Controversial '70s Movies and Their Sensational Depictions of Religion

The 1970s was a time of continuing socially progressive values. It was a decade of diverse cinematic works, including movies that braved society's conservative take on church and religion, with some filmmakers paving the way for films that dared to go beyond the traditional depiction of religious beliefs and convictions.

"The Devils" (1971)

Set after a horrific time of religious wars, "The Devils" is a disturbing interpretation of the true story of the priest and acting governor of Loudon, who attempted to maintain a truce between the Catholics and the French Protestants known as the Huguenots in the area. However, a demented and jealous nun accuses the priest of witchcraft after learning about his secret affair with a local girl. The cardinal takes advantage of the charges against him to break the finally wipe out the city's Protestant community.

Based on the 1952 non-fiction novel "The Devils of Loudon" by Aldous Huxley, this sensational historical drama by Ken Russell serves as a poignant cautionary tale about the dangers of fanaticism. Scenes like the infamous hallucination of a nun sensually kissing a priest who appears as Jesus after being taken down from the cross faced controversies and a rough history of censorship. In the United States, several scenes with explicit nudity, exorcism, and violence -- including the climactic burning scene -- were removed in order to get an X rating for the movie's initial theatrical release.

"The Message" (1977)

"The Message," also known as "Mohammed, Messenger of God," is a religious historical epic known as the only substantial film focusing on Mohammed and Islam. The film deferred to the Islamic schools of thought prohibiting the depiction of the Muslim prophet as somebody seen or heard. Yet, this handsomely mounted piece still proved highly controversial because of its mere subject matter.

Unfounded rumors spread even before the film's release saying Mohammed would be played by a Hollywood acting staple, Peter O'Toole and Charlton Heston topping the list. This angered Muslim extremists, who prompted protests against the production of the film. People behind the project led by director Moustapha Akkad made sure to hire a staff of respected Islamic clerics as the movie's technical advisers. However, "The Message" was still condemned as sacrilegious, receiving bans in a number of Arab countries.

"Monty Python's Life of Brian" (1979)

British comedy "Monty Python's Life of Brian," also known as "Life of Brian," is a controversial religious satire produced by the classic comedy troupe Monty Python. This film directed by Terry Jones tells the story of a young Jewish man born on the same day as Jesus Christ and how he is subsequently mistaken for the Messiah. Its funny and irreverent take on the life of the son of God succumbed to many protests, boycotts, and critical write-ups in different parts of the world.

The way "Life of Brian" lampooned religious zealotry drew accusations of blasphemy and sacrilege. One of its most controversial scenes is the ending, where Brian getting crucified before he and the other condemned burst into song. Christian protesters found this a complete mocking of Jesus's suffering. The film was also shunned by TV stations like BBC and ITV for fear of offending Christians.

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