The Devils

[captainsolo]

Thanks for the confirmation. I will say then that it's interesting that the studio sent out the UK print so hopefully it does bode well for the future along with the Shudder stream. (though how in the heck they managed to preserve an Eastman release print that well is rather amazing. There was only maybe a brief flash of pink and some contrast fluctuation.)

How does the Shudder version compare to the UK DVD by the way? I'm very tempted to import that disc now even though I hate PAL speedup.

[Big Ben]

During a recent screening of The Devils Mark Kermode stated that Warner Brothers has prohibited any further screenings of any version of The Devils. Can anyone corroborate this? Why after all these years does this film spook them so much?

[criterion10]

During a recent screening of The Devils Mark Kermode stated that Warner Brothers has prohibited any further screenings of any version of The Devils. Can anyone corroborate this? Why after all these years does this film spook them so much?

Can this really be true? It seemed like WB was finally starting to relax on the film, given the Shudder appearance of the US Cut, and even a fair amount if reperatory screenings in the past few years. The (presumably 6-year) license for the BFI release should be expiring soon; let's see what happens, I suppose.

[Drucker]

I don't trust the former statement. A few months ago Landmark Cinemas screened Blade Runner and claimed it was the last time the studio was letting the film be screened for a significant amount of time. Three months later Metrograph screened it.

[HypnoHelioStaticStasis]

Not to dredge up an old thread... but this is pretty weird

[cdnchris]

Along with an Oz monkey, Mr. Freeze, the Penguin, and Pennywise. Someone was having fun.

[beamish14]

Along with an Oz monkey, Mr. Freeze, the Penguin, and Pennywise. Someone was having fun.

Alex's droogs from A Clockwork Orange as well. Bring on the Burgess multiverse

[CSM126]

Ooh, hey Pinhead

[dwk]

I don't think that is Pinhead. I'm pretty sure it is the Night King from Game of Thrones.

[L.A.]

Why X-rated masterpiece The Devils is still being censored

[captveg]

At 7:46 Feltenstein explains a little about the "general council" (and one unnamed high up executive) past and present that is still shivering in fear if anyone sees that WB made the film 50 years ago. Also compounded by the fact that if they were to do a release they would want to restore it.

So, essentially, you have a vicious cycle of 1. We are scared to release it. 2. Maybe we should release it? 3. If we are going to bother, it will be expensive. 4. Oh no, we can't justify spending money on something we can't outright promote. 5. See step 1.

[PfR73]

I think he is saying "general counsel" [a lawyer] not "general council" [a group of persons].

[MichaelB]

I'm interpreting "general council" - i.e. an internal agreement reached within Warner Bros at a level above that of individual departments such as home video.

Because why would it be a legal thing? They own the film outright, and they can do what they like with it.

And it's interesting that they confirmed that the BFI deal was renewed - I assumed as much, as it's still in print.

[colinr0380]

Presumably however no sign of a "10th anniversary" upgrade of the DVD to Blu-ray or, God forbid, UHD is on the horizon from the BFI!

(I want to see Oliver Reed chuck that rubber crocodile out of the window in glorious 4K! )

[JamesF]

Pardon the gratuitous plug, but the fully uncut version of Paul Joyce's documentary Hell on Earth: The Desecration & Resurrection of Ken Russell's The Devils is now streaming on Arrow's on demand platform. (The version on the BFI DVD is missing a few minutes, specifically relating to the scenes deleted from the film.)

[andyli]

Don't know where to best put it, but a Japanese blu-ray is up for pre-order, set for June 27.

[spectre]

The label is Eizo Bunkasha (映像文化社さん), in case anyone's heard of them. There's a list of their other releases here: https://diskunion.net/portal/ct/list/0/ ... OsOpWvAIbG

Can't find anything else about this release – appears to have been only just announced.

[Calvin]

It's happening. The Devils - restored by Warner Bros. - will be screened at Cannes Classics

[MichaelB]

That 114-minute running time suggests that it matches the 2004 semi-restoration (which I think is all that can be restored), i.e. the UK theatrical cut plus the "rape of Christ" and thigh-bone scene.

[Finch]

Oooh, a lot sooner than expected. Hopefully they'll do a short theatrical run.

[FrauBlucher]

They’re surmising on the bluray.com Warner Archive thread that WAC or parent Warner will release this. I just don’t see it. As George Feltenstein likes to refer to Criterion as their partner, this is who I see getting to release it. They could put much more of an effort into a release than Warner.

[yoloswegmaster]

The reason why I'm hesitant on this being a Criterion release is that they have been involved with every restoration for every WB title that they released on 4K, and this restoration appears to be solely done by WB themselves.

[ryannichols7]

I personally also see Warner themselves releasing it, if nothing else due to the clearly endless internal back and forth over whether the film should ever see the light of day again or not. I'm sure Feltenstein will be really pleased to say he finally pulled it off

Spoiler

I for one personally am not interested in this film or a release of it in the slightest, but I'm over the moon that I'll hopefully stop seeing people spam every single boutique label asking them to release it. the biggest win of all.

[Big Ben]

I'm genuinely shocked they finally decided to let this come out and uncut. I quite literally told a friend a few weeks ago I would eat my shoe in the vein of Herzog if they ever did release it properly in any form. I wonder what changed?

[denti alligator]

So what would this mean for a UK release? Who would have the rights?