Filmed at Northumberland and Pinewood Studios - England
In the 17th century French town of Loudon, a wayward priest, Urbain Grandier has won the hearts of the local populace with his libertarian stance, but angered the clerical establishment with his antics - including the impregnation of the local magistrate's daughter. Elsewhere, the scheming Cardinal Richelieu sees Grandier's misdemeanours as a way to further his political aspirations and, proclaiming Loudon a haven for Huguenots, sets about effecting Grandier's very public downfall. Accusing Grandier of introducing the local nuns to witchcraft and, in the process infecting mother superior Sister Jeanne with a demon, Richelieu dispatches Baron de Laubardemont and a deranged exorcist, Father Barre to deal with the situation.
Ken Russell
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]
John Woodvine [Tricant]
Andrew Faulds [Rangier]
Kenneth Colley [Legrand]
Judith Paris [Sister Judith]
Catherine Willmer [Sister Catherine]
Iza Teller [Sister Iza]
MAGAZINES
Empire November 1997 p.144 [UK]
review
Shivers 56 pp.30-33 [UK]
article
Video Watchdog no.35 pp.37-56 [USA]
illustrated article
BOOKS
A British Picture: An Autobiography
article [by Ken Russell]
Hoffman's Guide to SF, Horror and Fantasy Movies 1991 - 1992 p.103
credits, review
"It's Only a Movie, Ingrid": Encounters On and Off Screen p.107
article [by Alexander Walker]
Ken Russell [by Thomas Atkins]
article
Ken Russell's Films article
OTHER SOURCES
Sex, Shocks and Sadism p.24
review