Description:
Ken Russells' notorious religious period drama set in France in 1634.
Based on the play by John Whiting and Aldous Huxley's novel, The Devils of Loudun, this is a steamy, violent, gruesome and ultimately tragic tale of a womanising and outspoken priest and the group of sexually repressed nuns whose jealousy and mass hysteria brings about his downfall.
It centres on Father Grandier (Oliver Reed - Hannibal Brooks, Oliver, The Three Musketeers, Castaway, Gladiator), and his battle not only with the obsessed Mother Superior (Vanessa Redgrave - Blow Up, Camelot, Yanks, Prick Up Your Ears, Howards End, Letters To Juliet) but also wit
Ken Russells' notorious religious period drama set in France in 1634.
Based on the play by John Whiting and Aldous Huxley's novel, The Devils of Loudun, this is a steamy, violent, gruesome and ultimately tragic tale of a womanising and outspoken priest and the group of sexually repressed nuns whose jealousy and mass hysteria brings about his downfall.
It centres on Father Grandier (Oliver Reed - Hannibal Brooks, Oliver, The Three Musketeers, Castaway, Gladiator), and his battle not only with the obsessed Mother Superior (Vanessa Redgrave - Blow Up, Camelot, Yanks, Prick Up Your Ears, Howards End, Letters To Juliet) but also with the government of Cardinal Richelieu who seeks to silence him using accusations of witchcraft.
In typical Ken Russell fashion there are lots of scenes of abundant nudity, excess and general over the top extravagance, yet because this is essentially a true story it still captures the sheer horror and instability of that time really well, and is certainly well worth a watch, not least for the superb, restrained performance by Oliver Reed, but also for excellent supporting work from Gemma Jones (Bridget Jones' Diary, TV's- The Duchess Of Duke Street), Dudley Sutton (Tv's- Lovejoy), Michael Gothard (mesmerisingly chilling as the inquisitor) & suprisingly, Brian Murphy (in a role a million miles away from his comedy work in Tv's George & Mildred) as a particularly creepy torturer's assistant.
Be warned though, even now, some 40 years later some scenes are still very hard to watch.
* N.b; this is presented in Widescreen format, as part of the Maverick Director's Collection.
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Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
Release date: 3 April 2000
Number of discs: 1
EAN: 5014780154018
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