The Devils
The Devils ★★★ The Devils of Loudun 1971 (R)
In 1631 France, a priest is accused of commerce with the devil and sexual misconduct with nuns. Since he is also a political threat, the accusation is used to denounce and eventually execute him. Based on Aldous Huxley's “The Devils of Loudun,” the movie features masturbating nuns and other excesses—shocking scenes typical of film director Russell. Supposedly this was Russell's attempt to wake the public to their desensitization of modern horrors of war. Controversial and flamboyant. 109m/C VHS . GB Vanessa Red-grave, Oliver Reed, Dudley Sutton, Max Adrian, Gemma Jones, Murray Melvin, Michael Gothard, Georgina Hale, Christopher Logue, Andrew Faulds; D: Ken Russell; W: Ken Russell; C: David Watkin; M: Peter Maxwell Davies. Natl. Bd. of Review '71: Director (Russell).