Ernest Dickerson on THE DEVILS
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- čas přidán 27. 02. 2022
- Ken Russell’s historical horror film sparked plenty of outrage and spilled soft drinks in 1971-and continues to do so; Warner Bros. remains steadfast in refusing a legitimate stateside home video release. More’s the pity-beautifully photographed by David Watkin, the movie features a remarkably tender performance from Oliver Reed as a rebellious priest, and a shockingly grotesque turn from Vanessa Redgrave as a sociopathic nun. Though the real terror lies in the repressive political environment of 17th century France, it isn’t hyperbole to warn, “Not for the faint of heart.”
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Ken Russell himself thanks you, dear Ernest! Wonderful commentary from Dickerson, the master of the visual, for what is surely a masterpiece.
- Ken’s wife
Woah!!
Thank you. I first saw "The Devils" in San Juan, Puerto Rico. I love this film. I hope we shall get the complete version Maestro Russell was showing at film festivals!
It blows my mind sometimes that major studios produced films like this back in the day. No way they make this today.
yeah! Warner Brothers and popular actors even. Normies took over.
1965 - 1975 was an exciting time because "Hollywood" had basically burned down and the "patients" were running the asylum. New young director's like John Cassevetes inspired by Europe's New Wave had free reign to start the American New Wave, so a golden age of experimental started. Unfortunately it ended with Jaws and Star Wars as the studio system came back with the "summer blockbuster". But guess what, Hollywood is crumbling again.....
Well, Warner Bros did refuse to release the film in the US once they got a look at it…
It is absolutely ridiculous that this film is being held hostage by Warner Bros.
they probably don't care. So many old movies and comics are gone because the companies don't care about their old assets
It's a tragedy Reed wasn't even nominated for an Oscar for this film. It is without a doubt his greatest performance.
Wonderful movie you have to see at least once
Fantastic movie. The British Film Institute (BFI) was allowed by WB to put out the X-rated cut in Region 2. It's still not wholly uncut, but is the most complete version of the film available on DVD. They did a fantastic job and it's well worth tracking down.
My favorite can-hardly-bear-to-ever-watch-again film that will haunt me til my final days.
I saw this film in London at a midnight show, back in the '70s, at an 'underground' theater. It haunted me for days, and I have have never forgotten how incredibly horrific, yet weirdly - in that perfect, Ken Russell way - beautiful it is. It certainly speaks truth to power. I finally managed to get it on a dvd from a rare film company, which wasn't too butchered, and I have to say; it hasn't lost any of its power. God, almighty...
The Devils is a masterpiece of cinema.
Thank God for the Carnegie Hall cinema, where I was able to see Ken Russell's The Devils when I was in college several centuries ago. Thank you Ernest for reigniting this film in my memory (and perhaps my imagination, because I still do not know whether I saw the completely unexpurgated version or not after all these years).
Was lucky enough to see it in a movie theater about 30 years ago. Watched it again this last year when it was streaming on Shudder. So wish it was available 4K Blu-ray.
How about a Blu-ray release of the unreleased Director's Cut restored by Mark Kermode in 2002 with help of Ken Russell [first shown at the National Film Theatre on 23/11-2004 and most recently, at the BBFC's 100th anniversary on October 2012] if we have to wait for an eternity to let the film fall into public domain, because of these country bunking executives from Warner Bros. making a policy to ban this particular version.
A magnificent film which I was fortunate enough to watch uncut in Brazil. I suggest pairing it with the 1960s Polish film MOTHER JOAN OF THE ANGELS, also based on the outbreak of hysteria at Loudon but antiseptic and chilling in contrast to the fervor of Ken Russell.
I am holding out hope that the good folks over at the Criterion Collection will some day get the rights to The Devils and release the film in its full, uncensored version. I will never forget seeing it on late-night HBO (when all the good stuff is shown) and even in its censored version (which at the time I had no idea this was not its original version) it was a pretty unnerving viewing experience. When I heard that Warner brothers still refuse to release the original cut it was both frustrating and a testament to the film that it continues to have such an effect after all these decades. But in this era of "extreme horror" I doubt that many will find any of this shocking. I read the book by Aldous Huxley which expands on the events and highly recommend reading it for those who like the film. The torture scenes with Oliver Reed are pretty brutal but very actual blood is shown. The mere suggestion of the devices employed by his torturers is enough to seen shiver down your spine. It reminds me of the sequence in The Passion of Joan of Arc when she witnesses the medieval devices she was about to endure. This is arguably Ken Russell's masterpiece and it shouldn't be held hostage by Warner brothers.
Almost certainly never going to be released in it's director's cut as the surviving unique to that version footage is in very bad shape. Couple that with the fact Warner's USA really seem to hate this film while Warner's UK (who happily allow a packed special edition DVD of the BBFC cut to remain in print) seem to regard it as too niche to bother spending time and money restoring.
Criterion Collection specialize in niche cinema. If not them then Arrow or another distribution company that champion these films that will never find a wide audience (their loss) and target those who have a taste for more challenging films than the trash being released nowadays. I keep a hopeful thought.
@@madahad9 In exchange for the UK blu-ray rights about 10 years ago the British Film Institute offered to restored the director's cut at their own expense as part of their Film Forever Future proofing archive project of major British films. Even then despite Warner's UK's initial enthusiasm Warner's USA ultimately gave the project a hard no meaning we had to make do with a DVD only release (and a superb one it is)
As such I doubt even Criterion could wrangle this title off Warner's. The Devils IMO is up their with Song of the South and Star Wars eps 4-6 original theatrical versions in that it may be a most wanted title on the format but will never to be released on blu-ray.
