For the first time ever, the Director’s Cut of Ken Russell’s controversial 1971 horror movie The Devils has been restored and remastered, and the new trailer teases never-before-seen footage.
This is the only version of the film that Ken Russell wanted audiences to see, uncensored and rated NC-17 by the MPA for “sexual content/graphic nudity” – the first time Warner Bros. will be releasing a film with this rating in the 103-year history of the studio.
As such, don’t expect the trailer below to get too revealing.
Warner Bros. Clockwork will release the film in theaters globally this fall, in partnership with the British Film Institute (BFI) in the UK. It opens in select North American theaters on October 16 for an exclusive one-week engagement with international theatrical dates to be announced.
Based on Aldous Huxley’s 1952 non-fiction novel The Devils of Loudun and its 1961 stageplay adaptation, The Devils is set in 17th-century Loudun, France.
Oliver Reed stars as Grandeur in the film, complete with the sex appeal that has all the ladies swooning, including the hunchbacked Sister Jeanne (Vanessa Redgrave). Jeanne is exceptionally lustful for Grandeur, which pushes over into wrathful jealousy when she learns of his relationship with the young and stunning Madeleine (Gemma Jones). Cue the demonic seduction accusations, and hysteria and chaos ensue.
The press release details of the new cut, “This new 4K restoration of Ken Russell’s masterpiece was assembled from the original camera negative. The film’s sound has been remastered from original English Composite 35mm Mag Film, transferred at 96kHz, plus other original film elements in selected spots as needed. The Picture and Sound restoration was performed by Warner Bros. Post Production Creative Services, Water Tower Color, and Warner Bros. Sound.”
The release of this director’s cut marks a historic event 55 years in the making; get ready.
