The Box is a major cultural and heritage attraction and archive, which opened in Plymouth’s city centre in September 2020. Its collection, formally the South West Film and Television Archive (SWFTA), is the regional film archive for the South West of England, comprising the combined programme libraries of Westward Television and Television South West (TSW). It also includes a significant number of donated film collections dating back to the early 1890s.
This film is part of Free
Film Director Ken Russell
Writer and Director Ken Russell explains his brush with The Devils.
In partnership with:
Overview
Playwright, writer and director Ken Russell is interviewed about his next project Savage Messiah (1972). He has recently released the horror film The Devils in 1971 based on the story of a seventeenth century Roman Catholic priest Urbain Grandier executed for witchcraft after supposed possessions in Loudun France. Oliver Reed plays the priest opposite Vanessa Redgrave’s hunchbacked and sexually repressed nun.
The Devils received an X rating in the UK and the US due to its explicit violent, sexual and religious content and was banned in many countries. Savage Messiah (1972) is a biopic based on the life of sculptor Henri Gaudier Brzeska and starred Dorothy Tutin and Helen Mirren. Ken Russell started out in television until commercial success came in a film adaptation of DH Lawrence’s Women In Love (1969) which included a nude wrestling scene between Alan Bates and Oliver Reed. By the 1970s his flamboyant style attracted Hollywood. He was accused of being obsessed with sexuality and religion and courted controversy but was a prolific producer of often self-financed films, plays and television adaptations.
Related
Watch for free
Michael Caine on the set of The Eagle Has Landed Michael Caine on the set of The Eagle Has Landed
News 1971 5 mins Location: St Mawgan
Michael Caine completes mission as Oberst Kurt Steiner.
Watch for free
Vanessa Redgrave Vanessa Redgrave
Inside Film 1968 29 mins
Political beliefs and public profile is the core of Redgrave's interview, conducted at a time of immense upheaval in British life.
Watch for free
Anna Karina on Vivre sa vie Anna Karina on Vivre sa vie
Inside Film 2016 35 mins
The actor discusses Jean-Luc Godard’s film about a young woman who drifts into prostitution, and her relationship with the director.
Currently unavailable
Derek Jarman in Conversation with Simon Field Derek Jarman in Conversation with Simon Field
1989 32 mins
A far reaching interview with multifaceted artist Derek Jarman, conducted in 1987 by producer and critic Simon Field as part of the ICA Guardian Conversations series.
Watch for free
Filmmakers in Focus: Agnès Varda Filmmakers in Focus: Agnès Varda
Inside Film 2021 47 mins
Writer and activist So Mayer joins filmmaker and critic Alexandra Hidalgo to discuss the work of acclaimed French director and artist Agnès Varda.
Watch for free
Filmmakers in Focus: Joanna Hogg Filmmakers in Focus: Joanna Hogg
Inside Film 2021 38 mins
BFI National Archive curator Will Massa and film critic Beatrice Loayza explore the work of contemporary British filmmaker Joanna Hogg.
Watch for free
Cue Danny La Rue Cue Danny La Rue
Current affairs 1982 5 mins Location: Torquay
The charming entertainer explains his love of the frock.
Watch for free
Braille Lesson Braille Lesson
News 1962 1 mins Silent Location: Torquay
Police Constable learns to read differently.
Watch for free
Young Tennis Player Jo Louis Young Tennis Player Jo Louis
Sport 1980 5 mins Location: Torquay
Young tennis hopeful Jo Louis is at a coaching session in Torquay
Watch for free
Virginia Wade v Ann Jones in Dewar Cup Tie Virginia Wade v Ann Jones in Dewar Cup Tie
Sport 1970 7 mins Location: Torquay
British number ones compete for the Dewar Cup
Watch for free
Sue Barker competing in Torquay Sue Barker competing in Torquay
Sport 1984 12 mins Location: Torquay
Sue Barker returns to home turf with a very special fan
Watch for free
Sue Barker plays Evonne Goolagong Sue Barker plays Evonne Goolagong
Sport 1971 9 mins Location: Torquay
A young pretender takes on the Wimbledon Champion
Watch for free
Frederick Wiseman's High School - a discussion Frederick Wiseman's High School - a discussion
Short documentary 2026 22 mins
Filmmaker Andrea Luka Zimmerman and curator Matthew Barrington discuss Frederick Wiseman’s High School with Sandra Hebron.
Watch for free
A Last Resort A Last Resort
Comedy 2022 17 mins
Rose is desperate to celebrate her 60th birthday in style, but her daughter Genevieve is struggling to ignore some recent tragic news about her mum.
Watch for free
Hard, Cracked the Wind Hard, Cracked the Wind
Horror 2019 17 mins
A haunting with words is the lure between life and death for a young Cornish poet.
Watch for free
The Walk The Walk
Drama 2023 12 mins
Adeel Akhtar portrays a man on a weekly trek to his nearest JobCentre, entering a state of purgatory through barriers put in place by the system.
Watch for free
Seagull Seagull
Horror 2022 6 mins
Seagull is a recovering drug addict who is about to have a very strange night on The English Riviera.
Watch for free
Octopus Octopus
2021 13 mins
Upon returning to her home town for a funeral, a young woman reconnects with the friends she left behind.