Ken Russell's THE DEVILS ?

I can't quite imagine this title as emerging from the Archives series, but who knows? Otherwise, it would be a very niche sort of release. 

I seriously doubt we will ever see Warner releasing it given the content. They should just license it to Criterion instead of sitting on it forever.

I'm not familiar with the film, but I'm very eager to check it out.

When WB opened their archive, I assumed that one of the key reasons was to provide a distribution point for controversial fare.  To date, that has proven to be a complete fantasy of mine.....and to date, I still have not purchased anything.  :(

QUOTE -They should just license it to Criterion instead of sitting on it forever.

This is my only hope for the film as I have given up ever seeing a Warner release on DVD. I just wish someone at warner would come out and say why they won't or can't release it already.

There has to be some reason - I can't believe it would be a matter of content or controversy, but it's hard to image what else could be the problem.  It was remastered and re-edited with the entire "Rape of Christ" sequence not too many years ago, correct, for a forthcoming release?  So it obviously isn't a matter of quality; it was screened on BBC, correct?  Its absence on official SD/BD is frankly startling.

Please, throw Criterion a bone here!  Losing the StudioCanal titles is bad enough, but if Warner is keeping "The Devils" just to sit on it for the rest of eternity...I don't think I could handle it.

(I now have an urge to go re-watch that terrible bootleg...) 

Warner DVD now available in Spain;

 

http://www.starscafe.com/en/movie/the-devils-spanish.aspx

Ordered. I'll let you guys know about it once it arrives. Might be a few weeks.

Looking forward to your full report, Chuck!

 

Also looking forward to seeing it screened tomorrow night at the Walter Reade in the presence of Ken Russell.  Haven't been there in a while, but I know they haven't restricted the use of cameras at these events in the past, so I hope to get some video of Russell's participation.

Edited by Chas in CT - 7/29/10 at 8:51am

I will also be there on friday night.  It is apparently the only night that THE DEVILS will be shown in 35mm.

and here I was...

and with Vanessa

Wow -  great pictures!! I was there as well. It was quite an evening. Russell is truly one of my idols and a tremendously nice man, I'm going back on Sunday for SAVAGE MESSIAH and THE BOYFRIEND. Can't wait.

I will be there sun as well.  I was the one who asked the question about the suppression of the DVD and also ITunes release

I was at the screening as well.  Thanks for asking the question, Ken.  The session unfortunately went a little too far off topic for my--and, it seemed, most of the audience's--liking and there wasn't much substantive talk about the film.

 

FWIW, there's been a lot of discussion about the reasons for THE DEVILS not be released on DVD on the AV Maniacs forum and Don May has had some helpful responses amidst the usual rumors:

 

http://www.avmaniacs.com/forums/showthread.php?p=826107#post826107

Looks like Mr. Russell might have a Yankees jersey underneath his coat.  Say it ain't so...
 

Looks like I got a couple of Vanessa talking with you, Ken:

 

 

 

Agree about the Q&A veering off into the political as opposed to staying with the film, but that's the way that one question went and Redgrave ran with it.  She's fabulous, though.

 

I was surprised at the print being the usual cut, and in less than great shape.  Did I actually go there expecting a fresh one from the studio?  Well, sort of, considering the iTunes and Spain DVD situation...which by the way they didn't really answer, either, to anyone's great satisfaction.  (Or did I miss something there?)  And considering the notice posted about the condition of the other prints, perhaps there's little or no studio cooperation on this venture.  THE DEVILS print was from Harvard's archive, if I heard that right.

 

 

I'll post more later.

Edited by Chas in CT - 7/31/10 at 9:39am

I have to say the print looked pretty damned good to me.  I'm expecting issues on THE BOYFRIEND and some of the others based on the disclaimer posted at the box office.  As to studio cooperation, WB is obviously involved as they own the exhibition rights.  Whether the studio provided the print or not, FSLC must receive permission from WB and pay a licensing fee, in all liklihood, to screen THE DEVILS publicly.  If the studio didn't want the theater to play the film or any of the others they control, we wouldn't be seeing them in the "Russellmania!" series and there likely wouldn't be a series then.  It's safe to say there probably isn't a better print in this country or FSLC would be playing it.  As to a better print possibly existing overseas, exorbitant international print shipping costs usually quash the chance for such a print to play in the States or vice versa, unless multiple venues here commit to playing said print and contributing to shipping / insurance costs. 

