Review of The Devils (1971) by Tony P — 19 Jun 2015
Well what can I say about this film. A secret gem from 1971 from director Ken Russell.
The film is a British horror/historical drama based on the 1952 Aldous Huxley novel 'The Devils of Loudon' and the 1960 John Whiting play 'The Devils'.
The film was banned in several territories and where it has been shown has faced heavy editing to pass local censors.
The film features several scenes that proved controversial on release and to this day including full frontal nudity, nuns masturbating and scenes of torture. In addition scenes or descriptions of Roman Catholic Priests fornicating.
The cast includes great performances from a young Oliver Reed as Father Urbain Grandier.
Vanessa Redgrave as Sister Jeanne.
Michael Gothard (Locque in For Your Eyes Only) plays Father Barre, a witch hunter.
The film has great cinematography in its filming locations in Northumberland.
The production/set design is also excellent of the nuns convent and the town of Loudon.
The plot you ask!
Basically it is 17th century France.
The King is being influenced to order the removal of fortifications of towns/cities across France to prevent the Protestant population from uprising.
The King agrees except in the town of Loudon controlled now by Oliver Reeds character Urbain Grandier a local Priest.
The sister of the town nunnery Sister Jeanne des Anges (Redgrave) is sexually obsessed with Grandier. She turns mad when she learns of Grandier's marriage to another woman and refusal of Grandier to become the convent confessor.
She makes false allegations about Grandier to representatives of the King and another Priest sent to Loudon to publically exorcise her demons.
The remainder of the film sees her fellow nuns be publically exorcised and Grandier being tried.
Grandier is tortured and executed allowing the walls of Loudon to come tumbling down!
This review of The Devils (1971) was written by Tony P on 19 Jun 2015.
The Devils has generally received positive reviews.
Was this review helpful?
