The Films of Ken Russell: Detailed BBFC and MPAA cuts

19th March
2012

Updated: The Devils...

New UK DVD release of Ken Russell's The Devils

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See trailer from youtube.com
See further details at Melon Farmers Video Hits: The Devils

The Devils is a 1971 UK drama by Ken Russell. With Vanessa Redgrave and Oliver Reed. See IMDb

The cut UK Cinema version/X Rated US Version was passed 18 without further cuts for:

UK 2012 BFI R2 DVD at UK Amazon released today on 19th March 2012

See article from criterionforum.org

After much arm-twisting the BFI has indeed persuaded Warner Bros to let them handle The Devils, and a packed two-disc lovingly-curated special edition will be out next March.

I'll get the bad news out of the way right now: as already spotted, it's DVD only, and it's the 1971 British theatrical cut, not the 2004 restoration. Since BFI DVD Publishing is demonstrably run by Blu-ray evangelists and has a policy of sourcing the longest available version of the films they put out, you probably don't need to live at 221B Baker Street to work out the reasons for this.

But that really does appear to be all the bad news. I've seen the full specs, and it looks like an absolute blinder of a release - and hopefully all will be revealed in a matter of days.

Disk Features

DVD premiere presentation of the original UK X certificate version

Mark Kermode introduction (2012, 2 mins): the broadcaster and critic's newly filmed foreword to The Devils

Audio commentary with Ken Russell, Mark Kermode, Michael Bradsell and Paul Joyce

Hell on Earth (Paul Joyce, 2002, 48 mins): documentary exploring the film's production and the controversial history

Director of Devils(1971, 22 mins): documentary featuring candid Ken Russell interviews and unique footage of Sir Peter Maxwell Davies recording his score

On-set footage with Michael Bradsell commentary(2012, 8 mins)

On-stage Q&A with Ken Russell (2012, 13 mins): the director in conversation with Mark Kermode at the NFT in 2004

Amelia and the Angel (Ken Russell, 1958, 26 mins): a delightful mix of religious allegory and magical fantasy

Original UK trailer

Original US trailer

Fully illustrated booklet featuring new essays by Mark Kermode, Craig Lapper (BBFC), and editor Michael Bradsell, with original production materials and on-set photographs

main feature optional hard-of-hearing subtitles

original aspect ratio 2.35:1 (16x9 enhanced)

Previously released on video with further cuts made for a US R rating

The extensively cut US R Rated Version was passed 18 without further BBFC cuts for:

UK 1988 Warner VHS

The cut UK Cinema Version was passed X for its US release but was further cut for an R Rating.

This R Rated version was cut as follows:

Grandier (Oliver Reed) drives doctors away from dying woman loses some of hers screams and a little nudity.

Sister Jeanne (Vanessa Redgrave) dream of Grandier as Christ does not show her licking Christ's wounds, clasped hands by a crown of thorns and some of the lovemaking scene.

Shots of Jeanne masturbating and two shots of her whipping herself have been removed.

A nude Phillipe (Georgina Hale) brought before Laubardemont (Dudley Sutton) has lost the pubic hair.

An enema of Jeanna on the altar does not show the insertion of a syringe between her legs.

Shots of nuns stripping and one vomiting have vanished

the King's visit to Loudon has lost vomit and pubic hair along with a nun masturbating with a candle and an enema.

A needle is Grandier's tongue has been cut.

Whilst Laubardem collects statements against Grandier, we miss naked nuns kissing and caressing.

The shot of a nun's hanging body been taken down has been cut to remove nudity.

The torture of Grandier has lost 4 hammer blows and a shot of his bloody legs.

As Grandier crawls to the stake, kicks by Barre (Michael Gothard) have been deleted

The burning of Grandier has been reduced

Jeanne inserting a purging device between her legs is no more.

