The Devils (1971) (Ken Russell) Discussion Thread

[James Morton]

Originally Posted by Daemonia

And as a mark of respect to Ollie Reed, they've CGI'd him out and replaced him with a CGI Tom Cruise.

They've also renamed it. It's now called Top Nun.

I'll see myself out....

good one!!

[Michael Brooke]

The BBFC has confirmed that the running time of the BFI DVD is 106 mins 42 secs - or 107 mins rounded up.

Which at theatrical speed would be 111 mins 8 secs - or 111 mins rounded down. The version that played in British cinemas in 1971 was 9,990 feet, or 111 minutes exactly - but I suspect the eight second discrepancy is down to something as trivial as differing distributor logos.

Which is exactly what I'd have expected, and confirms that this version is indeed three minutes longer than the iTunes and Spanish DVD editions.

[Stephen@Cult Labs]

Originally Posted by Michael Brooke

Which is exactly what I'd have expected, and confirms that this version is indeed three minutes longer than the iTunes and Spanish DVD editions.

Excellent news indeed, although I was completely unaware that it was available on itunes.

[Michael Brooke]

Originally Posted by Stephen@Cult Labs

Excellent news indeed, although I was completely unaware that it was available on itunes.

Yes, it crept on there a few months ago with no fanfare at all - but the 108 minute running time is a dead giveaway that it's the mangled US version (since iTunes wouldn't be subject to PAL speedup).

[Nosferatu@Cult Labs]

Originally Posted by Michael Brooke

this version is indeed three minutes longer than the iTunes and Spanish DVD editions.

That's great news and I'll be able to put my Spanish DVD to one side and never look at it again!

[Michael Brooke]

Originally Posted by Nosferatu@Cult Labs

That's great news and I'll be able to put my Spanish DVD to one side and never look at it again!

It would still be better than the murky, letterboxed Spanish DVD even if it was exactly the same version of the film!

Incidentally, the Spanish DVD is the worst version of all, as it seems that it took the US version as its starting point and then applied more censorship - a fairly key early line, "And may the Protestant be driven from the land", is missing, presumably because it showed the Catholic authorities in a bad light.

[Michael Brooke]

I'm not allowed to post links or images yet, but cut and paste this into your browser for the artwork:

img213.imageshack.us/img213/3847/devilspack.jpg

[Nosferatu@Cult Labs]

So this will be the artwork for the new release?



If so, I like it. I like it a lot!

[Stephen@Cult Labs]

It's certainly a lot better than the usual BFI artwork

[Daemonia]

I still think, as I said earlier, that they should CGI Tom Cruise in there and call it Top Nun. That's a far more catchy title.