Directed by
Ken Russell

Writing credits
Aldous Huxley (novel The Devils of Loudon)
John Whiting (play)
Ken Russell

Produced by
Roy Baird .... associate producer
Ken Russell .... producer
Robert H. Solo .... producer

Original Music by
Peter Maxwell Davies

Cinematography by
David Watkin

Film Editing by
Michael Bradsell

Production Design by
Derek Jarman

Cast
Vanessa Redgrave .... Sister Jeanne


Oliver Reed .... Urbain Grandier
Dudley Sutton .... Baron De Laubardemont
Max Adrian .... Ibert
Gemma Jones .... Madeleine
Murray Melvin .... Mignon
Michael Gothard .... Father Barre
Georgina Hale .... Philippe
Brian Murphy .... Adam

Christopher Logue .... Cardinal Richelieu
Graham Armitage .... Louis XIII

Plot summary
Cardinal Richelieu and his power-hungry entourage seek to take control of pre-rennaisance France, but need to destroy Father Grandier - the priest who runs the fortified town that prevents them from exerting total control. So they seek to destroy him by setting him up as a warlock in control of a devil-possessed nunnery, the mother superior of which is sexually obsessed by him. A mad witch-hunter is brought in to gather evidence against the priest, ready for the big trial.

Thirty six years later this film is still able to shock and its contemporary relevance has remained undiminished. Russell, who later called it his only political film, created less an image of religious blasphemy, rather one that really showed the corruption that existed between state and church. Grandier's death has less to do with his own shortcomingss as a priest and more to do with the fact that Loudun was a political problem for Cardinal Richelieu. I recommen to read Aldous Huxley's THE DEVILS OF LOUDUN.

Ah film introuvable et pourtant grandiose mais tellement sulfureux... si je peux me permettre le jeu de mot... pour qui comprendra