X
  • 1971
  • X
  • Warner Bros.
  • 1 h 51 m
  • 1971
  • X
  • Warner Bros.
  • 1 h 51 m
The Devils

Summary In 17th-century France, Father Urbain Grandier seeks to protect the city of Loudun from the corrupt establishment of Cardinal Richelieu. Hysteria occurs within the city when he is accused of witchcraft by a sexually repressed nun.

Directed By: Ken Russell

Written By: John Whiting, Aldous Huxley, Ken Russell

  • 1971
  • X
  • Warner Bros.
  • 1 h 51 m
  • 1971
  • X
  • Warner Bros.
  • 1 h 51 m

The Devils

Metascore Mixed or Average Based on 11 Critic Reviews
49
User Score Generally Favorable Based on 12 User Ratings
7.6
My Score
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Summary In 17th-century France, Father Urbain Grandier seeks to protect the city of Loudun from the corrupt establishment of Cardinal Richelieu. Hysteria occurs within the city when he is accused of witchcraft by a sexually repressed nun.

Directed By: Ken Russell

Written By: John Whiting, Aldous Huxley, Ken Russell

Top Cast

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Critic Reviews

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Metascore
Mixed or Average Based on 11 Critic Reviews
49
45% Positive
5 Reviews
45% Mixed
5 Reviews
9% Negative
1 Review

  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews

Critic Reviews

 View All
Metascore
Mixed or Average Based on 11 Critic Reviews
49
45% Positive
5 Reviews
45% Mixed
5 Reviews
9% Negative
1 Review

  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews
83
The 1971 epic offers a stylish and scathing parable about the dangerous ways that the powerful can exploit religious zeal to stay that way.
By Jude Dry FULL REVIEW
75
The funniest thing about this 1971 Ken Russell camp epic is probably the juxtaposition of its first-class production values (a good cast, great set design, marvelous photography) with Russell's no-class sexual fantasies—it's like a David Lean remake of Pink Flamingos.
By Dave Kehr FULL REVIEW
75
Russell’s penchant for aesthetic excess is thoroughly indulged, as the director stages grotesque human tableaus straight out of Hieronymus Bosch over Derek Jarman’s intricately detailed sets. The result gives the story a sort of wanton, overripe feel, with such ostensibly austere environments as a cloistered convent about to explode with repressed sensuality.
By Katie Rife FULL REVIEW
60
As if the story alone weren’t bizarre enough, Russell has spared nothing in hyping the historic events by stressing the grisly at the expense of dramatic unity.
FULL REVIEW
60
No matter how thickly Russell piles on the masturbating nuns, tortured priests and dissolute dauphins, there's no getting round the fact that it's all more redolent of a camp revue than a cathartic vision. Derek Jarman's sets, however, still look terrific.
FULL REVIEW
50
The set design, by future director Derek Jarman, is probably the most successful element of the film.
FULL REVIEW
0
All the events and persons depicted in The Devils are intended to be confused with actual events and persons. How do I know? Ken Russell tells me so.
By Roger Ebert FULL REVIEW

User Reviews

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User Score
Generally Favorable Based on 12 User Ratings
7.6
75% Positive
9 Ratings
25% Mixed
3 Ratings
0% Negative
0 Ratings

User Reviews

 View All
User Score
Generally Favorable Based on 12 User Ratings
7.6
75% Positive
9 Ratings
25% Mixed
3 Ratings
0% Negative
0 Ratings

There are no user reviews yet. Be the first to add a review.

Details

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Production Company Russo Productions
Release Date Jul 16, 1971
Duration 1 h 51 m
Rating X
Genres
Tagline The Devils is not a film for everyone . . .
View All Details

Awards

Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalists
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
National Board of Review, USA
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
Venice Film Festival
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination

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