The Exorcist (1973)

Director:

William Friedkin

Writers:

William Peter Blatty (written for the screen by)
William Peter Blatty (novel)

Release Date:

16 March 1974 (UK)

Genre:

Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

The movie you've been waiting for...without the wait.

Plot:

When a teenage girl is possessed by a mysterious entity, her mother seeks the help of two priests to save her daughter.

Plot Keywords:

Priest | Girl | Faith | Washington D.C. | Actress

Awards:

Won 2 Oscars. Another 13 wins & 14 nominations

Cast

Ellen Burstyn	...	Chris MacNeil
Max von Sydow	...	Father Merrin
Lee J. Cobb	...	Lt. William Kinderman
Kitty Winn	...	Sharon Spencer
Jack MacGowran	...	Burke Dennings
Jason Miller	...	Father Damian Karras
Linda Blair	...	Regan MacNeil
Mercedes McCambridge	...	Demon (voice)
William O'Malley	...	Father Dyer (as Reverend William O'Malley S.J.)
Barton Heyman	...	Dr. Klein
Peter Masterson	...	Dr. Barringer - Clinic Director (as Pete Masterson)
Rudolf Schündler	...	Karl
Gina Petrushka	...	Willi
Robert Symonds	...	Dr. Taney
Arthur Storch	...	Psychiatrist
Thomas Bermingham	...	Tom - President of University (as Reverend Thomas Bermingham S.J.)
Vasiliki Maliaros	...	Karras' Mother
Titos Vandis	...	Karras' Uncle
Wallace Rooney	...	Bishop Michael
Ron Faber	...	Chuck - Assistant Director / Demonic Voice
Donna Mitchell	...	Mary Jo Perrin
Roy Cooper	...	Jesuit Dean
Robert Gerringer	...	Senator at Party
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Paul Bateson	...	Radiologist's Assistant (uncredited)
Elinore Blair	...	Nurse (uncredited)
William Peter Blatty	...	Producer (uncredited)
Mary Boylan	...	First Mental Patient (uncredited)
Dick Callinan	...	Astronaut (uncredited)
Mason Curry	...	Doctor (voice) (uncredited)
Toni Darnay	...	Violent psychotic patient (uncredited)
Eileen Dietz	...	Pazuzu's Face (uncredited)
Joanne Dusseau	...	Senator's Wife (uncredited)
Bernard Eismann	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Beatrice Hunter	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Yvonne Jones	...	Bellevue Nurse (uncredited)
Don LaBonte	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
John Mahon	...	Language Lab Director (uncredited)
John Nicola	...	Priest (uncredited)
Vincent Russell	...	Subway Vagrant (uncredited)

Directed by
William Friedkin

Writing credits
William Peter Blatty		(written for the screen by)
William Peter Blatty		(novel)

Produced by
William Peter Blatty	....	producer
Noel Marshall	....	executive producer
David Salven	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Steve Boeddeker		(2000)

Cinematography by
Owen Roizman		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Norman Gay
Evan A. Lottman		(as Evan Lottman)

Casting by
Louis DiGiaimo		(as Louis DiGiamo)
Nessa Hyams
Juliet Taylor

Production Design by
Bill Malley

Art Direction by
John Robert Lloyd		(uncredited)

Set Decoration by
Jerry Wunderlich

Costume Design by
Joseph Fretwell III		(as Joe Fretwell)

Makeup Department
William A. Farley	....	hair stylist (as Bill Farley)
Dick Smith	....	makeup artist

Production Management
William Kaplan	....	production manager: Iraq sequence

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Terence A. Donnelly	....	first assistant director
Alan R. Green	....	second assistant director (as Alan Green)

Art Department
Charles Bailey	....	assistant art director
Joseph M. Caracciolo	....	property master (as Joe Caracciolo)
Edward Garzero	....	master scenic artist (as Eddie Garzero)
Robert Hart	....	carpenter (uncredited)
Gene Lauritzen	....	construction coordinator (uncredited)

