The Devils (1971)
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A 17th-century priest is accused of witchcraft following a series of possessions in a French convent.
The story
In 1634 France, following the aftermath of the Huguenot rebellions, the French Catholic statesman Cardinal Richelieu influences King Louis XIII to centralize the country's government. In the town of Loudun, the local government falls into the hands of Urbain Grandier, a popular but dissolute priest. Amidst the local tension, a nun named Sister Jeanne des Anges becomes obsessed with Grandier. When a local nobleman arrives to demolish the town's fortifications, a conflict arises between local authority and royal decree. As tensions rise, rumors of witchcraft and demonic possession begin to circulate among the local population and the clergy.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In 1634 France, Cardinal Richelieu seeks to centralize power by dismantling fortifications. In the town of Loudun, the dissolute priest Urbain Grandier takes control of the city. He is pursued by the obsessed Sister Jeanne des Anges, who accuses him of witchcraft. When a nobleman, Baron de Laubardemont, arrives to demolish the city walls, a conflict ensues. During the turmoil, a 'professional witch-hunter' named Father Barre is brought in to conduct 'exorcisms' on the nuns. A public exorcism leads to a massive orgy in the church. Grandier and his lover, Madeleine De Brou, are arrested and Grandier is eventually sentenced to death by burning at the stake. He is executed, and the city's walls are blown up. In the aftermath, Sister Jeanne is left with Grandier's charred femur, and Madeleine wanders through the ruins of the city.
- First release year
- 1971
- Runtime (minutes)
- 111
- Production countries
- United Kingdom; United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Ken Russell
- Writers
- Ken Russell · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Vanessa Redgrave · Sister Jeanne des Anges; Oliver Reed · Urbain Grandier; Gemma Jones · Madeleine de Brou; Max Adrian · inquisitor Ibert; Dudley Sutton · Baron de Laubardemont; Murray Melvin · Father Mignon; Michael Gothard · Father Barre; Christopher Logue · Cardinal Richelieu; Georgina Hale · Philippe; Judith Paris · Sister Agnes
- Genres
- historical; psychological horror-drama
- Themes
- sexual repression; political corruption; religion
- Tone and mood
- baroque; grotesque; disturbing
- Premise and plot tags
- historical drama; witchcraft; religious conflict
- Content notes
- sexual content; graphic nudity
- Reception
- The film was highly controversial and received mixed to negative reviews from critics due to its explicit content, but it won awards for Best Director.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 57% · scale: percentage · review count: 105; Metacritic · score: 49 · scale: 100 · review count: 11
- Awards and nominations
- Best Director · Venice International Film Festival · win; Best Director · U.S. National Board of Review · win
- Production trivia
- The film was once considered one of the most controversial films of all time.; A character from the film makes a cameo in Space Jam: A New Legacy.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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