S3E3 WTF Criterion? w/ The Devils (1971) and The Unknown (1927)

There are lots of bonkers classics on Criterion Channel right now and we wanted to pair pot with them before they show up on that "Leaving Criterion Channel" list in an episode we call "WHAT THE FUCK CRITERION." First up is THE DEVILS (1971), Ken Russell's masterpiece of blasphemy, demonic possession and religious persecution in 17th Century France. Oliver Reed is Urbain Grandier, an impossibly hot Jesuit priest, and Vanessa Redgrave is Sister Jeanne des Anges, a delusional nun who claims that she is possessed by the devil, and that devil works with Grandier. It's a gut-wrenching work that may be Russell's best. Continuing with the theme, our second feature is THE UNKNOWN (1927), a bizarre circus tale from FREAKS director Tod Browning. Lon Chaney, Sr. is Alonso, an armless knife-thrower who longs for Nanon, his fetching assistant played by a very young Joan Crawford. Nanon can't bear to be held in men's arms, so she should be perfect for Alonso, right? Well, all is not what it seems in this carnie world of deception, which motivates Alonso to go to sadistic and even masochistic extremes. What the fuck Criterion??? Man, we could've added a third feature here because PEEPING TOM is on the channel as well. Hopefully we'll get to that one soon. In the opener, Cory asks if it's even possible to create a cult movie these days where streaming has flattened everything out. Greg, Bob, and Philena all hold out hope. Hosts: Philena Franklin, Bob Calhoun, Cory Sklar and Greg Franklin Music: OMFYS Theme Song by Chaki the Funk Wizard "Black as the West" by "The Kiss and Crash Collective, courtesy of Kiss and Crash Collective and Sean Heskett "A Witches Sabbath" from Hector Berlioz's "Symphonie Fantastique" performed by the United States Marine Band, courtesy of Archive.org "Minor Lament for Solo Bass" by John Ptitucci courtesy of YouTube Audio Library BIRDEMIC trailer audio courtesy of archive.org. Web: www.oldmoviesforyoungstoners.com Instagram/Facebook (Meta): oldmoviesforyoungstoners Bluesky: @oldmoviesystoners.bsky.social Twitter (X): OM4YStoners Contact: oldmoviesforyoungstoners AT gmail DOT com Coming soon: Matt Zoller Seitz joins us again for Crazy for Kaiju with SON OF GODZILLA. Subscribe so you don't miss it.