OVERALL: Draw

The Japanese release has the longest version of the film but fewer extras, though it is still not fully uncut and has optical censorship.
The UK release has the original UK version with the most extras.

There are three versions of The Devils:

(1.) The original uncut UK version (111 minutes NTSC = 107 minutes PAL).

(2.) The cut US R-rated version which removes most of the nudity and some violence also using some alternate footage to replace more explicit shots (108 minutes NTSC = 104 minutes PAL).

(3.) The director's cut is available as a bootleg and was screened once at the NFT but has had no official release; it restores the infamous Rape of Christ sequence (117 minutes NTSC = 112 minutes PAL).

More information:

(see the melonfarmers discussion) as rough cuts of the film were seen in early 1971 by both Warner executives and the BBFC. Each of whom drew-up their own cuts list which were made prior to the final submission to the BBFC which states a submitted runtime of 112:28 in 24 fps (107:58 in 25 fps), i.e. well over a minute of final cuts were made in addition to likely several minutes of pre-cuts, in particular, to the "Rape of Christ" sequence but which can be seen in the uncut version of the Channel 4 documentary.

CUTS:

• R0 Japan- Orustak Soft - No cuts - The UK version but with the "Rape of Christ" and "Grandier's femur" sequences reinstated, with optical censorship (113:32 NTSC)
• R2 Spain- Warner Home Video - Yes - US R-rated version (~104:00 PAL)
• R2 United Kingdom- British Film Institute - No cuts - The UK version (106:49 PAL)

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Comparison added by Nigel_Badnell on 07/03/12
Comparison last updated by James-Masaki_Ryan on 24/07/25

UPDATE LOG:

13/05/13: Added note regarding the commentary on the BFI release
16/03/16: ASIN added.
27/05/18: Added a note in versions.
03/04/22: Updated note.
24/07/25: Added Japan.