Director: Willaim Friedkin Screenplay: William Peter Blatty (Academy Award Winner) Producers: William Peter Blatty, Noel Marshall Cinematography: Owen Roizman Music: Jack Nitzsche, Mike Oldfield, George Crumb, Krzysztof Penderecki Editors: Norman Gay, Jordan Leondopoulos, Evan A. Lottman, Bud Smith Production Designer: Bill Malley Makeup Effects: Dick Smith
Cast
Ellen Burstyn......................................Chris MacNeil
Max Von Sydow..................................Father Merrin
Jason Miller................................Father Damien Karras
Lee J. Cobb...........................................Lt. Kinderman
Linda Blair.........................................Regan MacNeil
Kitty Winn...........................................Sharon
Jack MacGowran...............................Burke Dennings
Vasiliki Maliaros...............................Karras' Mother
Titos Vandis........................................Karras' Uncle
Wallace Rooney..................................Bishop
Mercedes McCambridge....................Voice Of Pazuzu
Reverand T. Bermingham........University President
Reverand William O'Malley..............Father Dyer
On February 19, 1974 the Academy Awards nominations reflected the following for The Exorcist:
Best Picture
Best Actress - Ellen Burstyn
Best Supporting Actress - Linda Blair
Best Supporting Actor - Jason Miller
Best Director - William Friedkin
Best Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium - William Peter Blatty (winner)
Best Cinematography - Owen Roizman
Best Film Editing - Jordan Leondopoulos and Bud Smith
Best Sound - Robert Knudson and Chris Newman (winner)
Best Art Direction - Bill Malley / Set Decoration - Jerry Wunderlich
Dana Plato of TV'sDiffernt Strokes fame was offered the role of Regan MacNeil.
Mercedes McCambridge had to sue Warner Brothers for credit as the voice of the demon, Pazuzu.
There are semi-subliminal single-frame shots in this film: when the priest is dreaming of his mother coming up out of the subway, there is a single frame shot of a face (Eileen Dietz), painted black and white, grimacing. There are two other places where this image is supposedly displayed: when Regan, lying on the bed, turns to look at Father Merrin and Father Karras, and just after the head-turning scene.
Jane Fonda and Shirley MacLaine were approached to play the role of Chris MacNeil.
CAMEO: William Peter Blatty, producer of the film that Chris is acting in; he's seen talking to Burke.
Caused widespread hysteria when released. Reports of fainting, people being institutionalized and vomiting were not uncommon upon the movies release.
Banned on video in Finland and the UK.
Eileen Dietz played Linda Blair's double. She did all the contrevesial sexual scenes (i.e. Lick me, Let Jesus, crotch grabing, etc).
The flying puke was actually animated in the film. Dick Smith had made a device to do the scene, but the director didn't think it looked real enought. The device was used in one scene where the puke oozes out on Father Merrin's collar.
Supposedly an "Exorcist" mini-series and series are in development.
Grossed over $165M in the theaters in the US and $90M on video. One of the most successful horror films of all time. There were nine deaths connected with the making of The Exorcist.
Some of these frightful facts courtesy of The House of Horrors
The Exorcist was based on a true story. The Discovery channel had an excellent documentary on it called "In the Grip of Evil". Now available at Amazon.com.
If you haven't heard, the BBC just aired (06/13/98) a documentary on The Exorcist entitled "The Fear of God". Go take a look at their page, Click Here
Go take a look at the Washington Post's articles on "The Exorcist" (Good Stuff) Click Here