Ken Russell’s The Devils (1971) is a provocative, hallucinatory historical drama adapted from Aldous Huxley’s The Devils of Loudun and John Whiting’s stage play. It combines religious hysteria, political repression, and sexual transgression into a deliberately shocking cinematic experience.
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If you want, I can summarize a specific print or release notes from the Internet Archive entry for The Devils (1971). the devils 1971 internet archive
While official high-definition versions of Ken Russell's The Devils (1971) remain heavily censored or unavailable due to licensing restrictions by Warner Bros., several unofficial and fan-restored versions are frequently posted and archived on the Internet Archive.
The following links and posts on Internet Archive (Archive.org) typically host the film or related restored content:
Extended Fan Edits: Several posts on Archive.org feature fan-reconstructed versions. These often re-insert the infamous banned "Rape of Christ" sequence and other deleted scenes using lower-quality VHS sources.
Restored Versions: You can find listings like the The Devils (1971) 35mm Emulation Regrade, which attempts to provide a more visually faithful experience than standard edited releases.
Bonus Materials & Documentaries: The archive also hosts supplemental files, such as deleted scenes and director interviews, which are essential for viewing the film's "uncut" history. Viewing Options and Context
The "Uncut" Controversy: Warner Bros. has famously refused to release the full director's cut, specifically citing the "distasteful tonality" of sequences like the "Rape of Christ".
Official Releases: The BFI DVD release is considered the best official source, though it still lacks the most extreme sequences found in fan edits.
Streaming: The film occasionally appears on the Criterion Channel or Shudder, usually in its UK theatrical "X" certificate version. Ken Russell’s The Devils (1971) is a provocative,
Watch this breakdown of the ongoing censorship struggles and why the full uncut version remains elusive on standard platforms: Kermode Uncut: What To Do About The Devils kermodeandmayo YouTube• Dec 16, 2014
Here’s a properly formatted post for sharing The Devils (1971) from the Internet Archive, suitable for a blog, social media, or forum:
Title: The Devils (1971) – Ken Russell’s Banned Masterpiece Now on the Internet Archive
Body:
For decades, Ken Russell’s The Devils has been one of the most controversial, censored, and sought-after films in cinema history. Based on Aldous Huxley’s The Devils of Loudun, the film stars Oliver Reed as Father Urbain Grandier, a 17th-century priest executed after being falsely accused of demonic possession by a sexually repressed nun (Vanessa Redgrave).
What follows is a thunderous, surreal, and deeply subversive attack on religious hypocrisy, state corruption, and mass hysteria — complete with striking visuals, visceral performances, and a score by Peter Maxwell Davies that drills into your skull.
The film was notoriously cut by Warner Bros. and the BBFC, and to this day, no full uncut version exists in wide circulation. However, a high-quality transfer of the original UK theatrical cut (107 minutes) is preserved and available for streaming/download on the Internet Archive.
🔗 Link: [Insert direct Internet Archive link here] What stands out
⚠️ Note: This version is still missing the infamous “Rape of Christ” sequence and some of the most extreme convent scenes (which were destroyed by the studio), but it remains the most complete version legally accessible to the public.
If you care about transgressive cinema, religious horror, or film history, this is essential viewing. Watch it before it disappears again.
#TheDevils1971 #KenRussell #CensoredCinema #InternetArchive #OliverReed
If you want to experience this film, here is a practical guide:
A note on the sound: The original soundtrack, composed by Peter Maxwell Davies (using a technique called "magic square" composition), is a chaotic, liturgical noise. On the Archive versions, it often sounds blown out. That is not a bug; that is the intended assault on the senses.
The Devils is not an easy watch. It is a fever dream of flagellation, ecstasy, and screaming faith. It asks uncomfortable questions: Is sanctity possible without sexuality? Is mass hysteria a form of political rebellion? Is God merely a justification for cruelty?
For decades, Warner Bros. answered those questions by locking the film in a vault. The Internet Archive answered by picking the lock.
Today, any curious viewer with an internet connection can watch Sister Jeanne writhe in convulsive ecstasy, hear Father Grandier’s bones crack on the rack, and witness the nuns defile a crucifix—all in 111 unbroken, uncensored minutes. Ken Russell is gone. The film’s negative is rotting. But the digital version—messy, illegal, and miraculous—lives on.
Go to the Internet Archive. Search for "The Devils 1971." And witness one of the most dangerous, beautiful, and sacred films ever made.
Just don’t expect to feel clean afterward.