Main Cast: Christopher Lee, Charles Gray, Nike Arrighi, Leon Greene, Patrick Mower
Release Year: 1968
Country: UK
Run Time: 95 minutes
Plot
Adapted by Richard Matheson from a novel by Dennis Wheatley, The Devil Rides Out admirably adopts a restrained approach to its horrific material. Christopher Lee plays a French nobleman, Duc De Richeleau, who is worried sick over the bizarre behavior of his friend Simon (Patrick Mower). Richeleau has every reason to be concerned: unless drastic measures are taken, Simon will lose his soul to Satan within three days. Two black masses are performed (one a bizarre Felliniesque orgy), but neither satiate the Devil's appetite. As the story races to its climax, it looks as though Richeleau's own niece (Rosalyn Landor) will have to be sacrificed. The film's best moments belong to Charles Gray, playing the charming, hypnotic leader of the devil cult which holds Simon in its thrall. The Devil Rides Out was released in the U.S. as The Devil's Bride. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Bernard Robinson - Art Director, Daivd Toguri - Choreography, Terence Fisher - Director, James Needs - Editor, James Bernard - Composer (Music Score), Arthur Grant - Cinematographer, Anthony Nelson Keys - Producer, Michael Stainer-Hutchins - Special Effects, Richard Matheson - Screenwriter, Dennis Wheatley - Book Author
Set in 1930sLondon and the south of England, Duc de Richleau and Rex van Ryn rescue their friend Simon Aron and another young initiate, Tanith, from a devil worshipping cult. During the rescue they disrupt a ceremony on Salisbury Plain in which Satan himself appears. They escape to the home of the Eatons, friends of Richleau and van Ryn, and are followed by the group's leader, Mocata, who has a psychic connection to the two initiates. After visiting the house to discuss the matter and an unsuccessful attempt to influence the initiates to return, Mocata forces Richleau and the other occupants to defend themselves through a night of black magic attacks. Their successful defence ultimately results in Mocata himself paying the price of loss of life and eternal damnation of his soul for having wrongly summoned The Angel of Death.
First proposed in 1963, the film eventually went ahead four years later once censorship worries over Satanism had eased. Production began on 7 August1967 and the film starred Christopher Lee, Charles Gray, Patrick Mower and Paul Eddington. The screenplay was adapted by Richard Matheson from Wheatley's novel. In the United States the film was retitled The Devil's Bride. Christopher Lee has often stated that of all his vast back catalogue of films this is his favourite and the one he would like to see remade with modern special effects and with him playing a mature Duc de Richleau. [1]
