'the devils' - grandier's execution: ken russell 1971

here is the harrowing and grizzly-glorious penultimate scene from ken russell's masterpiece, 'the devils.' all performances are perfect. the 'burning flesh' special effects are ahead of their time. everything looks real; despite the artistic take. oliver reed is wrenching and brilliant as the doomed father grandier. michael gothard is manic and flash as the priest. and last, but never least, the miraculous miss georgina hale is gorgeous as the slighted and delighted phillipe; laughing with righteous glee through the leaping flames. and yes, the whole movie is this hard, this cold, this searing, this good.