Sound Department
Randle Akerson	....	dialogue editor (2000 re-release)
Randle Akerson	....	sound editor (2000 re-release)
Noah Blough	....	sound editor (2000 re-release)
Andrew Bock	....	assistant sound editor: 2000 rerelease
Steve Boeddeker	....	sound designer: theatrical re-release
Fred J. Brown	....	sound effects editor (as Fred Brown)
Richard Burton	....	sound editor (2000 re-release)
Susan Demskey-Horiuchi	....	first assistant sound editor (2000 re-release)
Matthew Dettmann	....	foley artist (2000 re-release) (as Matt Dettmann)
Richard Duarte	....	foley mixer (2000 re-release)
Jean-Louis Ducarme	....	sound: Iraq sequence
Bob Fine	....	special sound effects
Dana LeBlanc Frankley	....	adr assistant (2000 release) (as Dana LeBlanc)
Gonzalo Gavira	....	special sound effects
Gary A. Hecker	....	foley artist (2000 re-release) (as Gary Hecker)
David C. Hughes	....	sound effects editor: re-release
Richard King	....	supervising sound editor (2000 re-release)
Robert Knudson	....	dubbing mixer (as Buzz Knudson)
Hal Landaker	....	sound consultant
James Matheny	....	sound editor (2000 re-release)
Michael Minkler	....	sound re-recording mixer (2000 re-release)
Ron Nagle	....	special sound effects
Christopher Newman	....	sound (as Chris Newman)
Timothy Nielsen	....	sound effects editor: re-release
Mark Pappas	....	foley editor (2000 re-release)
Mark Pappas	....	sound editor (2000 re-release)
Gary Rizzo	....	sound re-recording mixer (2000 special edition)
Doc Siegel	....	special sound effects
Donald Sylvester	....	sound editor: 2000 rerelease
Ross Taylor	....	sound effects editor
Robert Ulrich	....	adr supervisor (2000 re-release)
Robert Ulrich	....	supervising adr editor (2000 re-release)
Kerry Dean Williams	....	adr editor (2000 re-release) (as Kerry Williams)
Linda Yeaney	....	first assistant sound editor: 2000 rerelease
Sean England	....	machine room operator: 2000 re-release (uncredited)
Sharron Miller	....	sound editor (uncredited)
James Nelson	....	supervising sound editor (uncredited)
Ken Nordine	....	special sound effects (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Marcel Vercoutere	....	special effects
Rick Baker	....	special effects assistant (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Jennifer Law-Stump	....	2000 special edition digital effects artist: Pacific Title Digital
Marv Ystrom	....	optical effects
Martin Hall	....	paint/roto artist (uncredited)
Matt Linder	....	digital compositor: restoration (uncredited)

Stunts
Steven Burnett	....	stunts (uncredited)
Linda R. Hager	....	stunt double (uncredited)
Anne Miles	....	stunts (uncredited)
Chuck Waters	....	stunts: Jason Miller (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Richard Quinlan	....	gaffer (as Dick Quinlan)
Ed Quinn	....	key grip (as Eddie Quinn)
Josh Weiner	....	still photographer
Billy Williams	....	director of photography: Iraq sequence
Gary Muller	....	second assistant camera (uncredited)
Kelvin Pike	....	camera operator: iraq sequence (uncredited)
Tom Priestley Jr.	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Robert Schoenhut	....	camera operator (uncredited)
David Wynn-Jones	....	focus puller (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Bill Beattie	....	wardrobe: men's
Aldo Cipullo	....	jewelry designer: Cartier, New York
Florence Foy	....	wardrobe: ladies'

Editorial Department
Michael Goldman	....	assistant film editor (as Michal Goldman)
Terry Haggar	....	color timer (special edition)
Jordan Leondopoulos	....	supervising field editor
Ross Levy	....	assistant film editor: Iraq sequence
Craig McKay	....	assistant film editor
Bob McMillian	....	color consultant (as Robert M. McMillian)
Darrin Navarro	....	assistant editor (theatrical re-release)
Jonathan Pontell	....	assistant film editor
Ray Sabo	....	negative cutter (special edition)
Bud S. Smith	....	editor: Iraq sequence (as Bud Smith)

Music Department
Robert Garrett	....	music editor (2000 re-release)
Eugene Marks	....	music editor (as Gene Marks)
Jack Nitzsche	....	composer: additional music
Ken Nordine	....	vocal coach: Linda Blair (uncredited)

