Full Breakdown
Restored Cut of Ken Russell’s *The Devils* Set for One-Week Theatrical Run
8/14/2026, 12:07:19 AM
Core Event
Warner Bros. Clockwork will present a 4K restoration of Ken Russell’s 1971 film *The Devils* in an uncensored, NC-17-rated version. The engagement opens in North America on October 16 for a single week, with select 35 mm screenings, and a scheduled UK release on October 30. The trailer released with the announcement showcases never-before-seen footage assembled from the original camera negative and references Russell’s private edit completed in 2004.
Background & Context
*The Devils* dramatizes the 1634 Loudun possessions in France, focusing on priest Urbain Grandier (Oliver Reed) and the sexually repressed Sister Jeanne (Vanessa Redgrave). The narrative blends religious hysteria with political corruption, a combination that earned the film an X rating from the Motion Picture Association (MPA) upon its 1971 debut and led to bans in several countries. In 1979 the MPA re-rated the film R after further cuts. Over the ensuing five decades multiple edited versions circulated, but the director’s full vision remained unavailable to U.S. audiences.
Data & Statistics
- Rating: NC-17 for “sexual content/graphic nudity” (MPA).
- Historical rating milestone: First NC-17 release in Warner Bros.’s 103-year history.
- Restoration source: Original camera negative; picture and sound restored by Warner Bros. Post Production Creative Services, Water Tower Color, and Warner Bros. Sound; reconstruction handled by Lucida Productions (London).
- Festival appearances: World-premiered in Cannes Classics (79th Cannes Film Festival), later screened at Il Cinema Ritrovato, Toronto International Film Festival, and Sitges.
Official Statements & Responses
Warner Bros. Clockwork describes the release as the “inaugural” offering from its new specialty label, emphasizing that the cut reflects the version Russell “wanted audiences to see.” The Motion Picture Association confirmed the NC-17 classification, citing “sexual content/graphic nudity.”
Verbatim Quotes
- “The restoration of the material is like cleaning the Sistine Chapel with saliva. It is insane, the epic size of the film – I mean, I’ve seen it on the big screen in Telluride at a theatre – I’ve never seen the movie until I saw this restoration.” — Toro, iconic director
- “The restoration of the material is like cleaning the Sistine Chapel with saliva. It is insane, the epic size of the film. I mean, I’ve seen it on the big screen in Telluride at a theater—but I’ve never seen the movie until I saw this restoration.” — Toro, iconic director
Why It Matters
The restoration restores Russell’s intended narrative and visual scope, allowing contemporary viewers to assess the film’s commentary on church-state collusion without the compromises imposed by earlier censorship. By issuing the first NC-17 rating in its catalog, Warner Bros. signals a willingness to distribute historically significant works that challenge contemporary standards of sexual and violent content.
What’s Next
After the North American week-long run beginning October 16, the film will open in the United Kingdom on October 30. Additional screenings are planned at the Toronto International Film Festival later in the year. No further dates have been announced.