@@madahad9 In exchange for the UK blu-ray rights about 10 years ago the British Film Institute offered to restored the director's cut at their own expense as part of their Film Forever Future proofing archive project of major British films. Even then despite Warner's UK's initial enthusiasm Warner's USA ultimately gave the project a hard no meaning we had to make do with a DVD only release (and a superb one it is)
As such I doubt even Criterion could wrangle this title off Warner's. The Devils IMO is up their with Song of the South and Star Wars eps 4-6 original theatrical versions in that it may be a most wanted title on the format but will never to be released on blu-ray.
Ernest Dickerson is one of my heros as a black filmmaker my self
Brilliant commentary, brother Dickerson! I have loved this film since seeing it, as a teenager, in the "X" rated British cut, in San Juan, Puerto Rico! I am now 68, and keep hoping the uncensored Director's Cut, which Ken Russell showed at film festivals, also shown by Mark Kermode at BFI, shall get leased to Criterion Collection Blu-ray! Or 4K? Thank you, brilliant brother!
one of my all time favorite films hosted by one of my all time favorite directors, I used a bevy of footage from The Devils in my Pandemic Montage
This man is so smart it's no surprise that Spike Lee worked with him on many movies
Hear, Hear!
Maybe one day it will be on a double feature with London After Midnight.
I still hope for both!
Thank you Ernest!
I just discovered your Channel and it’s Electric!!!!
ED always does a super job with Trailers From Hell. Ken Russell is one of the all time greats. Seeing uncut The Devils on the big screen is one of my life's wishes.
Still potent after 50 years.
A masterpiece that deserves to be seen More. I highly recommend the BFI dvd, lots of cool extras.
We have to force WB to release the full uncit versión #releasethedevils
Thank you, E. D. Great presentation.
Excellent commentary. Thank you.
Love Ernest Dickerson! What a good man, whether on the lens or directing it, and, thanks, btw, for bringing out some Ken Russell!
Such a beautiful, brave, ambitious, lunatic film, even in the expurgated version that I have watched (and compelled others to watch) lo these many years. I hope I live to see it made whole, despite the vain and disordered life that I have lived.
Extra points for incorporating Grandier’s words into your reply! 👏
This was the last movie I watched on Filmstruck as it shut down. Just seemed fitting. Batshit crazy and awesome.
Just watched Paul Verhoeven's Benedetta and it was fun. The few footage you show in the video is enough to convince me to watch it when i have the chance.
A lot scarier than 99% of horror movies.
If Warner Bros. can’t release a Director’s Cut of this film despite releasing The Exorcist, they’re foolish.
Guillermo Del Toro advocates this film.
Criterion needs to push to distribute this.
Very hard to find.
Will WB ever release this film uncut and give it to the world?! It's been FIFTY years!! I'd wager the original censors aren't even still alive! Release The Devils!
Dear Warner Bros. ,
Unleash The Devils.
Sincerely, Movie lovers everywhere.
Surviving the Game should be on Blu-ray too
Art
Incredible film
WB has yet to release this film for sale in the USA, bunch of chickens
I thought the 'X' cut was streaming on Shudder last year.
Sadly it was the 108 minute R-rated cut, which they just pulled off at the end of last month (They will probably bring it back soon but who knows). As of now, the only way to stream it is via AMC+ on Apple TV (as the actual AMC+ app doesn’t even have it on there). This was how I finally saw it last weekend for the first time (via a free trial) and I was blown away by it. Right after I finished it, I watched the Hell on Earth documentary here on CZcams and was finally exposed to The Rape of Christ and femur sequences which were left out of that cut. I hope one day someone releases the unedited version of this movie on physical media. It’s an absolute masterpiece, and one I would tell others to watch at their own risk. Because once you’ve see The Devils, you can’t unsee it.
Looks like a bad dream....
A very bad dream.
If Criterion or someone else puts out a nice blu ray set, it will be a day one buy for me.
I'm expecting Arrow Video to distribute it any year now.
@@overlookers My bet on the most probable releaser of an unexpurgated version would be on Severin or possibly Vinegar Syndrome... but especially Severin. They are all into this kind of movie and recently released a box set of "nunsploitation" films called "Nasty Habits", so I feel sure they'd be right at home with "The Devils".
dear rattlehead . it would be a day one release for me too. whoever is banning the devils should be throughtly ashamed of themselves . we live in a world where we have freedom of choice how under that system can anybody ban this film . they need to respect the fact that there are great many people out there who want to see this film ( me included and in its unedited directors cut form ) and release it now instead of acting like dictators . From Michael from Yorkshire and proud of it .
I remember seeing this some years ago when I rented a DVD from a local video store that had some very arty titles. I'd already read that it was notorious even for Ken Russell so I was somewhat prepared. Whatever version I saw still had plenty in it to shock but once it was over and I got past the naked nun craziness, I realized this was a very trenchant analysis (dare I say evisceration) of political/religious corruption and the total destruction that results from it. It's a shame that the way that this story is told is (and must be) so graphic because it really should be required viewing. Wonderful film--not easy to watch but a fine, fine movie!
Catholic guilt is rampant at Warner Bros (or we would have seen a DVD 📀 / Blu Ray 💿 years ago!) 🙄
Isn't there a version released with rape of Christ etc added?
I've seen it, but I'm pretty sure it was the butchered version that I saw.
😈
i want the original cut - i don't understand in a world in wich vulgarity is at his peak(lgbtq-woke-feminism-cancel culture-anti white hate-zionism-antifas-scum teacher) why warner still refuse to release the original ken russel cut !!!!! we all know who's run the hollywood system , and who are their god !!!!