The UK cinema version was cut by both the BBFC and the distributors, Warner Brothers
A pre-cut version was passed X (18) after BBFC cuts for:

UK 1971 cinema release

The resultant cuts from distributors and several submissions to the BBFC were:

A scene showing nuns assaulting an effigy of the cross was deleted (approximately 30s)

An enema scene loses some details

The crushing of Grandier's legs loses details.

Grandier's tongue torture loses details

Shots of a priest being assaulted by nuns after the King's visit are missing

Jeanne masturbating with a chard bone was cut

Whippings scenes throughout were removed

11th December
2011

One Last Flamboyant Musical...

Ken Russell co-scripted the remake for Bill Osco's great X Rated Alice in Wonderland

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See article from business.avn.com

A remake of the 1970s cult classic Bill Osco's Alice in Wonderland written by Osco and Ken Russell will go ahead as a posthumous tribute to the controversial British film maker.

Russell, who died suddenly in his sleep on November 28th, was in the process of making final revisions to the script for the film, an adaptation of Lewis Carroll's classic tale, which he was to direct in 2012... and it may be in 3D, although that part's not confirmed yet.

The original picture, released in 1976, and made on a budget of $500,000, went on to gross over $100 million. Bill Osco's Alice remains today one of the most successful, highest grossing, adult musical comedies in motion picture history.

The movie's producers, Renaissance Media Entertainment, have announced that Russell's wife, Elize Tribble, will participate and assist the team in bringing forward the production of this musical remake of Bill Osco's groundbreaking feature.

We are delighted that his wife Elize is coming on board and providing access to all of Ken's notes and other materials he kept on the project, said Stuart Young, a founding member of Renaissance Media Entertainment. Ken Russell collaborated with us for over six months, and he brought an incredible creative intensity and passion to Alice. We want to make a film that keeps true to Ken's unique perspective for the project.

Shooting is expected to begin early in 2012, after the company secures the services of a suitable director.

29th November
2011

Obituary: Devils and Film Censors...

A tribute to Ken Russell: his films at the BBFC and MPAA

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British film director Ken Russell, who was Oscar-nominated for his 1969 film Women In Love, has died at the age of 84. His son, Alex, said he died peacefully in his sleep in a hospital on 27th November 2011.

During his career, he became known for his controversial films including Women In Love, which featured Oliver Reed and Alan Bates wrestling nude. He also directed the infamous religious drama The Devils and The Who's rock opera, Tommy, in 1975.

Russell frequently crossed swords with the film censors at the BBFC who took issue with Billion Dollar Brain, Women in Love, The Devils, and Crimes of Passion.

And by way of a Melon farming tribute here is a page outlining Russell's spirited and on-going tussle with film censors in the UK and US.

Video	Cuts	Cert	Runs	Details
Women in Love See trailer from youtube.com			125:11s	1969 UK drama by Ken Russell with Alan Bates, Oliver Reed and Glenda Jackson. See IMDb Passed 15 without further BBFC cuts for: 2004 MGM R2 DVD at UK Amazon
			125:19s	Passed 18 without further BBFC cuts for: 1988 Warner VHS There's no mention of cuts being restored so presumably the cut cinema version has become the definitive version.
	cut			Passed X (16) after BBFC cuts for: UK 1969 cinema release From IMDb: The nude wrestling scene posed problems for UK censor John Trevelyan who was concerned by the homoerotic undertones. The film was only passed after Ken Russell made some edits to the original print to reduce full-length shot of Gerald standing motionless before the wrestling begins and to darken shots of the wrestling itself. The sex scenes between Gerald and Gudrun were also reduced on the censor's request. The male wrestling scene was a British censorship milestone. It was the first to show full frontal male nudity, albeit reduced by the censor. The BBFC noted the submitted running time as 129:41s = 124:30s PAL.

