it. That is, odd as it sounds, extreme praise. What kind of hell would it be if I could sit comfortably?

Thank you, Ken Russell!