September 30th. Its just past 7:30 p.m. and laying on the desk was a fresh, unread copy of Raising Hell, a new book by renowned Toronto-based film critic Richard Crouse. For those of us who have come to know Crouse and his enthusiasm for film, you can pretty much expect anything. After turning on the table lamp and making the chair awfully comfy, one cracks open the book and begins. What one does not expect is the way the book grabs your attention.
The book puts a spotlight on The Devils: a highly controversial and extensively censored film from 1971, directed by Britisher Ken Russell. The film’s story is based on a book by Aldous Huxley titled The Devils of Loudun and on a play – which also adapt’s Huxley’s book – called The Devils, written by Jack Whitings. The film starred Oliver Reed and Vanessa Redgrave and went on to be censored for nearly 40 years. Crouse, being both a determined fan of Russell and a movie enthusiast, goes on a journey to track down those who were a part of the film, a part of Russell’s life and fans of the director, to put together a book that would put a spotlight on Russell’s “Masterpiece”.
Greeted by brilliant artwork created by Gary Pullin, you turn right into the prologue. It gives a detailed account of the day in 2010 when Crouse sat down with the late director at the Bloor Cinema for a Q&A, prior to a screening of the film. Crouse goes into vivid detail – about the environment, about one’s emotions and generally what was happening – and if you were not there, those few pages will put you there. There is story in his words, one that you want to read and understand. You get to put yourself in the shoes of a critic and truly understand the anxiety they go through before they meet someone for the very first time. It is beautifully written and acts as a perfect transition into the first chapter of the book.
The meat and potatoes – as the saying goes – is well crafted and fueled by fact and story. This entire book has been created like a film. From the meeting of the great collaborators – Oliver Reed and Ken Russell – to the steps taken to develop the film. You are given the whole back-story, backed up by quotes from Russell and related professionals, which all together serve the purpose of the book. What Crouse successfully does is provide structure and flow to his book. Points are not dragged-on or exaggerated and the detail is kept to a limit to make the content of the book universally understandable. Crouse uses factual information – such as quotes – very effectively, weaving them together with his own dialogue to create a flowing, interesting story.
There are very few books out there that truly share the enthusiasm for film as Crouse’s book does. You see a driven film enthusiast put pen to paper to bring to light a movie many of us have not had a privilege to see, and then goes into such detail that leaves you in awe. This is not just a book but an adventure in words. A fan and enthusiast who brings out the tiny details for something that has no tiny details to begin with.
Its just past 2:30 a.m. An evening spent with Crouse’s new book, with a pause in the reading to simply express one’s view on this brilliant piece. Simple and straight forward advice: Film buff or not, buy this book.
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