Video	Cuts	Cert	Runs	Details
The Devils aka The Devils of Loudon Ken Russell's Film of The Devils See trailer from youtube.com	uncut banned			1971 UK drama by Ken Russell With Vanessa Redgrave and Oliver Reed. See IMDb The cut footage has been relocated along with a pre-cut scene known as the Rape of Christ. However these have yet to be incorporated into any release. Much to the irritation of genre fans Warner's are sitting on the Director's Cut and refuse to release it
	cinema cuts cuts best available for now	X Rated	106:41s	The cut UK Cinema version/X Rated US Version was passed 18 without further cuts for: UK 2012 BFI R2 DVD at UK Amazon UK 1997 Warner VHS This version restores the US cuts made for an R Rating and so is the cut/pre-cut UK Cinema Version. Note that this is misleadingly noted in the US as a Special Uncut Restored Version. The US release featuring the UK Cinema Version is MPAA X Rated for: US Angel Digital R0 DVD at US Amazon
	cinema cuts cuts cuts	R Rated	103:40s	The extensively cut US R Rated Version was passed 18 without further BBFC cuts for: UK 1988 Warner VHS The cut UK Cinema Version was passed X for its US release but was further cut for an R Rating. This R Rated version was cut as follows: Grandier (Oliver Reed) drives doctors away from dying woman loses some of hers screams and a little nudity. Sister Jeanne (Vanessa Redgrave) dream of Grandier as Christ does not show her licking Christ's wounds, clasped hands by a crown of thorns and some of the lovemaking scene. Shots of Jeanne masturbating and two shots of her whipping herself have been removed. A nude Phillipe (Georgina Hale) brought before Laubardemont (Dudley Sutton) has lost the pubic hair. An enema of Jeanna on the altar does not show the insertion of a syringe between her legs. Shots of nuns stripping and one vomiting have vanished the King's visit to Loudon has lost vomit and pubic hair along with a nun masturbating with a candle and an enema. A needle is Grandier's tongue has been cut. Whilst Laubardem collects statements against Grandier, we miss naked nuns kissing and caressing. The shot of a nun's hanging body been taken down has been cut to remove nudity. The torture of Grandier has lost 4 hammer blows and a shot of his bloody legs. As Grandier crawls to the stake, kicks by Barre (Michael Gothard) have been deleted The burning of Grandier has been reduced Jeanne inserting a purging device between her legs is no more.
	cuts cuts			A pre-cut version was passed X (18) after BBFC cuts for: UK 1971 cinema release Based on article from sbbfc.co.uk The film was first seen by the BBFC in an unfinished rough cut on 27 January 1971. At around the same time, this rough cut was also shown to senior executives from Warner Brothers, the film's distributor. Both the BBFC and Warners expressed strong reservations about the strong religious and sexual context of the film, which seemed likely to provoke significant controversy. Warners and the BBFC therefore drew up separate lists of the cuts they would require before the film could be distributed in the UK. Warners were content with their own plus the additional cuts requested by the BBFC and a full list of required changes was forwarded to the director. The cuts were intended to reduce: (i) the explicitness and duration of certain sexual elements, including an orgy of nuns (ii) elements of violence and gore during an interrogation scene and the final burning of the character played by Oliver Reed (iii) scenes that mixed sexual activity and religion in a potentially inflammatory fashion. A modified - but still technically unfinished - version of the film was seen again by the BBFC on 8 April 1971, incorporating many (but not all) of the cuts requested by both the BBFC and by Warners. Ken Russell had toned down or removed what had been regarded as the most difficult scenes, including the entire Rape of Christ sequence in which a group of nuns cavort on a crucifix, whilst hoping that the significant reductions he had already made would perhaps allow certain other shots to remain. The BBFC requested further reductions in four sequences. Russell responded by complying fully with three of the cuts but insisted that the fourth additional cut could not be made properly because it would create continuity problems. On 18 May 1971 the BBFC awarded an X certificate to the cut version of the film. Because of the scale of the changes made to the film (including the deletion of one entire scene) it is difficult to calculate accurately how much was removed from the film between January and May 1971. However, it is safe to say that several minutes were removed. The resultant version suffered cuts as follows: A scene showing nuns assaulting an effigy of the cross was deleted (approximately 30s) An enema scene loses some details The crushing of Grandier's legs loses details. Grandier's tongue torture loses details Shots of a priest being assaulted by nuns after the King's visit are missing Jeanne masturbating with a chard bone was cut Whippings scenes throughout were removed

