The Devils

Ken Russell’s baroque masterpiece, with lead roles for Oliver Reed and Vanessa Redgrave, is based on Aldous Huxley’s factual historical novel, The Devils of Loudun. Neurotic nun Jeanne (Vanessa Redgrave) accuses priest Urbain Grandier (Oliver Reed), an infamous womanizer, of entering into a pact with the devil. She says he has cursed her. Cardinal Richelieu intervenes, sending his inquisitors.

Upon its release, the film stirred up great controversy owing to the nudity and violence, and the sensitive religious theme. Russell’s phenomenal sense of style and the acting by Reed and Redgrave remain as stunning as ever; some of the sets were designed by a very young Derek Jarman.

4K restoration

Ken Russell’s The Devils is the definitive cut, and no other director’s cut formally exists. This cut was originally reconstructed in 2004 under the supervision of Ken Russell and the film’s editor Michael Bradsell. The 4K restoration was completed using the original camera negative at WB Water Tower Color, with audio restoration completed using original composite 35mm magnetic film at WB Sound.