A newly restored version of one of Oliver Reed’s most controversial films has brought renewed attention to the career of the actor whose final resting place is in Churchtown, County Cork.
Ken Russell’s The Devils, the 1971 film starring Reed and Vanessa Redgrave, received an uncensored 4K restoration and theatrical re-release through Warner Bros. imprint Clockwork. The restored version premiered at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival before returning to cinemas in the UK and Ireland for a limited run from October 30.
The release presents the definitive version of the film, reconstructed in line with director Ken Russell’s intentions. It marks the first time this version has been publicly released in cinemas.
For Reed, the film remains one of the defining performances of his career.
He plays Father Urbain Grandier, a charismatic French priest caught in a political and religious campaign in 17th-century France. Accused of witchcraft and facing allegations of demonic possession within a convent, Grandier becomes the target of powerful figures seeking to destroy him.
Based on historical events in the French town of Loudun, the film explores religious persecution, political power, mass hysteria and institutional corruption.
Its graphic imagery and challenging subject matter made it one of the most controversial British films of its era. For more than half a century, audiences were unable to see the film in the complete form intended by Russell.
The new restoration offers audiences an opportunity to experience the film as the director intended, 55 years after its original release.
Reed’s performance is central to the film. His commanding screen presence, distinctive voice and ability to combine charisma with vulnerability made him a natural fit for the role of Grandier.
It was not his only memorable collaboration with Russell. Reed also starred in the director’s Women in Love in 1969, another important film in his career.
Across more than 90 films, Reed built a reputation as one of the most distinctive actors of his generation. His roles included Bill Sikes in Oliver!, Athos in The Three Musketeers and Proximo in Gladiator.
It was during the filming of Gladiator in Malta that Reed died on May 2, 1999, aged 61. His death came before production was completed, and the filmmakers used editing and visual effects to finish his scenes.
Although born in Wimbledon, south London, Reed has a lasting connection with North Cork. He is buried at Bruhenny Graveyard in Churchtown, not far from O’Brien’s pub, where he was a familiar face.
His headstone carries a short inscription that has become closely associated with his larger-than-life presence:
Following its limited cinema release, the definitive director’s cut of The Devils is scheduled for physical release on 4K UHD and Blu-ray on April 20, 2027. The release will be available through the BFI Shop.
