# Ken Russell's The Devils Returns as Masterpiece

> Mark Kermode finds missing scenes of Ken Russell's 1971 film The Devils after 55 years.
- Title: Ken Russell's The Devils Returns as Masterpiece | Shortify
- Summary: Mark Kermode finds missing scenes of Ken Russell's 1971 film The Devils after 55 years. Mark Kermode recovered the 'Rape of Christ' scene from Ken Russell's…
- Keywords: ken russell, the devils, mark kermode, warner bros, clockwork, cannes film festival, restoration, director's cut, rape of christ, 1971 film, cannes 2026, film restoration
- Source: Rolling Stone — https://rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-features/ken-russells-the-devils-restoration-mark-kermode-interview-1235633899
- Author: David Fear
- Published: 2026-10-18T17:00:00+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: ken russell, the devils, mark kermode, warner bros, clockwork, cannes film festival, restoration, director's cut, rape of christ, 1971 film, cannes 2026, film restoration
## Mark Kermode's film obsession
Mark Kermode first saw Ken Russell's The Devils in 1983 at a London theater with a friend who was terrified by the film.
## The Devils' troubled history
The 1971 film was banned in Britain and cut for an R rating in the US after the BBFC and MPAA rejected it.
## The missing Christ scene
Russell filmed a scene where nuns and a crucifix were central to the 'Rape of Christ' sequence that was thought destroyed in 1971.
## Kermode's search for 25 years
Mark Kermode spent 25 years chasing leads to find the missing footage after Russell claimed it was destroyed in 1971.
## The 2026 Cannes premiere
The restored 'director's cut' of The Devils premiered at Cannes 2026 after being found in Warner Bros. archives.
## The 1971 film's legacy
The Devils was Ken Russell's only political film but was labeled 'damaged goods' due to censorship cuts that removed key scenes.
## The 1971 film's restoration
The restored version includes the 'Rape of Christ' scene and other missing sequences that Russell considered his best work.
## The 2026 Cannes screening
The Devils premiered at Cannes 2026 with Russell and his family present for the first public showing.
## The 2026 restoration process
Warner Bros. Clockwork used a 2004 digi-beta copy to create a new 4K restoration for the 2026 Cannes premiere.
## The 1971 film's impact
The Devils was Russell's only political film but was labeled 'damaged goods' due to censorship cuts that removed key scenes.
## The 2026 premiere reaction
Russell described seeing the restored film as giving him 'his rhythm back' after believing it was lost forever.
## The 2026 restoration timeline
The restoration was completed in 2026 after Kermode found the missing footage in Warner Bros. archives in 2026.
## The 1971 film's censorship history
The film was banned in Britain and cut for an R rating in the US after the BBFC and MPAA rejected it.
## The 2026 restoration significance
The restored version of The Devils is now considered a masterpiece after being missing for 55 years.
## The 2026 restoration process
Warner Bros. Clockwork used a 2004 digi-beta copy to create a new 4K restoration for the 2026 Cannes premiere.
## The 2026 premiere impact
The Devils premiered at Cannes 2026 with Russell and his family present for the first public showing.
## Key takeaway

Mark Kermode recovered the 'Rape of Christ' scene from Ken Russell's The Devils after decades of searching, restoring the film to its director's cut for a 2026 Cannes premiere.