In France during the 17th century, a war between the Catholics and Protestants has resulted in many cities fortifying their towns with brick walls. After the war ends many cities stayed fortified and ruled themselves. In an effort to gain power, and influence King Louis XIII (Graham Armitage), Cardinal Richelieu (Christopher Logue) convinces the king that the fortifications should be removed, and the cities be brought back under the influence of Louis, and by extension himself. The king agrees but maintains that the city of Loudun be allowed to maintain their fortifications. This was a promise he made to the governor of Loudun.
In Loudun the governor has died leaving Urbain Grandier (Oliver Reed), the local priest, in charge of the city. Grandier has been having an affair with Philippe (Georgina Hale), the daughter of a prominent man, Trincant (John Woodvine). When she gets pregnant, Grandier tells her it is God’s will. In the meantime, Grandier meets Madeleine (Gemma Jones). They fall in love and are married, by Grandier himself, in a private ceremony.
Sister Jeanne (Vanessa Redgrave) is a nun in the Ursuline convent. She is a slightly fanatical hunchback who has developed a sexual obsession of Grandier. Grandier is far from celibate but has never met Sister Jeanne. In an attempt to meet Grandier, Sister Jeanne asks that he be the convent’s confessor. Instead of Grandier coming to hear confessions he sends another priest, Mignon (Murray Melvin). Mignon tells her that Grandier and Madeleine are married. In a fit of jealousy, she accuses Grandier of being in league with the devil and says that he has possessed her.
Baron De Laubardemont (Dudley Sutton) had been sent by Cardinal Richelieu to tear down the city. He was stopped by Grandier. Laubardemont finds out about Sister Jeanne’s accusation. He uses the information to declare that Grandier is the devil’s minion and calls in a witch hunter, Father Barre (Michael Gothard). Barre and Laubardemont begin a systematic destruction of Grandier’s power in order to destroy the city and fulfill Cardinal Richelieu’s desire.
“The Devils” was released in 1971 and was directed by Ken Russell. It is a historical drama, a horror film and a biography. Russell also co-wrote and produced the film. It is a co-production between the U.S. and Britain.
It is an hour and fifty-one minutes of weird. There is a lot of nudity and torture here. The censors were apoplectic about this film. The scenes where the nuns, in an orgasmic frenzy, make love to a life size wooden statue of the crucified Christ in an orgy of bald naked nuns, referred to as “The Rape of Christ” scene, somehow disappeared. Years later the footage was found again but Warner Brothers wasn’t interested in putting it back into the film. It was eventually restored to the uncut DVD of the film. Some of the female extras in the Rape of Christ scene complained about being actually sexually assaulted by some of the male extras.
Way back then, even if you confessed to witchcraft, you were tortured. If you were tortured and confessed, you were burned at the stake. If you were tortured and didn’t confess, you were still burned at the stake. You were damned if you do and damned if you don’t.
There really was an Urbain Grandier and he was really burned at the stake. How well the movie follows history is questionable. Redgrave, who was pregnant at the time, had a miscarriage during filming.