Video	Cuts	Cert	Runs	Details
Crimes of Passion aka Ken Russell's Crimes of Passion China Blue See trailer from youtube.com	uncut	Unrated	112:37s =108:07s	1984 US drama by Ken Russell with Kathleen Turner, Anthony Perkins and Bruce Davison. See IMDb The US release features the Director's Cut and is MPAA Unrated for: US 2002 Starz/Anchor Bay R1 DVD via UK Amazon and at US Amazon The Swedish release features the Director's Cut for: Sw Studio S R2 DVD titled China Blue via UK Amazon The Director's Cut restores cuts for the US R Rating but the additional scenes over and above the European Version are uncontroversial plots scenes previously removed for reasons of pace. See version details from IMDb Summary Review: A Lurid Masterpiece Ken Russell's masterpiece has cult movie written all over it. A lurid, extreme sex-and-violence fantasy porno-movie. In the bravest and best performance of her career, Kathleen Turner plays the mystery woman who is Joanna, prim fashion designer by day and China Blue, the fantasy hooker to end all fantasy hookers, by night. Her nemesis is Anthony Perkin's psychopathic preacher with the razor-sharp dildo. His is the kind of performance that goes beyond mere acting into some kind of crazy stratosphere all it's own. Barry Sandler's script is brilliant.
	12:24s	R Rated	100:13s =96:12s	The US R Rated Version was heavily cut. These cuts were to the sex scenes.
			102:29s	The European Version was passed 18 without BBFC cuts for strong sex, nudity and one use of very strong language with previous BBFC cuts waived: UK 2004 Optimum R2 DVD UK 2004 Film Four TV Showing
	24s		102:18s	The European Version was passed 18 after 24s of BBFC cuts for: UK 1986 Rank VHS UK 1985 cinema release The BBFC cuts were: Opening dialogue (over credits) missing the line Fuck You, Hopper! Deleted sight of Miss Liberty reaching through trouser opening to stroke client's erect penis (concealed by his trousers) immediately after unzipping his flies Considerably reduced duration of mock rape of China Blue by removing much of the thrusting and the two most explicit Japanese erotic prints. During China Blue's S&M scene with policeman client, deleted emphasis on his truncheon being inserted and twisted in his anus, sadomasochism to be generalised rather than reaching a climax through anal penetration.

Video	Cuts	Cert	Runs	Details
Whore See trailer from youtube.com	uncut	Unrated	~89:00s =~85:00s	1991 US/UK drama by Ken Russell With Theresa Russell, Benjamin Mouton and Michael Crabtree. See IMDb The Unrated Version is uncut but only available on US VHS.
	best available	NC-17	81:28s	The shortened NC-17 Version was passed 18 without BBFC cuts for: UK 1991 Palace VHS UK 1991 cinema release The Czech release features the NC-17 Version for: Cz R2 DVD via UK Amazon From IMDb. The NC-17 Version was shortened for pacing as follows: 38-39min: Brutal Man (Daniel Quinn) with Liz (Theresa Russell): Of this scene only the first 15s are shown, the remaining 82s are cut. 56-62min: Liz and Rasta (Antonio Fargas) in the theater, in alternation with Blake (Benjamin Mouton) in his car: 7 scenes have been partially or completely cut, resulting in a total elimination of 138s. Eg Blake saying that he goes to great lengths to teach his girls her profession as this is not unskilled labor; he then complains about hypocrisy.
	cut	R Rated	~80:00s =~76:00s	There is a cut R Rated version to avoid