Episode 66: Ken Russell’s The Devils, with Special Guest Star Elana Levin of the Graphic Policy Podcast!

The Devils is a lot of things: a wholesome look at what happens when people believe in weird provincial nonsense instead of actual facts; a star vehicle for unlikely pin-up Oliver Reed; the most Catholic movie ever made; and the only time (so far, at least) we’ve used the phrase “Holy Water Enema.”

We’re SO excited to welcome back our show’s official Ken Russell sherpa, the still-brilliant Elana Levin from the Graphic Policy Podcast (https://graphicpolicy.com/radio/, on Bluesky @Levin), to take us through the not-at-all-relevant-in-present-day tale of a town’s one rational, science-trusting dude battling the floods of insanity, stupidity and mob rule led by religious maniacs. 

Just a few of the topics we cover are the not-at-all-coded Klan hoods, Sara’s history with the Jesuits, where crocodiles fit into healthcare protocols, Jefferson Airplane, the musical Hair, and so much more. Also in this episode: Another “Road to Korda.” 

The Devils is directed by Ken Russell, and stars Oliver Reed as Urbain Grandier, Vanessa Regrave as Sister Jeanne, Dudley Sutton as Baron De Laubardemont, Gemma Jones as Madeleine, Michael Gothard as Father Barre, Georgina Hale as Phillippe, Christopher Logue as Cardinal Richelieu, Max Adrian as Ibert, and Graham Armitage as Louis XIII. 

Find Elana here: https://graphicpolicy.com/radio/ 

Our theme music is by Ben Patch: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5BB01QpPE7HBGacGAlullu?si=gp_6jbvsThWXg_sSLVcv6Q

Spoiler Warning: We spoil everything. And we enjoy it.

Sources used in the episode include…

Books:

The Devils of Loudon by Aldous Huxley

The Possession at Loudun by Michel de Certeau

Podcasts:

Bad Ideas, “The Devils of Loudon — Urbain Grandier and the Possessions of Loudon”

Battle Royale episode on Louis XIII

Not Just the Tudors episode on Louis XIII and Cardinal Richelieu.

Online: 

Interview with Ken Russell: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySbsO_9d3ls 

https://www.bps.org.uk/psychologist/looking-back-possessions-loudun

Follow us!

Instagram: @biopicapodcaststory

Bluesky: @biopic-podcast.bsky.social

Threads: @biopicapodcaststory

Website: https://biopicapodcaststory.podbean.com/

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/biopicapodcaststory

Contact us: [email protected]