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 | Psychiatrist | Faith | 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:

Actress Mercedes McCambridge, who provided the voice of the demon, insisted on swallowing raw eggs and chain smoking to alter her vocalizations. Furthermore, the actress who had problems with alcohol abuse in the past, wanted to drink whiskey as she knew alcohol would distort her voice even more, and create the crazed state of mind of the character. As she was giving up sobriety, she insisted that her priest be present to counsel her during the recording process. At William Friedkin's direction, McCambridge was also bound to a chair with pieces of a torn sheet at her neck, arms, wrists, legs and feet to get a more realistic sound of the demon struggling against its restraints. McCambridge later recalled the experience as one of horrific rage, while Friedkin admitted that her performance--as well as the extremes which the actress put herself through to gain authenticity--terrifies the director to this day.

Goofs:

Continuity: After he is vomited on, Karras looks at some drawings and holds them horizontally, but the cut-in shows him holding the drawing vertically.

Quotes:

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

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Biography: Satan: Prince of Darkness" (1998)

Soundtrack:

Study No. 1

They don't make em like they used to...

"The scariest movie of all time". Some movie goers agree and some disagree. I belong to the former group, though I would like to rephrase it to "One of the scariest movies of all time". For those of you who have been living in a cave for the past twenty two years, the story is of a pre-pubescent girl, Regan (Linda Blair), possessed by a demon whom purports to be the Devil himself ("Now kindly undo these straps!").

In this day and age of schlock fest horror films being relentlessly released (or spewed out for want of a better term) by the big wig studios on a quest to cash in on the latest teenage trend, this premise for a horror story may not seem so scary to most. However, it's the road we take to arrive at this supposition that makes this film stand out from the rest.

The seeds of dread and fear are planted early with screen legend Max Von Sydow's Father Merrin receiving disturbing and familiar Omens of what is to come during an archaeological dig in Northern Iraq.

We're then taken to the setting where the real horror will begin in the Georgetown home of Chris MacNeil (Ellen Burstyn), a successful divorcée film actress living with her daughter Regan. We're initially presented with a Regan who loves horses, has a close and loving relationship with her mother, is uncomfortable with the strained relationship between her parents and has the innocent demeanour and narrow vocabulary of every normal young girl.

The carefully crafted and ever so gradual change in Regan's personality, the strange drawings and figurines she creates, the emergence of Captain Howdy (Regan's imaginary friend) and strange outbursts ("You're gonna die up there") and so called physical convulsions force Chris to turn to doctors and eventually psychiatrists to try and get to the bottom of Regan's ever worsening behaviour. Her vocabulary becomes quite extensive with spine chilling, sudden maturity and her outbursts more terrifyingly violent. After exhausting all the "somatic" possibilities for Regan's troubles Chris desperately seeks help from world weary Jesuit Psychiatrist Priest Father Karras (Jason Miller) requesting an exorcism.

By the time Karras meets Regan, any semblance of the innocent young girl has completely vanished. Karras is grappling with his faith and subsequently doubts she is truly 'possessed'. Finally convinced that an exorcism is the way to go, he seeks permission from the Catholic Church, who grant him with the condition that he perform it with the help of the experienced Father Merrin.

Merrin arrives like a knight in shining armour for the ultimate showdown! A great screenplay by William Peter Blatty (based on his book), intelligent directing from William Friedken and outstanding performances from all the cast, particularly Ellen Burstyn as the traumatised mother make for a classic piece of horror that will stand the test of time. 10/10