More than five decades after its original release, Warner Bros. will bring The Devils back to cinemas across the United States for a one-week engagement beginning October 16. The presentation is a newly restored 4K version of Ken Russell’s director’s cut, which previously received a limited UK screening more than 20 years ago.
Because this is the film’s original, uncut version, it carries an NC-17 rating in the United States. That makes it Warner Bros.’ first theatrical release with the rating in more than two decades.
A controversial Ken Russell classic
Released in 1971, The Devils is widely regarded as one of filmmaker Ken Russell’s finest films. It presents a fictionalised and graphic account of Urbain Grandier, a 17th-century Roman Catholic priest whose life collapses after accusations of witchcraft.
The film also follows Sister Jeanne des Anges, a sexually repressed nun whose role becomes central to Grandier’s downfall. Its subject matter and uncompromising presentation have made the film notoriously difficult to see for many years.
A one-week theatrical run
The director’s cut will finally receive a broad US theatrical release on October 16, although the engagement will last for one week only. Warner Bros. has also issued a trailer for the restoration, with a warning that it contains frequent flashing imagery.
Warner Bros. describes the presentation as the “uncut and unfiltered theatrical experience that Russell always envisioned”. The studio also says this is the first time the film has been presented in a restored 4K version.
Will a 4K disc follow?
There is currently no confirmation of a physical release for the restoration. However, though it sounds like one is likely to arrive. The remaining questions are which company would release it and when that edition might appear.
For more coverage of entertainment technology and enthusiast culture, visit RETROCADE’s Arcade Blog, browse the latest Arcade Videos, or use the Arcade Machine Buying Guide when planning a home gaming setup.
Why the NC-17 rating matters
The NC-17 classification is commonly associated with films containing extreme violence, explicit sex or substantial nudity. Its position is comparable to the rarely awarded AO rating used for video games by the ESRB.
The last film connected with Warner Bros. to receive an NC-17 theatrical release appears to have been John Waters’ 2004 film A Dirty Shame. The movie was a box-office failure and effectively ended Waters’ filmmaking career. NC-17 releases have historically faced resistance from some cinema chains and retailers, an issue that also affected A Dirty Shame when it opened more than 20 years ago.
It remains to be seen which cinemas will screen The Devils during its limited run and which will decide not to carry the NC-17 release.
Leave a Reply