MovieChat Forums > The Devils (1971) Discussion > Barre was a sadistic monster.

Barre was a sadistic monster.

posted 10 years ago by imbluzclooby
1 reply | jump to latest

Barrie's treatment of Grandier was very 'over the top'. I heard that Ken Russell even edited a scene out where Barre beats up Grandier to a pulp with his fists. I guess they figured the torture of smashing his legs, picking him up and tossing him from out of a hammock to have his body rolling down a ramp wasn't enough. So they had Barre exercise all the torture until the finale when he sets Grandier on fire.

I'm curious to know if Ken Russell wanted to implicate some sexual frustration on Barre as well. think about it. He was effeminate and appeared jealous of Grandier's sexual prowess. Maybe he was even attracted to Grandier while being envious. His treatment of Grandier,after the trial, is one of dominance, jealous rage and sadistic zealousness.

[–] Fallen_Descamisado 10 years ago

I think it's also partially because Michael Gothard loves to chew scenery so much. He's also a bit of a one trick pony. 17 years later he starred in Jack the Ripper, and pretty much played the same character; a sadistic hate monger using the Ripper murders as an excuse to lead a witch hunt against the Jews. However, the actual person his character was based on (Whitchapel Vigilance Committee Chairman George Lusk) was a very down to earth, rational and well-mannered man. I wonder just how accurate is Gothard's portrayal of Barre?

...When they found her, she was still smiling.