Kermode Uncut: The Devils Demand
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- Опубліковано 4 гру 2014
- www.bbc.co.uk/markkermode - It’s now 10 years since Ken Russell’s controversial 1971 masterpiece The Devils was reconstructed in a director’s cut but the studio still refuses to release it. Why?
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I saw The Devils when it first was released in Canada and it still ranks as the best, most thought provoking film I have ever seen. I cannot believe 50 years later I cannot re-watch it due to censorship.
My obsession with The Devils is entirely Mark's fault, And I'm a better film fan and human being for it! :) PLEASE RELEASE THE DEVILS!!!
Am right behind you Kermode!!! If we take to the streets in protest, I will be there with my banner
Although it may have taken a while, the public has deemed this film to be worthy of being labeled as art and as a result nobody and I do mean nobody (including the copyright holders) has a right to keep a work of art out of the public's view.
Cant help but feel that there are some very pious warner bros bosses behind this..
At the end of the day, Warners released The Exorcist and that has got taboo overtones. So why can't they do the same with The Devils? The Devils is a masterpiece of cinema.
Because one is a fan movie for the catholic church and the other one isn't?
Bravo, Mark!
Bravo Mark!!!!....... Speaking for us as British Film supporters............. Release 'The Devils' Please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
'WB US'......................
I'm taking a BIG stand against this censorship by US Warner Bros, .. either they give us our film back, or I ain't watching anymore Daffy Duck cartoons!!!
I saw The Devils some years ago on tv and was impressed by the film. Rather than just being a film of excess and sacrilege it is actually a deeply intelligent film about the power of the church at that time and as so often happens, the corruption of that power and the abuse that the corruption engenders. I have never considered it a horror movie, rather it is more in the line of a powerful historical drama and the performances are superb.
I'm sorry to say Mark, but Warner's will never, ever release the film uncut, someone needs to buy it off them, take the Warner's logo's off, and release the film uncut.
Well said!
Absolutely agree. I've seen only the shortest and most cut back sequence in existence. Even that was incredible and I desperately want to see the full job.
Rather than trying to Warners to release the uncut film why not try to get them to sell it to another distributer who don't mind the controversy or cost of sharing a piece of art to the public...
Chris Lown
Criterion collection!
We should start petitioning WB or something. I've still not seen it because I'd like to see the uncut version. I really don't understand - if they refuse to release it themselves, why don't they sell the rights and masters to another studio or something? Or at least license it out for another distributor to release? It seems crazy to me. WB are notoriously difficult in doing what the fans want with the films they own, but it seems crazy if they don't even like the film in question!
Why don't WB America just sell the rights! Makes perfect sense..
The Devils shows how conservative modern cinema is.
yes please...
Unfortunately morality doesn't come into it. As far as Warner Bros (US) are concerned, they paid for it, so they'll do as they please with it. Personally, I think that's wrong - especially when there's such a clear demand for the Director's Cut here in UK - but Warner Bros (US), as the financiers and owners of the film, have every legal right to do what ever they want with it. A sad truth, but a truth nonetheless. That being said, I very much hope they eventually see the light and change their minds.
I'm not sure if this is the case but I'm starting to think that American's in general just don't like the film. I saw a video review of The Devils by a young critic/online celeb called Kyle Kalgren (part of the That Guy with the Glasses lot). I normally admire a lot of his reviews but he had nothing but bad things to say about the Devils and Ken Russel's work, really surprised me but perhaps that is how the US views it, perhaps they just can't look beyond that initial shock reaction and theatricality of the whole thing.
Sign the petition to get this film the full director's cut it deserves here: www.change.org/p/warner-bros-us-release-the-full-director-s-cut-of-ken-russell-s-the-devils
what they are doing is shocking, what is wrong with you, Warner brothers!
the devil's is a masterpiece and if the American Warner brothers can't realise that then they are idiots. they have no right to stop us seeing this masterpiece in its entirety. if they don't like it then they can get lost, but Warner brothers, WE DO! release the film!
See additional IMDB message board thread:
www.imdb.com/title/tt0066993/board/nest/237744126
Mark have thought of reaching out to Chris Nolan who is tight with Warner Bro at them moment to make the case?
"Moral right?" Certainly not. Legal right? Absolutely. Is WB still scared of the content of the film and the controversy which the film could court even in 2015? Obviously yes. But I fear that they greater issues is that you're talking about a very controversial movie with a very limited audience, and the commercial potential of releasing it, in spite of the fact that there's apparently already a master of it, wouldn't constiute enough profit to release it. I think th sad fact is that with the physical media market in the toilet, catalog titles have dropped to almost nothing. That said, give it to a niche label like Criterion. They would no doubt be very proud to release it.
They could release it on Netflix or Itunes for nothing.
This is all about the content.
I'm inclined to agree. I think it's not, as Mark would say, the con-trah-versy, but the simple fact that there probably isn't much money in releasing a 40+ year old film with a small niche audience on Blu-ray when the market for catalog titles of pretty much any kind is shrinking every day.
***** Much more obsure films have seen the light of day on blu-ray.
Lots of specialty labels would love to get their hands on the film (Shout Factory, Criterion, Master of Cinema).
Money is not the object at all ... Television stations all over the world would all want to screen this ... It would make very big money ... This is a decision due to some senile religious nutters up in the outer reaches of Warners management
I think we should all burn our Harry Potter dvds in protest ...
For the record: I hate artificial scarcity.
Mark, I think you and Lisi should *_SUE_* the living pants off of Warners for the rights to the film.
"Guardians of Peace" hacked Sony the other day ... If anyone is listening I think Warners could do with a visit :)
And now... Nuns with bush
you'll have to wait for the director's cut