Other crew
Thomas Bermingham	....	technical advisor (as Reverend Thomas Bermingham S.J.)
Norman E. Chase	....	technical advisor: Professor of Radiology, New York University Medical Center (as Norman E. Chase M.D.)
Anne Mooney	....	production office coordinator
John Nicola	....	technical advisor (as Reverend John Nicola S.J.)
William O'Malley	....	technical advisor (as Reverend William O'Malley S.J.)
Dan Perri	....	title designer
Nicholas Sgarro	....	script supervisor (as Nick Sgarro)
Albert M. Shapiro	....	administrative assistant (as Albert Shapiro)
Arthur I. Snyder	....	technical advisor (as Arthur I. Snyder M.D.)
Herbert E. Walker	....	technical advisor (as Herbert E. Walker M.D.)
Victor Argo	....	voice (uncredited)
Michael Cristofer	....	voice (uncredited)
Mason Curry	....	voice (uncredited)
Eileen Dietz	....	double: Regan MacNeil (uncredited)
Liam Dunn	....	voice (uncredited)
Philippa Harris	....	voice (uncredited)
Claudia Lennear	....	voice (uncredited)
Kitty Malone	....	voice (uncredited)
Howard Newman	....	publicist (uncredited)
Maidie Norman	....	voice (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Warner Bros (presents)
• Warner Bros (producer)
• Hoya Productions (in association with)

Distributors

• Warner Bros (1973) (USA) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (1974) (UK) (theatrical)
• Warner-Columbia Films (1974) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (1974) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (1974) (France) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (1974) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (1974) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Warner Home Video (1978) (USA) (VHS)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1980) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Warner Home Video (1992) (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Bros. (1998) (UK) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Warner Home Video (1998) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Bros (2000) (USA) (theatrical) (director's cut)
• Warner Home Video (2000) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2000) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Bros. (2001) (Netherlands) (theatrical) (director's cut)
• Warner Bros. (2001) (Czech Republic) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2001) (Argentina) (theatrical) (director's cut)
• Warner Sogefilms A.I.E. (2001) (Spain) (theatrical) (director's cut)
• Warner Home Video (2001) (Switzerland) (DVD) (director's cut)
• Warner Home Video (2001) (Netherlands) (VHS) (director's cut)
• Warner Home Vídeo (2001) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (2001) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Columbia Pictures Home Entertainment (1970s) (USA) (video) (Super 8mm)
• Varus Video (19??) (Russia) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2001) (Germany) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (19??) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2010) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-Ray) (extended director's cut & original theatrical edition)
• Warner Home Video (2010) (USA) (DVD) (extended director's cut)
• Warner Home Vídeo (19??) (Brazil) (VHS)

Special Effects

• Pacific Title (additional visual effects) (special edition)

Other Companies

• Révillon  furs (as Revillon)
• Cartier  jewelry (as Cartier New York)
• International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE)  this picture made under the jurisdiction of (as I.A.T.S.E.)
• Panavision  photographic equipment
• Perseverance Records  soundtrack (re-release)

Also Known As:

"The Exorcist: The Version You Haven't Seen Yet" - USA (recut version)
"The Exorcist: The Version You've Never Seen" - USA (promotional title)
"William Peter Blatty's The Exorcist" - USA (reissue title)
"Exorcist" - Japan (English title) (imdb display title)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong language and disturbing images (Approved No. 23433)

Runtime:

122 min | 132 min (director's cut)

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Latin | Greek | French | German | Arabic

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (1979 re-release) | DTS-ES (director's cut) | Dolby Digital EX (director's cut) | Mono (original release) | SDDS (director's cut)

Certification:

USA:R (Approved No. 23433) | Singapore:(Banned) (original rating) | Portugal:M/16 | Philippines:R-18 | Singapore:R(A) (re-rating) (cut) | South Korea:15 | Spain:13 | USA:TV-14 (TV rating) | UK:(Banned) (original rating) | UK:18 (2008 re-rating) | UK:X (original rating) | Malaysia:(Banned) | Mexico:B (2000) | New Zealand:R18 (original rating) | Peru:18 | Italy:VM14 (director's cut) | Canada:R (Nova Scotia) (original rating) | Japan:PG-12 | Canada:R (Ontario) | Canada:R (video rating) | Canada:18 (Nova Scotia) (re-rating) (1998) | Canada:14A (re-rating) | Brazil:18 (original rating) | Brazil:14 | Australia:MA (TV rating) | Argentina:18 (original rating) | Argentina:16 (director's cut) | Australia:R | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) (2000 re-release) | Canada:18A (Alberta/British Columbia) (2000 re-release) | Canada:AA (Ontario) (2000 re-release) | Canada:R (Manitoba) (also 2000 version) | Chile:14 (re-rating) (2000) | Chile:18 (original rating) | Finland:K-18 | France:-12 (director's cut) | France:-16 (original rating) | Germany:16 (bw) (2001 re-release) | Hong Kong:IIB | Hungary:18 | Iceland:16 | Ireland:18 | Israel:18 | Italy:VM14 (orginal rating) | Mexico:C | Netherlands:16 (director's cut) | Netherlands:18 (original rating) | New Zealand:R16 (re-rating) (2000) | Norway:15 (2000) | Norway:18 | Singapore:M18 (video rating) (cut) | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 (re-rating) (1990) | West Germany:18 (bw)

