Ken Russell's controversial study of politics, religion and sexuality in 17th-century France starring Oliver Reed and Vanessa Redgrave. In the walled town of Loudun, Father Grandier falls in love with and illicitly marries Madeleine, much to the fury of Sister Jeanne, who, seeking revenge, accuses Grandier of sorcery. Grandier's political enemies set out to destroy him.
Ken Russell's adaptation of Aldous Huxley's The Devils of Loudun is repulsive, hysterical, disturbing, overwhelming, stunning, compelling and fascinating. For once, Russell's surreal hallucinogenic style matches his frenzied material and, while condemned for being anti-religious, this is in fact a highly moral tale of absolute faith. In one of the most controversial and censored films of all time, Oliver Reed gives his best ever performance as the 17th-century French priest destroyed by political manipulators, and Vanessa Redgrave is almost as good as a vengeful humpbacked nun; Derek Jarman's sets are nearly a match for them both, however.
| role | name |
|---|---|
| Father Urbain Grandier | Oliver Reed |
| Sister Jeanne | Vanessa Redgrave |
| Baron de Laubardemont | Dudley Sutton |
| Ibert | Max Adrian |
| Madeleine | Gemma Jones |
| Mignon | Murray Melvin |
| Father Barre | Michael Gothard |
| Philippe | Georgina Hale |
| Adam | Brian Murphy |
| Cardinal Richelieu | Christopher Logue |
| Louis XIII | Graham Armitage |
| role | name |
|---|---|
| Director | Ken Russell |
