Ken Russell’s The Devils Director’s Cut Finally Getting Released

Warner Bros has announced that Ken Russell’s historical horror-drama, The Devils, will officially receive a restored re-release at the 79th Cannes Film Festival as part of Cannes Classics. The film, released in 1971, takes inspiration from the 17th-century Roman priest Urbain Grandier and his downfall, as prompted by accusations of witchcraft alongside alleged possessions in France’s Loudun, in addition to featuring a side-storyline focused on Sister Jeanne des Anges’s sexual repression and encouragement of the trial against the priest. The Devils starred multi-award-winning Vanessa Redgrave and onscreen hellraiser Oliver Reed.

Russell’s film triumphed over initial negative responses and screening cancellations at Venice to achieve positive reviews and reassessments hailing it as a masterpiece. The director went on to win both Best Director at the National Board of Review and Best Director for a Foreign Film at the Venice Film Festival, as well as one previous Oscar nomination for 1969’s Women in Love.

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After its Cannes run, Warner Bros. Clockwork will officially run Russell’s film theatrically, with a North American release date coming on the 16th of October and the British Film Institute in London’s vibrant Southbank covering the UK release.

Details of Ken Russell’s Cut, cited as the “definitive cut“, include a 4K restoration and a 35mm mag film audio restoration as provided across Warner Bros.  The director’s cut was carried out initially in 2004, with the film’s editor, Michael Bradsell, working with renowned critic Mark Kermode and photographer Paul Joyce, alongside Russell.

This re-release will be “the first time Russell’s defining masterpiece will officially be made accessible to the public.”

The 79th Cannes Film Festival will run from 12th May to 23rd May. 

The Devils is set for cinemas again on October 16th for one week.

About the Author

Ros Tibbs

Editor

Ros is a film and lit graduate writing news and reviews at The People's Magazine. She also writes long-form film theory, film history, analytical or curated recommendations pieces on other platforms.

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