 

As to Redgrave's politicized answer, as I recall, and, granted, I started to lose the plot somewhere, she took a vague answer from Russell about having to use a "magnifying glass" to find humanity, and ran with it.  I've seen it happen before at these kinds of things when there isn't a moderator strong enough to bring things back to the discussion.  The film was barely discussed, unfortunately.  But, Gavin Smith of the Film Society / Film Comment wasn't really able to corral the discussion and Russell didn't seem too interested in elucidating or being "corralled."  It was more or less one of those "I'm so glad to be in your presence Mr. Russell and Ms. Redgrave and I'll just tiptoe around you" q & a sessions.  It was all over after Russell squashed Smith's question / comment about Russell's presumed Catholic faith or lack thereof. 
 

 

Points taken about the print.  I deliberately sat down front this time in the hope of grabbing a few pictures, and while that paid off, it was at the expense of optimal viewing enjoyment.  Still, truly great to see it on the big screen again.

 

My take-home from last night, the "KR" on the movie tie-in paperback I've had since seeing the film in L.A. in the early '70s:

 

A few more:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Was Ken Russell co-operative and coherent? Back in May, at the Motion Picture Academy, he was rude to the moderator and didn't make much sense, he also didn't answer any questions and seemed pissed off. Unless he was on something? The audience was very insulted, many thought Ken had lost it due to multiple strokes

 

 

"The Devils" screens in Los Angeles from time to time and the prints are very good

I Saw "The Boy Friend" at the Film Forum back in the late 80's (the long version) and it looked great (but that was 20 years ago)

He was charming and gracious and witty.   Vanessa being there was good as there were some witty exchanges between them.

wow very impressed with the pictures.

 

Thanks for sharing them

I have to say after seeing Russell at two of these screenings, he hasn't, unfortunately, been willing or able to speak with much substance about his films.  It's mostly been about 5-10 minutes of applause and picture-taking sandwiched around Russell saying, "Thanks everyone, good night and God bless."  I've been to many screenings with filmmakers / cast in attendance for q & a sessions and these have been very disappointing in comparison.  Russell is looking quite frail these days and it seems to me that the Film Society has stretched him pretty thin with appearances nearly every night of the series, but I'm sure it's been a major boon their bottom line.  It may have been more effective if he was there for a select few, of his choosing--THE DEVILS and one or two others, perhaps.
 

I attended last night's screening of THE BOY FRIEND, and he was more frail than I would have thought, at least based on the nightly schedule of appearances. Last night's "interview" was conducted from his seat in the audience, and it was briefer than I thought it would have been. But he seemed really happy with the reception the audience gave the film; and it was great to see Tommy Tune came to the screening as well. TT reprised his film character's signature dance on the stage of the Walter Reade theater ; he also praised Ken Russell very generously.

Yes, I was there, too.  Great to see Tommy and the rapport between he and Ken was really touching, just as it was it nice to see Vanessa Redgrave supporting THE DEVILS and her director so warmly a few nights earlier.  But, as I said earlier and, I think, Richard confirms, it seems a bit much to keep pushing the man out there night after night. 
 

This would have been the time to see Russell's films with him in attendance:

 

"In May 1995, he was honored with a retrospective of his work presented in Hollywood by the American Cinematheque. [1] [2] Titled Shock Value, it was a retrospective that included some of Russell's most successful and controversial films and also several of his early BBC productions. Russell attended the festival and engaged in lengthy post-screening discussions of each film with the audiences and moderator Martin Lewis who had instigated and curated the retrospective. [3] [4] [5]"
 

Quick update on the Spanish The Devils DVD, which was released last week. A member of the German cinefacts forum got the disc and he states, that the DVD is missing the infamous Rape of Christ sequence.

The movie is presented in a non-anamorphic 2.35:1 version and has a solid quality. English and Spanish audio is mono, no bonus features.
 

Ken Russell at the BBC box-set is currently at CostCo for twenty bucks, in case anyone is interested.

 

 

Richard