Ken Russell's Notorious THE DEVILS Coming From BFI DVD In 2012

The BFI has just announced a major coup in their release of Ken Russell's long censored and unavailable historical drama, The Devils. The film has a very messy history including lots of trouble with the censors, however, after much arm-twisting on the part of BFI, the original X-rated UK theatrical cut will be available on DVD for the first time ever.

The rights for the film are held by Warner Brothers, and BFI has licensed the X-rated cut from them. Unfortunately, WB will not allow BFI or anyone else to release the film in its entirety at the moment. Additionally, the licensors have prevented BFI from releasing the film on Blu-ray as well as denying them access to the 2004 restoration. Despite these handicaps, this will undoubtedly be the most complete and well curated edition of The Devils ever officially offered on home video. Here is the press release from BFI:

BFI to bring Ken Russell's controversial masterpiece The Devils to DVD for the first time
 
15 November 2011 - The BFI is thrilled to announce that it will be releasing one of the 'most-wanted' British films of all time, Ken Russell's bold and brilliant religious drama The Devils (1971), on DVD for the first time.
 
Forty years ago, The Devils caused outrage amongst audiences and critics after one of the longest-running battles with the BBFC was resolved, and the film was finally seen in cinemas. Now recognised as a landmark in British cinema history the film will at long last get its DVD premiere on 19 March 2012, in the original UK 'X' certificate version.
 
Oliver Reed and Vanessa Redgrave give magnificent performances in what remains Ken Russell's most dazzling and controversial film - for which he won the prize for Best Director, Foreign Film at the Venice Film Festival. Based on John Whiting's stage-play and Aldous Huxley's novel, the film charts the seventeenth-century events that took place in the French city of Loudun. Reed plays priest Urbain Grandier, and Redgrave is Sister Jeanne, whose erotic obsession with him fuels the hysterical fervour that sweeps through the convent.
 
Derek Jarman designed the striking, highly memorable sets and Sir Peter Maxwell Davies composed a supremely well-matched score for Russell's arresting depiction of the breakdown of civilisation.
 
Film critic and expert Mark Kermode, who has written and broadcast extensively about The Devils, will be contributing to the special features. He comments:
 
'Ken Russell is one of Britain's greatest living filmmakers and The Devils remains his most incendiary work - an extraordinary and impassioned depiction of the unholy marriage of church and state which is as relevant today as it was when the film was first released.'
 
Sam Dunn, Head of BFI Video Publishing says:
 
'We are absolutely delighted to be able to announce the DVD premiere release of this extraordinary film. The Devils is one of the greatest British productions of all time, and our special edition will not only feature the longest version of the film ever to have been released on DVD, but will also include a host of new and exciting extra features.'
 
An announcement detailing the full list of extras and technical specifications will be made nearer to the release date.

I have found a preliminary list of extra material for this release and it is impressive to say the least, though these details are subject to change, you can check those out below.

*photo courtesy of Warner Brothers