You have used the BBFC's advisory service in the past to commission exclusive TV premieres of the uncut versions of both Ken's "Crimes of Passion" and Stuart Gordon's "Re-Animator".
PLEASE will you not consider approaching Warners for a TV print of the 'restored' version of Ken Russell's The Devils. As you know, as you were integral to the process that lead to the footage being found, the 'restored' version has now been shown in cinemas around the world a number of times.
Let's do the 81-year old Ken justice while we still have the chance, and bring this ideological masterpiece to Britain's viewing public at large.
I'm not a great fan of THE DEVILS, but I always thought this is the kind of programming Film 4 would embrace, especially for late night viewing. Unfortunately, since going free-to-air, they seem to have been playing it relatively safe. For example, when they were a subscription channel, they were able to air an uncut version of TAXI ZUM KLO, complete with some extraordinarily candid sex scenes, whereas similar material was optically obscured for the free-to-air version of THE PIANO TEACHER.
Not really Film 4's fault, since they do have to abide by Ofcom's rules for free-to-air material, and the occasional outrage (RE-ANIMATOR) does manage to slip through the net at times. But THE DEVILS is nowhere near as outrageous as it once was, and I wouldn't foresee any problems with an uncut screening on Film 4. It's probably just a question of securing permission for broadcast, since the rights-holder is a major Hollywood studio.