Filming Locations:

3600 Prospect Street, Georgetown, Washington, District of Columbia, USA

Company:

Warner Bros

Trivia:

Jack Nicholson was up for the part of Father Karras, before Jason Miller landed the role.

Goofs:

Audio/visual unsynchronized: When Regan insults Karras's mother, the lines don't match her mouth movements.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Boy:[in Arabic] They've found something... small pieces.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Jay Leno Show: Episode #1.35" (2009)

Soundtrack:

Beginnings (from The Wind Harp)

An intense and very terrifying movie that will make you sleep with the bible a few nights in a row

The Exorcist is one of the best movies to come out of the 70's and deserves better than slowly descending down the top 250. It's one of those essential films you have to see in order to understand what a movie truly is and this is more than a horror film. Unfortunately there are so many people who are saying they got bored, I think because they expected a terrifying movie, people! This isn't a slasher movie, this isn't some scary Michael Myers that you can shoot, this is a story about normal people in a normal house and upstairs there is a little girl who happens to be possessed by "The devil himself". Faith is so strong and when it's shaken, anything in your imagination can run wild.

First off the actors: Ellen Burstyn plays Chris McNeil, an actress working in Washington, D.C. on a film. She is the mother of Regan, the little girl who is possessed. I felt such sorrow for Chris, when she begs Father Karras to help her with Regan, I almost cried for her. Her daughter is not sick, this is nothing she can give Regan a pill and she'll be better. Her speech to Father Karras later on in the film: "You show me Regan's double, same face, same voice, everything. And I'd know it wasn't Regan. I'd know in my gut. Now, I want you to tell me that you know for a fact that there's nothing wrong with my daughter, except in her mind. You tell me for a fact that an exorcism wouldn't do any good! You tell me that!" sent shivers down my spine, this woman knows what Regan needs and will do whatever she can.

We have Linda Blair who plays Regan and she was so great for a 12 year old actress. This little apple faced girl became one of the most frightening images of the 70's and still to this day. She's not scary because she's swearing, this little innocent girl has been taken over by forces that she shouldn't even know about. Jason Miller as Father Karras, for a man who had never acted professionally before, he was quite amazing as a priest who just lost his mother and his faith has been shaken up. Max Von Sydow as Father Merrin was so strong and he was like in his 20's playing a man in his 90's. He was robbed of an Oscar, he was so believable and just amazing during the exorcism scene.

The effects? People! This was the 70's and they made a bed float! They turned this little angel's face into a hideous creature! If you watch the documentary "Fear of God: The Making of the Exorcist", Ellen Burstyn gets slapped by Regan in the film and she had kind of a rope tied around her waist. When the stunt man pulled her back, Billy the director told the guy to let her have it and he YANKED her back hard causing real pain in Ellen's back and that was an actual scream in the movie. They froze the room to the point as were moisture got into the set and there was a layer of snow in the morning they were shooting. There was no CGI, this was the real deal and I believe could truly help the actors. Linda Blair was being thrashed up and down during one of the possessed scenes where the bracing came loose and caused slamming of metal to her back repeatedly and her screams were also very real and bone chilling.

William Freidkin is the director of The Exorcist, and there was no better choice. This guy took this picture seriously, so far as to shoot a gun offstage or scream obscenities to get an actor's shocked reaction on film. He slapped almost punched Reverend William O'Malley who played Father Dyer to get him to shake during his reciting the Last Rites to Father Karras. He almost would have killed to make this picture and anyone doing it.

Weither or not the set of The Exorcist was truly cursed with a total of 9 deaths linked to the film, a fire on the set with no apparent reason, and the total feeling of evil around the room, we'll never know. But The Exorcist is a true motion picture never to missed or deserve no more than the true compliments it should get! This is the film that should be shown to any aspiring film makers. It's a masterpiece of a film that's more than a mere horror flick.

10/10