"The Devil's 1971" refers to the 1971 film "The Devils" directed by Ken Russell, which is an adaptation of Aldous Huxley's novel "The Devils of Loudun". The film stars Oliver Reed and Vanessa Redgrave.

The Devils 1971 Internet Archive: Uncovering the Controversy and Legacy of Ken Hughes' Infamous Film

The Unholy Grail: Hunting Ken Russell’s The Devils (1971) on the Internet Archive

The Film Itself (Performance & Direction) Even in compromised quality, the power of Russell’s direction is undeniable. Oliver Reed’s Grandier is a titan of pride and eros—a priest who loves sex and justice equally. His final scene, walking to the stake with his leg bones crushed, is the stuff of silent-film agony. Vanessa Redgrave as Sister Jeanne—a hunchbacked, necrophiliac prioress who projects her lust onto Grandier—gives a performance that transcends acting. Her contorted, ecstatic writhing during the “exorcisms” is both grotesque and pitiable.

How to Watch (the Legal/Easy Way)

If you want a legit copy:

Until that day—if it ever comes—the Internet Archive remains the de facto distribution network for Ken Russell’s masterpiece. It is a fitting irony: a film about a man destroyed by corrupt, powerful institutions is preserved by the most anarchic, democratic, and institution-free corner of the web.

What you get: A serviceable, if grimy, anamorphic widescreen transfer. The colors are muted compared to Russell’s intended psychedelic palette (the original prints popped with sickly yellows and blood reds). The audio is Dolby Digital 2.0—clear enough for Oliver Reed’s booming baritone and Peter Maxwell Davies’ screeching, modernist score, but lacking the subsonic terror of a restored surround mix.